How will the bidding go on this hand? So much will depend on individual agreements. It's clear enough that North opens 1♦(though there might be a rogue 1NT opener with two questionable doubletons). Will East bid? 2♣? South has no problem passing. West will try 2♥ if East has acted. If 1♦ passed around to West, approaches vary: some say 1♥ would deny holding more than 9-10 points and would double. Others just bid the hearts. No one will get very high, but either major is safe at the two level.

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Lynn Berg typically provides analysis for 299ers on boards 1-18. Additionally, analysis for more advanced players is available for boards 1, 3, 5-6, and 9.

The Bidding: North has a choice of opening 1NT or 1♦. If North opens 1♦ and South responds 1NT, North is in an awkward position. North prefers to open 1NT to narrowly show their strength and avoid a rebid problem. Defenses to a 1NT opening vary by partnership agreement. Defenses like Cappelletti and Hello offer penalty doubles, but risk reaching the 3-level with major-minor 2 suiters. Continuations after a penalty double can be complex if the opponents run. Much of the advice Adam Kaplan and Steve Weinstein share in their "Taming the Weak Notrump" applies after a strong notrump is doubled. Methods such as DONT , Meckwell , and Woolsey make it easier to wind up at the 2-level after showing a 2-suiter and avoid the complexity following a penalty double.

At tables where East-West play DONT, East's 2♣ overcall shows clubs and another suit. If playing Meckwell, East's 2♣ overcall shows clubs and a major. If playing the Woolsey defense, East's double advertises a 4-card major and a longer minor. East does have 5 spades, but it looks like a 4-card suit. After a 2♣ overcall (or double), West could show their robust heart suit. With 3-5-3-2 distribution, West prefers to ask for East's 2nd suit by bidding 2♦. If East-West play DONT, West's 2♦ bid is pass or correct. So North must pass. A double would be takeout oriented. East-West settle in 2♠. Over Meckwell or Woolsey, 2♦ asks for partner's major. So North can double to show diamonds. South has no interest in defending 2♠. North-South have 17-19 HCP. Allowing the opponents to play in their fit at the 2-level is losing bridge. South prefers to compete to 3♦. The Law of Total Tricks advises East-West not to compete to the 3-level.

At tables where East-West play Cappelletti or Hello, it is risky for East to risk the 3-level. North's 1NT bid is likely to end the auction.

The Play in 1NT: East is likely to lead the ♣King, top of an honor sequence. Declarer takes the ♣Ace. Dummy's ♣10 provides a 2nd club stopper. Cashing the top diamonds offers a 53% chance of scoring 5 diamond tricks and escaping for down 1. Here, West's ♦Queen is guarded, the defense scores 9 tricks: 1♠ + 5♥ + 1♦+ 2♣. +150 will score well for East-West.

The Play in 2♠: If South leads a heart, declarer unblocks by winning the ♥Ace and leads a spade. When South plays the ♠Queen, dummy covers with the ♠Ace. If North-South are playing a 15-17 range, North needs the missing honors to have 15 HCP. South wouldn't be eager to play the ♠Queen from Qx(x). Declarer infers North started with ♠KT98. Declarer runs the hearts through North. When North ruffs, declarer discards their losing diamond. North-South score just 4 tricks: 3♠ + 1♣. On a minor suit lead, North can cash their minor suit winners to hold declarer to 8 tricks.

The Play in 3♦: The "8 Ever, 9 Never" adage advises declarer to attempt to drop the ♦Queen. If East showed a 2-suiter with clubs and spades, the Vacant Spaces principle gives cashing a high diamond and then finessing against West a 74% chance of avoiding a diamond loser. Declarer scores 9 tricks: 1♠ + 2♠ ruffs + 5♦ + 1♣.

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If it's P--P to West, he might be tempted to bid 1♣ since he can pass a reply in either major. East will get the message when he passes 1♠. If West passes, will North try a light opening? He'd be equally content passing 1♦. If it's 1♣--1♦, will West double with the majors? This may be all over the place, though most roads lead to spades for E-W or diamonds for N-S.

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South has a classic 1NT opener. North passes and West is on lead. South will take four club tricks(no one is for-going the finesse with this holding) and his three aces. There's potential for more tricks with a diamond lead, a spade lead or perhaps from the hearts. Poor West--either of his likely leads gives declarer a trick.

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The Bidding: After South opens a strong notrump, West and North have nothing to say. East now has a balancing decision. Since North didn't invite game, North-South should have 15-23 HCP. So East-West should have 17-25 HCP. Generally, it is best to balance with shortness or a semi-balanced hand. See Mel's Rule of 2 . Here, the vulnerability increases the risk of balancing. East's singleton club King merits a downgrade. Few partnerships have methods to show a 3-suiter, but most methods offer a way to show the majors. Defending a non-vulnerable 1NT contract is risky. If you take 7 or 8 tricks on defense, the +50 or +100 will not compensate for what you might have been able to make if you balanced. There is a 60% chance East-West have a 4-4 fit or better in a major. The problem is that if West doesn't have a 4+ card major, East-West may wind up in a 4-3 fit. East's majors are weak. East may be tapped in clubs. The play could be ugly. Even if a major suit is available, it isn't clear a 2♥ or 2♠ contract will score well. 2♥ or 2♠ down 1 will will score poorly if North-South score +90 in 1NT . Taking your chances defending 1NT seems prudent.

