[twcho]

Scoring: IMP

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How to reach the best contract? (I suppose to be 4♠)

[jdonn]

I would have bid
1NT - 2NT (♦ Xfer)
3♦ (likes them) - 3♥ (shortness)
3NT ppp

Who knows, there is a decent chance they lead a heart from the queen on this auction.

I suppose 4♠ is best, probably, but there is not much to choose between that and 3NT if you ask me.

[bid_em_up]

I'm not so certain that 4♠ is all that much better than 5♦.

Assume the defense starts with 3 rounds of clubs, you really cant afford to ruff in the long ♠ hand (unless you want to play for 3-3 spades), so you pitch from dummy and you're back in the same position you would be in if you were in 5♦ (having to guess the ♦ suit for no losers). And you will still lose 4♠ any time spades are 5-4-3-1 (or even worse 6-4-3-0) around the table.

5♦ only depends on picking up the ♦ suit. Since it is IMPs, not MP, my vote would go for being in 5♦. Thats easy enough to do.

1N 2N 3D (non-super accept) 3S 4H 5D

[cherdano]

I am sure I would bid the same as Josh. Bidding anything else but 3N over 3♥ might lead to the right game opposite a hand like this, but implies too much values for slam in case that is partner's interest (apart from leading to the wrong game opposite a hand with club values).

Arend

[twcho]

Quote

Assume the defense starts with 3 rounds of clubs, you really cant afford to ruff in the long ♠ hand (unless you want to play for 3-3 spades), so you pitch from dummy and you're back in the same position you would be in if you were in 5♦ (having to guess the ♦ suit for no losers). And you will still lose 4♠ any time spades are 5-4-3-1 (or even worse 6-4-3-0) around the table.

I think u can ruff the 3rd ♣ with small trump and then cash ♦A and play towards ♦K, if the ♦ shortness is with LHO, then he rates to have longer trumps and he will gain nothing in ruffing ♦ so he has to duck the ♦. After scoring two ♦ tricks, it is not difficult to come to 10 tricks by cross ruffing then.

[bid_em_up]

deleted

[Codo]

I would reach 3 NT by a way similar to Joshs suggestion.
I am still not convinced, that 4 ♠ is the best contract.
If rho has the shortness in diamonds, you will always loose.
But in 3 NT, is it really possible, that they never touch Clubs even after winning a diamond trick.