[pescetom]

W1)

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W2)

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Your call as West?

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2026-September-11, 15:44, said:

Might fly in Italy, but over here doubles are for the opponents bid.

I caused havoc in an Italian national tournament when on first board I promptly doubled partner for takeout.

Here you put up the diagram and I was too grateful to notice the Dealer change, also driving 1200km while replying

East opened, it's not difficult to follow after that.

[apollo1201]

Late to the 2nd part ;-)

3C is fine for me, HCP is ok (although minimal) with their location decent, the suit is ok, and the 64 shape is a plus (over a move from p we can show S cheaply). Xing is calling for trouble when partner then bids some number of D. Pass is a bit wimpish, it is a bidder s game. And it it goes 3 or 4H pass pass we have less regrets and helped partner.

For W with no defense against 4S (we may score Q, HA and a trick in partner s hand), 4H is the call. The shape is flattish and could result in -500. On the 2nd case we fear less a mirror distribution opposite as the overcall in our xxx make partner favorite to hold longer D than me.

[pescetom]

apollo1201, on 2026-September-12, 01:39, said:

Late to the 2nd part ;-)

3C is fine for me, HCP is ok (although minimal) with their location decent, the suit is ok, and the 64 shape is a plus (over a move from p we can show S cheaply). Xing is calling for trouble when partner then bids some number of D. Pass is a bit wimpish, it is a bidder s game. And it it goes 3 or 4H pass pass we have less regrets and helped partner.

For W with no defense against 4S (we may score Q, HA and a trick in partner s hand), 4H is the call. The shape is flattish and could result in -500. On the 2nd case we fear less a mirror distribution opposite as the overcall in our xxx make partner favorite to hold longer D than me.

I fully agree on both points. And it is exactly what happened at our table. Let's progress to North.

[pescetom]

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Your call as North?

[DavidKok]

5♣. I think 4NT (good clubs raise) is too optimistic with this hand, though others might disagree.

[jillybean]

I want to act but have no agreements over 4H, so 5C it is. 4nt is undiscussed and likely get a keycard response.

I am happy to see the discussion back on track. You know my hand diagrams need a second glance.

[pescetom]

In North I bid 5♣ too. For better or worse, we do have the agreement that 4NT is RKCB here (under duress by opponents, no cheaper way to fix trumps, natural is not logical), but we do not want to be in slam opposite 2 keycards meaning Axx(x) in our poor spades (trump K is certain) and at best a singleton in hearts.

[pescetom]

MP

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West leads ♥A against 5♣.
Plan your play?

[jillybean]

I need to keep spades losers to one
Ruff second heart, pull trump finishing in dummy. Spade 8, let it run

[Kaitlyn S]

jillybean, on 2026-September-12, 10:19, said:

I need to keep spades losers to one
Ruff second heart, pull trump finishing in dummy. Spade 8, let it run

Late to the party on this one. I raise to 4H whether 3C is bid or not. Play in 5C seems pretty easy - Jillybean's line.

[DavidKok]

jillybean, on 2026-September-12, 10:19, said:

I need to keep spades losers to one
Ruff second heart, pull trump finishing in dummy. Spade 8, let it run

Spoiler

Please eliminate the diamonds before playing on spades to make it guaranteed with clubs 2-1. On the actual diamonds layout a partial elimination is enough, so you can even beat clubs 3-0.

[kerkido]

DavidKok, on 2026-September-12, 12:41, said:

Spoiler

Please eliminate the diamonds before playing on spades to make it guaranteed with clubs 2-1. On the actual diamonds layout a partial elimination is enough, so you can even beat clubs 3-0.

Spoiler

What does this achieve? Even if clubs 3-0 and you don't touch diamonds, if West wins the spade and returns a diamond, can't you now claim as your spades go on the extra diamond?

As long as you didn't accidentally block the clubs when drawing them.

[mikeh]

David’s line is how one would play absent the diamond 10. When I started a post, I’d started as if we had Kx in hand, in which case one tests trump and, if 2-1, pulls a second round, eliminates diamonds, crosses in trump to lead a spade…even the 4 works so long as we play the 9 or 10, ducking unless east plays an honour. If clubs are 3-0, pull trump, play three rounds of diamonds and lead a spade…if west wins he’s endplayed absent a fourth diamond, in which case you fall back on a second spade finesse.

109% cold on 2-1 trumps and fails only on 3-0 trump, and west holding both KQ in spades and 4+ diamonds. I like my chances.

But with K10 of diamonds in hand, don’t play for the elimination…pull trump and run a spade through east. West is toast.

[pescetom]

Here is the full board, if it helps anyone get the decisions into focus.

MP

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My partner ruffed ♥K, pulled the three trumps then played off the diamonds before tackling spades.
I felt it could never gain and one should simply tackle spades, East who opened is pretty much marked with a spades honour after the first two tricks anyway.
Interesting to see it analysed more deeply.

Not a remarkable board, but typical of the decisions one has to get consistently right in the MP battle.
At local level 5♣ making was a joint top, at national level still 67% with many others in a partial or going down undoubled in this or some other contract.

[Cyberyeti]

Need to save in 5♥

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-13, 02:46, said:

Need to save in 5♥

Yes, but not that easy for either to decide; East is worried about hearts Ace, West about clubs.
At national level about 20% did save, hopefully not after head scratching by East.

[mike777]

Opening 3H was interesting

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-September-13, 07:51, said:

Opening 3H was interesting

2♥ is normal