wank

I haven't read this book you refer to, but I suspect your confusion comes from the following: If responder has shown values (either with his 2nd bid or with his first if opener's first rebid was forcing, e.g. 1H-2C-2D) opener can have enough to force to game on the 3rd round and 4sf is as normal. If responder has not shown values and made a simple 1 level response and a simple 2 level preference or suit religion or rebid 1nt, then opener can't have enough to GF (he would have GFed already at his 2nd bid), so now a bid of the 4th suit is (semi-)natural and forward going, e.g. 1D-1H-1S-1NT-2C (responder has shown nothing and opener didn't jump to 2S over 1H so he hasn't got a GF hand).

I meant opener's (second) suit. We know partner has some modest values. Even at the vul he will normally find a way to bid his 6 card suit so leading a spade is angling for exactly 2353 spades around the table. As for leading low, that's a recognised strategy but for specific situations, i.e. when partner's expected to hold plenty of entries (to ameliorate the blocking issue) and where RHO has indicated a robust holding in the suit such that leading high will normally give them a second stop. Think something like 1H from p, 1nt overcall, all out, or 1m on the left, 1M from p, 1nt on right, all out and you have very little, marking p with a good hand.

You were pretty crazy to think west might lead a singleton.

Pretty poor. That's likely declarer's suit. I would lead a diamond and I think it's clear.

It's takeout

4S for sure shows a slam try in hearts. if you had a slam try in clubs you'd bid er....clubs.

there's no such thing as totally flat. examine board 1. your opp doesn't seem to have a good grasp on stayman.

partner has shown 18-19 bal or something off shape with somewhat less. slam is obviously likely and 7 possible. the only useful move you can make is 4S.

lol wd. don't know how to see the boards sadly

well your partner's lead is terrible. a trump is entirely obvious. however, he could reasonably have aqxx - axxxx ajxx or aqxx - axxx ajxxx.

Yes you don't need to commit. You can cash ak of clubs and see what happens. Fwiw the opps are east Europeans. East Europeans are religious reverse counters in my experience.

Not well enough. East has kj72 xxx xxx qj9. You need to cross to dummy and ruff the last heart, unblocking the 9 or 10 at some point. Now 3 rounds of clubs leaves him on play with kj7 of spades. He exits on the 7 at t11 but as you've unblocked you can run it to the 8 and lead towards the queen at t12. The beauty is getting out for 200 is effectively a top and 500 effectively a bottom.

Writing on phone so no diagram... Match points Dummy A83 Jxx Xxx 108xx Declarer Qt9654 X Xxx Akx Adverse vul 2s, rightly or wrongly, double, passed out. Lho cashes akq of diamonds (rho discouraging) then ak of hearts (rho discouraging). Plan the play.

Multi is a big loser in itself. Personally I don't think any 2M options are good enough to justify that loss. Muiderburg I feel is particularly poor, being basically a tool for undisciplined players to justify opening even more crappy 5 card weak 2s. Non-vul I can tolerate 2M as 8-11 6 cards and 2d as a crap weak 2, essentially a fert.

Always believe the opps in this situation so run after the penalty pass. Passing 1h is totally normal the first time. For me a style where you pass the north hand is lame. Double is the only alternative in my world.

at the top levels it's the bidding that makes a difference. at low levels it's all about sensible play and defence.

that would be a rather silly level of inflexibility. if over 3s partner supports any suit, you're happy and can lose the long heart. if partner bids 3NT, you bid 4H - that's obviously not 1444.

The problem is this idiosyncratic 1D response. Obviously noone else plays that way unless playing a strong club system. For normal natural bidders 1D essentially denies a major unless strong so they can safely rebid 1NT on your hand. In your situation, you should play that 1M doesn't guarantee clubs (or just get rid of the 1D artificial response and play the way the rest of the world does.)

what's 3s over 2s? this hand i expect. anyway, if i had got myself into a pickle with my previous bidding i'd just jump to 6c over 4nt (obviously to play). i'll consider myself a trifle unlucky if partner turns out to be 5233 or worse.

only national trials (including the national league which doubles as a trials) is played with screens in england. the last 4 of the spring 4s too? yes i agree serious bridge events should have screens. where i live the monday bridge club top division is played with screens.

well that's just silly, because there are no hands weaker than this which can bid 2nt

bad hands don't bid 2nt. it's supposed to be opening hands upwards.

i'd be happy enough to play 2c on this hand

i don't know anyone who plays puppet over 2nt

i'd have a go. the opps' haven't bid. that suggests partner has spades in which case our hand is fitting well. i'd just bid 3H. general try. bidding 3C would be a big mistake.