Hand of the Week

West opens 1D, nice hand, 6 losers.    

North overcalls 1H.    

East bids 1S. This could be a 4-card suit, but it's probably at least 5 spades. With only 4 spades it's best to double here as responder, if you're in agreement with partner.

South doesn't have much but they have five lovely hearts for partner, so a 10-card fit.   2H is ok, prepared to go again.    Or you can be a bit pushy and jump to 3H, even 4H, partner shouldn't get too excited with West being the opening hand.

West can bid diamonds again, but it's probably wiser to support partner's spades, spades outbids hearts at the same level, and spades scores more than diamonds.

North has a 5-loser hand, so once South has supported hearts the hand becomes stronger, you can go to 4H.   And you're non-vuln and the opps are vulnerable, put the pressure on.   If they double 4H for penalty you won't go for much, and the opps may have 600+ for Game.

East has 6-losers, and if partner has supported the spades then it's worth going 4S, remember partner opened the bidding.    Or maybe West should bid 4S.

As we can see, 4H makes, partly because the king of clubs scores. The singletons allow declarer to crossruff spades and diamonds.

Even one light doubled would be a good sacrifice.  In fact North-South should bid 5H over 4S as a sacrifice.   EW have a 600 Game, so NS can happily go for -500 which would be -3 doubled.

East-West have Game in spades or diamonds, and spades scores better. Bidding slam with the opposition bidding so strongly would be brave.   To make 6S you have to finesse twice in spades to pick up the Queen, the clubs can be pitched on the diamonds.   Similarly in 6D, you have to finesse the queen of spades twice and then use the long spades to pitch the club losers.

- Giles