[apollo1201]

Not sure the bidding operation was a success…but the patient survived.

MPs, red vs green, W deals and opens 2S, and an unexpected hand for N:

AKxx
AKxx
-
K98xx

If you pass, E will add 1 unit to the total number of S tricks his side contracts.

I will post later what partner did and my hand as S. But the 1st question was really how to handle this hand. A very good player had a different auction at her table so we really are in the dark.

[mike777]

Pass,

The partner with short spades should strain to bid..

[mikeh]

Some hands are just too tough. Anyone who claims they know what is best here is either a genius or deluded.

Ranking from worst to my best guess, and with no high degree of confidence:

Double. Begs for diamonds.

Pass. Begs to defend 2S cold for 6C (xx Qx xxxx AJxxx, and he could have better and no bid)

2N. Begs to have them run diamonds when cold for a club slam

3C. Suit is way too weak. But at least it gets us in the auction, which will, I think and hope, be a good thing most of the time


Not on my list but I have a sneaking admiration for 3H. If it works, it really works.

[mw64ahw]

Assuming a standardish 2♠ opener, West's most likely shapes are 6232 or 6♠3♦(31). This leaves 10♦ outstanding. Now taking our 17 points and opener's ~8 leaves 15.

I'd add 3N to the list above.

Looking on the positive side, 2N may find the ♥ fit, but could be an issue if 3♣ forces 3♦ then Pass

[apollo1201]

Wow. Having someone like Mike write some hands are just to tough days it all.

My partner produced a possibility not listed above, a leaping Michael (or so I believe it is called) of 4C, (very) strong 2-suiter with C and the other M.

RHO but 4S and there you go with

x
T9xxx
Axxx
QJx


Not knowing that the 4C bid was slightly twisted, and even more the 4S bid…up to you now.

[AL78]

apollo1201, on 2026-April-22, 05:23, said:

Wow. Having someone like Mike write some hands are just to tough days it all.

My partner produced a possibility not listed above, a leaping Michael (or so I believe it is called) of 4C, (very) strong 2-suiter with C and the other M.

RHO but 4S and there you go with

x
T9xxx
Axxx
QJx


Not knowing that the 4C bid was slightly twisted, and even more the 4S bid…up to you now.

5♥, a double fit and the ace covering one of partner's possible losers, we could easily have 11 tricks with 4♠X inadequate compensation.

[mw64ahw]

apollo1201, on 2026-April-22, 05:23, said:

My partner produced a possibility not listed above, a leaping Michael (or so I believe it is called) of 4C, (very) strong 2-suiter with C and the other M.

Good call
Now after 4♠ what do Pass, X & 5♥ mean?

[Cyberyeti]

I refrained from commenting because I couldn't be objective knowing there was a raise coming.

Opposite 4♣ the way we play it, I would be seriously considering 6♥, this hand is not right for that in texture, Axxx, AKxx, void, AKxxx I could live with it, but the suits aren't good enough.

Also I would probably want 5 hearts and 4 clubs rather than the other way round, as there's too much risk of playing in a badly breaking moyesian.

[mike777]

Unfortunately, this OP hand is not a strong two suited hand. As such Leaping or NLM not a viable option.

[mikeh]

apollo1201, on 2026-April-22, 05:23, said:

Wow. Having someone like Mike write some hands are just to tough days it all.

My partner produced a possibility not listed above, a leaping Michael (or so I believe it is called) of 4C, (very) strong 2-suiter with C and the other M.

RHO but 4S and there you go with

x
T9xxx
Axxx
QJx


Not knowing that the 4C bid was slightly twisted, and even more the 4S bid…up to you now.

While opposite a genuine 4C bid slam will often have good play, I learned many years ago that in these pressure situations it’s usually best to swing low. As Hamman is reputed to have said ‘don’t play me for the magic cards, I won’t have them’. Of course, every now and then even Hamman does have the magic cards. Ax AKQxx x A10xxx is actually a middle of the road 4C but Kx AQJxx x A109xx is also possible for most. I am reminded of a tournament report in a Bridge World in which the reporter said, of leaping Michaels bids, something to the effect that no matter that it’s forcing to game, in expert circles it’s being done on ever lighter hands. The lesson is :do not hang partner.

All of that is by way of saying I’d bid 5H

[apollo1201]

Thanks all again.

To answer some questions, it was a pick up partner at the club tournament and we had clearly not discussed things so extensively as defense against week 2.

I also did not think are we in a forcing pass situation…not sure partner knows the concept anyway but in an established partnership it should be clarified.

Anyway I thought oops had 10 spades leaving partner with a doubleton and therefore sg D, and with 5 hearts in my hand AK 5th would be enough while my QJ C would be ok to solidify AK 5th C, or a successful finesse might also work.

Now I take note of MikeH experience seeing this bid with « not so strong » hands. And I will remember not to play for magic hands especially when space is scarce to investigate.

I also considered that having played against East I thought he would take a save at 6S. I did not know ha was already flying high with Jx S and A 5th of C. So he left me play my 6H, but trumps turned out 22.

Opener had a clear 1S with Q to 6, Qx KQJ to 5 and void.

Our auction was definitely not scientific and quite lucky at the end but comments here say it was hard to bid and probably safer to take the low road.