andy_h

What do you call AKQ109xx? Trumps.

Just treat it as natural clubs and overcall as you would normally do with the same cue raises etc. RHO having the weak option isn't our problem since we can solve our overcall strength with cue raises, but in fact it is LHO's huge problem since they would now need to deal with the possible weak option.

My first instinct was pass since I have bid 1H and 2S all by myself at unfav didn't I?

I would have bid 1NT over 1H - although it's true that we are somewhat protected by our passed hand status I still wouldn't want to introduce a 10-high five card suit. Assume you play some sort of drury (or a way of showing 3-card raise on the first round) I will now bid 4C a cue setting hearts which typically may show a singleton honour or a doubleton (some doubletons may be able to bid 3H over 2S). We have very good cards for partner although I am somewhat afraid partner may over/under value their diamond holding (maybe partner will like their Qx or maybe dislike a singleton).

Do I hear an empathetic splinter possibly?

A direct 4H could work too hoping to take 10 red tricks! But I definitely agree that X then 4H is a much better plan.

I'm not sure I understand the love for 2D unless you have agreed to play it as a "last train" like drury. If you don't play that however isn't 2S a much better description of your hand? Our hand is pretty decent as it is coupled with Aces and Kings (with the club Ace likely to be with the opener). If partner has xxx in diamonds they're not going to love their hand (bad for us) and if partner has Qxx or KJx (also bad for us) as they're going to like their hand much more with a valuable card which we don't want. Partner may have a suitable hand for us to make a vul game (which you can be sure that the contract has decent chances if partner accepts our 2S game try) but otherwise we can rest in 3H and try our best.

I will invite with 2S

4S wtp

I overcall too.

I'm not sure why I wouldn't bid 3C over 1S with this good hand as Kxx support increases the value of our hand. Anyway I would have also started out with 1H-1S-3C-3S and would have followed it up with 4D which pretty much shows a 3514 shape (still can be 2524 if the doubleton spade was like AK or AQ and a stronger hand or whatever) as I would raise 3S to 4S with other 2524 hands.

Clear 1H overcall

3S for me

Takeout ala snapdragon (I love that name) so I expect partner to have diamonds and club tolerance saying nothing about the spade holding, I bid 3C.

Although I have played 2/1 GF throughout my life, I do know that in a non-2/1 GF framework 1S-2H-3H and 1S-2x-2H-3H have to be GF otherwise I think it's unplayable. Stopping on a dime on 3H is a very small target when you could benefit that as a GF which would give you the amount of space for a potential slam. You might push yourself too high when both players are minimum (opener 11 and responder 10) but any time opener has a 12 or 13 count then I'm sure you'll be in a normal game. This is probably not "standard" in SAYC but it's definitely a good agreement to have.

4S, not enamoured about my void.

Could I have bid 2H over 2D showing a good hand with clubs? Despite the ragged shape (although good that I have 3 diamonds) I prefer to overbid a little in competition when I could have made the NF 3C with KQ-7th club and out. Having said that I think 4D sets diamonds as trumps (with other diamond hands bidding 3M) so I will cue 5♣.

Agree with this.

Very nice job Han, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through them - Thanks!

Yes I open 2C. Not because I'm afraid this will get passed out (although it's a good reason too) but because I don't want to have to play catch-up after 1H-3D. A AK AKQ is way too good.

Congrats Justin and commiserations to Fred. It's been a really entertaining week to watch.

Congrats and keep it up!

I play 1M-2m-2x-3NT as 15-17 with no support/values in both of opener's suit, but 1M-2x-2M(catch all)-3NT is three card support and choice of games.

Open 2C and either rebid 2NT or 3C so you don't need to play catch up with this strong of a hand.

Agree with gnasher. It's a very good hand in support of diamonds and I highly doubt that the 5level is in danger.