[zasanya]

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NS Vul N dealer IMPs .Bidding was
N opens 2♦ (Multy weak M or strong any)-dbl by E(Values or Very good ♦ suit)-2♠by S( ♥ support)-3♣byW (Natural 1RF)
P (Confirms weak M almost certainly ♠)-3♠(cue in spades ♣support)-P-4♥(Cue in ♥)
P-5♣-p-6♣ -p-p-p
So North has shown a weak 2 in Major.East has shown Good Diamond suit or Opening values or both.South has shown abilty to play at least upto 3 ♥.West has club suit and at least opening values.
N lead ♥4 (std leads)
Dummy has singleton ♠, 3 rags ♥, 7 card Diamond suit headed by AKQ and Jx in ♣
Declarer lets out a barely audible hmm before playing a card from Dummy.South wins ♥Ace.
What should South return?

[gnasher]

I don't know what you think we should infer from from declarer's "hmm". It might mean that 6♣ is a good contract, or that it's missing two aces, or that 6♦ is better, or that he doesn't know how to play the hand, or just that he thinks his partner should have bid differently. The last of these seems quite likely, in fact.

Anyway, I return a diamond.

[Fluffy]

Partner opened a vulnerable 2 spades in first position, if he has ♠KJ ♥K contract won't be beaten unless an unlikelly diamond ruff happens.

Heart only works (I think) when partner opened with 7 spades KJ10

Spade works antime he opened with the ace.

I think spade is much better.

[FrancesHinden]

Why can't partner have a singleton heart, making declarer 3=3=1=6? KJ109xx in spades is enough for a weak 2, partner doesn't need any other high cards.

[Fluffy]

That's not a weak 2 vulnerable versus not in first position for me. With that holding both diamond and heart works, so a diamond might be better.

[ceeb]

♥ is better than ♦ if declarer is 3307 (or Axxx??,Kxx,--,AKQ10xx).

Assuming declarer controls ♦ -- which is perhaps indicated by the 6♣ bid and possibly supported if the "hmm" expresses ironic surprise at dummy's diamond controls -- and assuming partner hasn't led a low heart from ♥x4 or opened 1st seat vul with a 5-card suit,

If declarer has ♣AKxxxxxx the only chance is Kxx,x,x,AKxxxxxx and a ♠ shift.
If declarer has ♣AKQxxxx, a ♥ will work and a ♠ will be ok also vs. Kx(x),Kxx,(x),AKQxxxx (which helps explain the weak 2).
If declarer has ♣AKxxxxx, a ♥ will work, a ♠ may be ok (if partner ♠A), and a ♦ works if partner has 7 ♠.
If declarer has ♣AKQxxx, a ♥ will work, ♠ as previous, ♦ will work.

If declarer does not control ♦ then

If declarer has 7-8 clubs, the only chance is a ♠.
If declarer has ♣AKQxxx, a ♥ will work if partner is 7123, a ♠ if partner is 6313 or 7123 with ♠A, a ♦ if partner is 7303 (maybe KJxxxxx, Kxx, --, xxx?)
If declarer has ♣AKQxx a ♥ will work only if declarer bid surprisingly to ignore 3NT, a ♠ will be ok if partner isn't very light for the opening bid, a ♦ is good if declarer is Axx,x,J10xx,AKQxx which seems a very optimistic 6♣ bid.

There seem to be a lot of imponderables, such as explaining the opponents' bidding. ♠ makes the most sense to me, perhaps because I am not used to 7303 weak twos.

[nige1]

2♦ = Multi.
-X = Penalty.
2♠ = Like ♥.
3♠ = Cue.
4♥ = Cue.
hm = Why didn't I bid 6N?
IMO ♥ = 10, ♠ = 6, ♦ = 5.
The ♥4 looks like a singleton.
I guess the layout is something like that on the left.
West can try the false-card of ♥K.

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[cloa513]

Hmm Why didn't I at least bid 5NT to give partner a choice if he has the AH rather than the AD then six of clubs with second choice 6D is better than 6 NT.

[zasanya]

gnasher, on 2010-December-18, 16:20, said:

I don't know what you think we should infer from from declarer's "hmm". It might mean that 6♣ is a good contract, or that it's missing two aces, or that 6♦ is better, or that he doesn't know how to play the hand, or just that he thinks his partner should have bid differently. The last of these seems quite likely, in fact.

Anyway, I return a diamond.

My hand was AJ10xxx Kxx X xxx.My partner thought I had a singleton ♥ and tried to give me a ruff.When I suggested that hmm indicates 'missing 2 aces and he should have returned ♠his angry retort included most of what gnasher has posted.He further added next time instead of paying to attention to trivial details like hmm I should concentrate on own cards and select proper opening leads eg ♥K on this deal. On the other table North hand opened 2 spades E passed south after a crafty 2NT ( strong inquiry!) played in 4 spades and made.
hmm

[TwstofLime]

Hummm... ♥

[gnasher]

gnasher, on 2010-December-18, 16:20, said:

Anyway, I return a diamond.

What a stupid suggestion.

[nige1]

zasanya, on 2010-December-19, 23:38, said:

My hand was AJ10xxx Kxx X xxx.My partner thought I had a singleton ♥ and tried to give me a ruff.When I suggested that hmm indicates 'missing 2 aces and he should have returned ♠his angry retort included most of what gnasher has posted.He further added next time instead of paying to attention to trivial details like hmm I should concentrate on own cards and select proper opening leads eg ♥K on this deal. On the other table North hand opened 2 spades E passed south after a crafty 2NT ( strong inquiry!) played in 4 spades and made.
hmm

Hm... ♠ xxx ♥ x ♦ Jxx ♣ AKQxxx
Hard to believe that declarer made only one grand-slam try with his useful ten-count

[gwnn]

hmm indicates missing 2 aces?!?!!?

nigel actually it has Kxx of spades (I think)

[nige1]

gwnn, on 2010-December-20, 06:24, said:

hmm indicates missing 2 aces?!?!!?
nigel actually it has Kxx of spades (I think)

Yes. Thanks.