2272

[helene_t]

Would 4NT by North here be to play?

Good question but I think not. If North had a balanced hand with a spade stopper and too strong for a 2NT overcall, they would have slam interest now.

 

If north has something like Kx-KQxx-Qxx-KJxx, 4NT may be more attractive than 5♦ but it is not obvious, and in any case it would be a narrow set of hands that would bid a natural 4NT.

[jillybean]

Would 4NT by North here be to play?

Yes, since 4♥ is clearly kickback. ;)

[kenberg]

We have now seen all four hands but I opted for 3D before seeing the whole deal and I am still fine with it.

 

Here is one argument: North has a 16 count with AKQ of diamonds and two scoring side honors. Still, 5D makes, but w/o overtricks. So, looking only at S, 5D seems optimistic. Of course you want to be in NT if this is mps.

 

Before seeing the hands I looked at my doubleton heart and figured maybe, just maybe, over 3D I will hear 3H from pard, a big hand with hearts. Not to be, but it seemed possible.

 

So my thinking was: If pard has a big hand with hearts I will hear about it over 3D and if pard has a minimal TO X, maybe 2=4=3=4 with a 14 count, 3D might well be a fine contract.

 

It is just life that the 3S call causes difficulty. N has more than needed for the X, S has more than needed for the 3D. Hence the usefulness of Leb. As I play Leb, the 3D shows around this strength although of course the length could be less. With diamonds and a weak hand I bid 2NT and then 3D. So yeah, Leb probably gets us to game.

 

So, with my way of looking at it, who is to blame? Maybe no one, except the partnership for not playing Leb. Perhaps, if I were N, after I doubled and pard bid 3D I would make a game try with 3S. But I have seen all the cards so it's easy to say I would do that.