[jillybean]

---

[apollo1201]

I do not play short suit game tries so it will be from my understanding.

We are max but our hand just lost nearly half of its value with D KQ facing a likely sg. Our black honors will probably be useful though, but the quality of our trumps and our very inoffensive distribution will probably not compensate the 1st disappointment, from what I guess partner could have, sth like Axx KQxxx x AQxx. We will need some luck to bring 10 tricks home.

How stronger or weaker partner could be will probably decide the quality of the 4H contract. Similarly, I am not sure if 3NT is a realistic option facing 5431 or even more unbal.


If all the above is not too untrue, the reason tells us to decline the offer and bid 3H.

[steve2005]

One of te worst possible 10 pt habds and 4333 to boot
clear to decline

[Tramticket]

Did we consider a 1NT response on the previous round?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

you have a max, go.
We are also a passed hand, i.e. 11HCP is the best p can hope for.
you play IMPs, go.

Game trys are to decide coin flips, this is not a coin flip.
Game goes down, so be it.

You could offer 3NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mike777]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-June-23, 13:23, said:

Hi,

you have a max, go.
We are also a passed hand, i.e. 11HCP is the best p can hope for.
you play IMPs, go.

Game trys are to decide coin flips, this is not a coin flip.
Game goes down, so be it.

You could offer 3NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

agree

[jillybean]

Indeed, my brother did offer 3nt and South, despite the 5-3 heart fit, passed.

---

Lead♣J , North taking 9 tricks
Teammates lead ♠J setting the 4♥S contract at the other table. +13 imp gain helped win the South Island Teams.

Sitting south, I am not sure that I would find pass.

[pescetom]

I think you have the diagram upside down

I would not bid 3NT nor pass it either, with 24-25 HCP on the line it is often easier to make 4♥.
It's the diamonds that make either game impossible on good defence here.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

given the 5431 shape, I would not have passed 3NT.

Leading the Jack of diamonds seems more natural, than leading the Jack of clubs,
obv. the risk is, that you are leading in the tenance, so it may be a DD comment.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-June-24, 09:38, said:

I think you have the diagram upside down

I would not bid 3NT nor pass it either, with 24-25 HCP on the line it is often easier to make 4♥.
It's the diamonds that make either game impossible on good defence here.

Thanks, fixed, I was posting it from the Southern Hemisphere I guess

[mike777]

You made a short suit game try, why pull 3NT? You described your hand.

I understand if you bid 4H over 2H but once you involve partner, tell her your hand, passing 3NT is reasonable..

[WasWinM]

After 3D, I bid 2H.
With a 5-loser hand, opener should have bid 4H instead of 3D.

[apollo1201]

 WasWinM, on 2026-June-24, 12:55, said:

After 3D, I bid 2H.
With a 5-loser hand, opener should have bid 4H instead of 3D.

This is also a 5-loser hand
Qxx
KQxxx
x
KQxx

Bidding 4H is a bit exaggerated with the OP hand, and I presume no one moves over 2H with the hand above.