[Coelacanth]

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No ATB or bidding problem here, just an interesting hand.

NS have 24 HCP between them. They have two strong nine-card fits. North, at his first turn, considered forcing to game but contented himself with a heavy limit raise. In the passout seat, South thought a long time before passing. (The choice was between passing and doubling.) Both decisions are quite close.

EW have 16 HCP. In order to get into the auction at all, East must bid at the 4 level with unfavorable vulnerability with 8 HCP.

Against best defense (not that difficult to find) no game makes for NS. 4♠ is down 3 and 5♦ is down 2. Not that anyone would bid it, but 3NT is down 5.

EW are cold for 11 tricks against any defense in either of two strains.

The above was the auction at my table. Full credit to EW for their intrepid bidding. Needless to say, +600 EW was a cold top for them. There were a number of +420 for NS, so maybe best defense is harder to find than I thought. (Although not cashing your four top tricks is pretty close to "worst" defense).

I'm sure many of you have seen many similar hands, where the side with the balance of the high cards can't make anything. Just thought I'd share this one.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

If you are willing to give up the long one-suited overcall,
then, after 3S ( 3M ) :
4C! = Cl and Hts ( the other Major )
4D! = Diam and Hts ( the other Major )
4S! = the minors ( 4M!-cue)

[mtvesuvius]

I do think there is a lot of merit for Non-Leaping Michaels, especially in this auction (and similar ones as well), where 3N cannot be natural. 3N can act as a single-suited minor overcall, and Non-Leaping Michaels covers some problem hands that I've seen fairly often.

[Free]

Coelacanth, on 2010-November-10, 08:59, said:

Not that anyone would bid it, but 3NT is down 5.

I don't see how NS can take 4 tricks in 3NT. EW can take 6 ♣s and 5 ♥s, leaving only 2 tricks remaining for NS for a nice 7 down.

[Phil]

Where is Mike777 with his FTL analysis?

It definitely makes sense to play NL Michaels over a weak 3♠ call and its probably right to play it over a limit 3♠, although I would have to admit that if I made this call and I had to stand up suddenly that the chair I was sitting in would rise since it would be wedged between my clenched cheeks.