[easy]

Playing match points at unfavorable vulnerabilty. System is 2/1 almost forcing to game.

You hold

void   xxx   j8xxxx  akxx

auction

pard    rho     you       lho
1s         p         1n       p
2h        p         ??

[the hog]

Pass! So I have an A and a K, big deal. The void in pd's opened suit does not excite me at all. This is obvious, do you want me to bid 3D on 6 to the J when pd has announced at least 9 M suit cards?

[easy]

Quote

Pass! So I have an A and a K, big deal. The void in pd's opened suit does not excite me at all. This is obvious, do you want me to bid 3D on 6 to the J when pd has announced at least 9 M suit cards?

yes it is obvious that pass i usually correct. But how do u get to game when pard has a good 17 with a diamond fit.

such as

aqxxx    axxx  akx  x

or

Akxxx   Akxxx  x  xx

or

qxxxx  Aqxxx A  Qx

So although pass maybe "automatic" game is not out of the realm of possibility.

BTW i passed with the hand and we were cold for 3nt.Pard held

AKQJT   Axxx  xx  xx

[the hog]

In answer to your first question - game is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility with certain hands on which partner will bid a mere 2H, (some of which you post). However the odds strongly favour a pass on this hand. Bidding is an imperfect science and were I able to always bid to the optimum contract, I would have been partnering Helgemo last week.

One question you may care to answer, why do you think you were "cold" for 3NT on the actual hand when you had 8 top tricks and no conceivable chance for a 9th?

[easy]

because i gave u the wrong hand, lol

Akqjt  akxx xx xx

[the hog]

Thats better rofl! Yes tough hand. Your partner MIGHT have bid 2NT? I don't know if there is some sort of convention to handle this.