[dburn]

Scoring: IMP

---

You, South, open a 15-17 1NT (would you?) and North bids 2♣ asking for four-card majors. You bid 2♦ (would you? - maybe 3♦ ought to be this kind of hand) and North bids 3♣ (forcing to game, in principle 5+ clubs and a major). You bid 3♦, North bids 3♥, you bid 4♣ (would you? what ought 3♠ to mean?) and North bids 6NT.

West leads ♠7, top of nothing style. After you have ridiculed the bidding to your heart's content, perhaps you might turn your minds to the play. I will let you know how you get on at various stages in your various lines.

[Hanoi5]

Small spade from the table to win the Ace. ♣2 to the table, ♦9 which I would let run if not covered.

[dburn]

East contributes ♠9 on the first round of spades, both defenders follow with low cards to the first round of clubs (West with the four and East with the six), and East covers ♦9 with the jack, West contributing the four. Assuming you win this trick, how do you continue?

[Hanoi5]

♦K throwing a spade (8) from the table.

[y66]

Agree with 1N, 2D and 4C. Like 3D idea over 2C. After North bids 3H, I think 3S shows a hand that’s unsure about strain. Maybe it shows a really good hand in support of clubs that wants to cue bid now rather than bid 4C directly but that doesn't leave much room to sort things out if North can't bid 3N.

I like Hanoi’s line so far. If we duck a diamond, we lose a chance when RHO has QJ doubleton or J8. Seems we need that or diamonds 3-3 or a miracle in hearts and good luck in clubs.

[gnasher]

It's a nice hand, but it's not an 18-count, so I do open 1NT.

3♦ might show this hand, or a hand like this but with better diamonds, or a 4414 shape, or that I think I opened 1♥ and am now splintering in support of clubs. All in all, I think it's best not to do it without discussion.

3♠ would be fourth-suit-forcing, showing doubt about strain, and I would do it without discussion. With an extra diamond, good controls, but only four points in partner's suits, it's not clear which of three strains we belong in.

I'm still thinking about the play.

[ArtK78]

I would open the South hand 1♦, as I have a suit oriented hand - all controls - and a very good diamond suit which will get lost if I open 1NT. This is IMPs, so playing in 5♦ or 6♦ should not be discounted.

I agree with the line up to the point where you win the ♦J with the A. I would then duck a diamond.

[sathyab]

Giving up a ♦ early on ruins our chances when the suit in not favorable, either 3-3 or a suitable doubleton, while something good may have been dealt in other suits. The spots in ♣s clearly are meant to encourage you to screw up this hand by trying to drop the Jack in two rounds if not take a first round finesse Accordingly I cash two high ♣s at T2 and T3. If the J falls on my left, I can envision RHO with QT9 xxxx Hx xxxx or QT9 xxx xxx xxxx. If the former, I can make by cashing the remaining minor suit winners, playing ♥s for four tricks. If the latter I need to play for ♦s to split. If I try to combine the two chances by ducking say the second round of ♦s, then even when RHO is forced to win and exit in clubs, I'll have to make a fatal discard from dummy when LHO follows suit on the third round of ♦s.