hanp

obv!

FYP Very funny, I open the next hand 1♠ with ♠KJ10xx ♥-♦Ax♣AQJxxx ♥AQJxxx♦Ax♣- and the opponents won't believe it lol. FYP

Depends on the opponents and on the tempo, but repeating the finesse is not my plan.

I would also bid 2C. I think that my auction would start 1H - 2C - 2D - 2H - 3H. Now opener has shown 6+ hearts and 4+ diamonds, responder has shown a gameforcing hand with 3+ hearts, and either clubs or a balanced hand. Then responder would bid 3NT (spade cue with serious slam interest). The complete auction might be: 1H - 2C 2D - 2H 3H - 3NT 4D - 4H (I know partner is missing a club control and I have one, but I am quite minimal for 3NT) 4S - 4NT 5D - 5S (queen ask, all keycards) 6D (♠A, ♥AQ, ♦AK) - 7NT (can count 14 tricks if hearts run)

I don't like 3NT on that auction Free.

You should play with Fluffy. Then one of you will distort his suit lengths with minimal hands, the other on maximal hands.

Yeah shows values, but not necessarily as many as 6. I prefer to play 2H exactly as without the 1D bid.

MATCHPOINT ALERT! I hope you know the old story about the guy who ducked the first trick in a grand slam, and then make a great play to go down only 1. This great player could never find another partner and was forever known as the guy who ducked trick 1 in a grand.

Diamond to the queen has the advantage that a decent RHO will often duck if the finesse is off. Then we can revert to hearts.

I think we would bid: 1C - 1H (4+ spades) 1S (3 spades) - 2C (relay) 2D (12-14 balanced) - 3D 3NT - Pass. If opener bids 3H instead then we might have a chance of reaching 6D.

4C and 3S. I think 3S is quite clear, 4C less so because I don't think we have game and I hate to burn partner for competing.

I would have bid 4H. Generally I double with this shape, planning to bid 4H over 4m. However, this carries some risks (for example, partner jumping to 5m on a 5-card suit when 4H is better). Here the heart suit is good enough that I'd prefer to bid 4H immediately. I think we would have been better placed than we are now. Does that mean I get to abstain for part 2 please? Edit: I hope I am not the stalkee. Although... it would not have been the first time I disagreed with my own call.

I'd be happy to be a host Ben. (Perhaps that way I can find the weaknesses of our future opponents, mhuhahahahaa)

I think that partner's 4NT is off.

I'd probably duck trick 2 and try to go down 1 on a squeeze.