[pescetom]

I was West on this tricky board in the teams tournament.

IMPs

---

Your call now?

[paulg]

With a minimum opener and sterile distribution, do your seventh heart and your (likely) improved ♦K justify another bid at this stage?

I would not criticise 3♥ but it is probably better to pass.

[jillybean]

Yes, with 7 hearts, KT diamond and perhaps even a useful J spade, I bid 3♥ but I usually play MP, not IMP
I hear a voice telling me that I do still have a partner.

[mw64ahw]

If you'd overcall a pre-emptive minor opening with this hand then I think 3♥ makes sense here.

[pescetom]

I was wondering if people play some form of Unusual vs Unusual in this situation where Responder has bid the other major: if 3D remains a good raise in spades then 3C could be a hand worth a natural 3H rebid and 3H this hand.

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-March-30, 01:50, said:

I was wondering if people play some form of Unusual vs Unusual in this situation where Responder has bid the other major: if 3D remains a good raise in spades then 3C could be a hand worth a natural 3H rebid and 3H this hand.

Exactly what we play

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-March-30, 02:25, said:

Exactly what we play

Good to hear, thanks.

I was wishing I had that, but bid 3H anyway. In partial defence, my style is that 3M rebids are strictly limited even without interference and by agreement a 1S response denies most hands with 3+ card hearts support.

[pescetom]

IMPs

---

Your call now as East?

[mw64ahw]

6♦ - should be happy in either Major and this shows a void in case the grand may be on. Preference for Hearts Spades

[Cyberyeti]

mw64ahw, on 2026-March-30, 06:25, said:

6♦ - should be happy in either Major and this shows a void in case the grand may be on. Small preference for Hearts

Slam is likely to be bad here, 5 might not even be good. You probably need hearts 2-2 to make slam even with the spade onside and club offside as is most likely.

[mw64ahw]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-March-30, 06:37, said:

Slam is likely to be bad here, 5 might not even be good. You probably need hearts 2-2 to make slam even with the spade onside and club offside as is most likely.

It may well be bad, but I'd go for the slam regardless - in fact I would like South on lead so preference is for Spades

[mike777]

5S

[Cyberyeti]

mw64ahw, on 2026-March-30, 07:10, said:

It may well be bad, but I'd go for the slam regardless - in fact I would like South on lead so preference is for Spades

South leads his stiff heart, this really doesn't look good now

[pescetom]

IMPs

---

Cyberyeti spotted the dangers well, even if with prior knowledge of the hand of East

[pescetom]

My partner bid 6♠, reasoning that South could be 2-1 in majors either way, but I was likely to have at least Kx with AK in hearts and that the protected ♣Q might make the difference.
Down 1.
Our team mates (having faced 4♠+1 on a less aggressive auction) were understandably unhappy.
I'm open to arguments for a pass (or better agreement) by West or for a different bid by East after 5♦, hence the post.
Thanks to those who contributed so far.

[Cyberyeti]

I'm happy bidding 5♥ over 5♦ or taking 500 out of 5♦ (or 100/300 when 5♥ doesn't make), I can see the danger from the E hand alone and why hearts looks better than spades.

10♣ is a huge card in dummy, allows you to make 5♠ on a heart lead.