petergreat

Absurd! Any bid is forcing at least to game, that was the meaning of 2♠ and therefore whatever you do you must reach game. The strongest bid is definitely 3♠ though. Standard negative doubles require 8+, while responding at 1-level require 6, or even 5 points. So declarer can have a bit less with the first sequence...though still generally same.

GiB calculates that a diamond lead would make declarer lose trump control and the contract. I played AK and a low club ruffed by the Q, followed by trump finesse. South discarded a spade on the low club. When I tried to use a spade to get to table to finesse again he ruffed. Seems like manudude03's line is best.

[hv=d=w&v=e&w=s432hakt98dckq853&e=skqjthq765dj92ca6]266|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The bidding: 1♥ P 1♠ P 3♣ P 4♥ P 5♦ X 5♥ P 6♥ AP Lead : ♠A, switch to ♣2 If you draw trumps you will find that South has J432.

2NT? Seems best...3♦ isn't good because the ♦s aren't good enough. 3NT is more of an overbid. This is 100% forcing anyway.

4♥ as cue-bid?

To play. Stoppers, expectation to make nine tricks either on his own or with the long suit.

3♦. Six good diamonds, why not! Though 2NT might work as well...

Pass, and if this goes down I'll find a new partner.

I'd pass...

Cappelletti. I like the part where it can bid both 5-5 and one-suit hands accurately, and at the same time retain the penalty double.

To play? One of the themes of forcing auctions is that game bids are weak and intermediate bids are forcing. I think responder may have something like AKQx xxxx AJx xx and obviously no slam interest.

West North East South - 2NT - 3♣ Case 1: 3♦ - 3♦ - 6NT. Don't fret about it. If you really do lose two tricks count yourself unlucky. Case 2: 3 major. Then bid 6 of the major. You don't need to broadcast your aces to the opponents. Unlikely to miss a grand: You have 33 - 35 points combined (assuming 2NT 20-22) and balanced hands.

Rebid shows a desire to play in suit contract, possibly inviting 3NT?

Good!

Is there any line better than mine?

3♦ I think it is natural now.

Obviously the opponents took 4 club tricks and the contract.

The lead is won with the Q presumably. Now count your top tricks: ♠AQ, ♥AK, ♦AKQ. Seven tricks. So you have to establish the diamonds. There is only one thing which requires more thought: ♦JT9x with South. Then he would lead a club through the ♣K. You have to guard against ♦JT9x with South. Now what? They have JT9x and you only have KQ above them. A heart finesse isn't good enough, you only have 8 tricks even if it succeeds. A 3-3? Can we do better? We can give ourselves a few more chances. Firstly don't play diamond Ace. Play a low diamond to the 8. If North covers then the suit is not 4-0 and you are home. If North is void and South forgets to cover your 7 you are home. Suppose South does play the J (how pesky he is) then you win. You have only 3 diamond tricks, and cannot make any more, so what? A heart finesse? Might work, might not, is it a bit too dangerous? Is there a better way? Ah yes, you can lead a spade. After cashing his three spades (amounting to 4 tricks for the defense) North is in a dilemma. Maybe he'll lead a club, maybe he'll lead a heart. If he leads a club you won't need the 3-3 hearts as the ♣K is high. If he leads a heart a simple 3-3 or dropping the T9 doubleton will do. See? Much better chances.

Small ♣. You have four trumps. When you have long trumps you should always be aware of making declarer embarrassed when he is forced to ruff. It works magic especially against 5-3 fits, because the 3-hand is not long enough to draw your trumps while the 5-hand can be forced to ruff. You don't want to ruff, why give up your long hearts! So you should find a suit to force declarer. The longest suit works best usually so a club.

Bad singleton ♠K, poor texture, only 11 points, pass without thinking. Okay, the last part was a lie, at least I did waste effort counting out: 1, 2, 3, ... , 11, Pass.

1♥ (2♦) X -- 4NT - 5♦ X 7♥!! All pass Of course I made it. Now is there a more foolproof way of getting to 7♥? And of course at least don't miss 6♥! And, it didn't get top board. For some reason a lucky South got to play 6♥xx+1.

[hv=d=s&v=e&n=saxxxhj7dxxxckqjx&s=sxxhakqt9853dcatx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You are South. 1♥ (2♦) X - Now what?

Oops. Re-posted.

Let there be 4 cases. 1. 3-3 distribution. So long as you finesse some time anything works. 2. 4-2 distribution. Some time you will need to finesse twice deep. Suppose East is K 10 9 8 you can finesse at first and win. Suppose East is K 10 9 x then you're cooked. There is no way to fight against that. You simply don't have enough intermediates. You only succeed for any East Kxx or K1098.

3♠ definitely. You have a good spade suit and the required points, and not enough for double. 3NT shows 9 tricks and, try counting nine tricks in that hand.