At tables where East ventures a bid showing both majors, West takes a preference for spades. North has has a choice between passing, doubling, and bidding 3♣. If playing a 15-17 1NT range, North knows their partnership has 21-23 HCP. 1NT was likely to make. Down 1 undoubled would score better than 1NT making 1, but not as well as 1NT making 2. It is common to play Negative Doubles . So a double would be takeout oriented and show the values to compete to 2NT. The problem with a Negative Double is the lack of tolerance for diamonds. Bidding 3♣ with such poor texture is risky. lebensohl isn't needed here. North has already denied having an invitational or better hand. So 2NT can be played as natural. Some may prefer playing Scrambling 2NT here to show 2 places to play. Either way, bidding 2NT is risky, especially if North-South don't have a solid agreement. Passing 2♠ is also risky. 2♠ down 1 will score well if only 7 tricks are available in notrump, but will not score poorly if 8 tricks are available. 2♠ making will score few Matchpoints . North has a difficult guess. Doubling seems a reasonable risk. If South has 4 spades, they can convert the double for penalty. Doubling brings 2NT, 3♣, 3♦, and 3♥ into play. While a 3♦ rebid would be unwelcome, the other possibilities are reasonable. Here, South doesn't have the spade length to convert the double for penalties. South, with 2 spade stoppers, offers 2NT as the final contract, ending the auction.

The Play in 1NT: In their "Winning Notrump Leads" book, David Bird and Taf Anthias advise aggressive leads "are more attractive against 1NT than against 3NT. The points are more equally divided than they would be against a 3NT contract; you are therefore more likely to find partner with a matching honor in the suit." Here, North and West have a combined 12-14 HCP. Since North didn't make a game move, East will have a good share of the high cards, but there is no assurance East will have a matching honor. At Matchpoints overtricks can be costly. A club lead certainly gives up a tempo, but is likely to be passive otherwise. A passive club lead seems prudent. When dummy tables, declarer sees the club suit is blocked. North's red Jacks aren't likely to provide an entry. To access North's 5th club, declarer needs to play the ♣Ace on the 4th round of clubs. Declarer ducks the club lead and East wins their singleton ♣King. A switch to the ♠Jack finesse declarer's ♠Queen, and allows the defense to score at least 5 tricks. Declarer has an easy path to 7 tricks: 1♠ + 1♥ + 1♦ + 4♣, but some work is required to score an 8th trick. Declarer can play West for a doubleton heart honor, or can Squeeze West on the run of the clubs. At tables where West makes an aggressive lead, declarer is likely to score 9 or more tricks.

The Play in 2♠: At tables where East shows the majors and West declares 2♠, North will want to lead a spade to reduce declarer's ruffing power. South wants to minimize entries to dummy. So South should play low if dummy plays low or cover with the ♠Queen if the ♠Jack (or 10) is played from dummy. If South plays the ♠Ace, the defense cannot draw 3 rounds of trump quickly enough to beat 2♠. If South allows the ♠Jack (or 10) to hold the first trick, declarer will use the entry to take a lobbing finesse through South. Now declarer has the tempo to make 2♠.

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North may open a Rule of 20 1♥, which will probably end up with South declaring in a NT game after South replies 1♠ and then bids the NT game over North's 2♣ rebid. Note that South loses a club trick if he leads the ♣A and drops the ♣Q: now East's ♣J is protected to win a trick. I suspect -100 will be common enough since the tendency will be to play the honor from the shorter side first in clubs.

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Whether South opens 1♠ or 1NT, she'll end up declarer in 4♠, since North would use Stayman. For South to make the game, he will have to have some help from the defense--that ♣ KQ holding with no supporting cards often will have an extra loser if not started by an opponent.

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The Bidding: If South opens 1♠, they will have a rebid problem over a 1NT response. To avoid an awkward rebid, South opens 1NT with a 5-card major . North, with invitational values and 4 spades, responds an artificial 2♣, Stayman. South's 2♠ response shows 4+ spades and denies 4 hearts. North's 10 Support Points suggest jumping to 4♠. North's Losing Trick Count of 9 suggests jumping that jumping to game is too aggressive. Queens and Jacks don't quite carry their HCP value. Inviting game seems best. South, with 17 Support Points and a strong 5-card spade suit, places the contract in 4♠.

The Play: West is likely to lead from their heart or diamond honor sequence. A heart lead could be expensive in North has ♥Jxx and South has ♥Axx. Leading the ♦Jack seems safer. The ♦Jack lead finesses against North's Queen. If East goes up with the ♦Ace, declarer has 2 diamond tricks. Playing the ♦8 could be expensive. So whether East-West use standard attitude signals or Upside Down Attitude signals, East should play the ♦5. Making the right bridge play takes precedence over signaling agreements. Declarer wins the ♦King. At this point, declarer has 7 winners. Declarer can develop a club trick on power. A heart ruff in the short hand or a Dummy Reversal (ruffing 2 diamonds) will provide a 6th trump trick. That only gets declarer to 9 tricks. To score a 10th trick, declarer needs a Squeeze , an end play, or to find East with ♦Axx.

Here, ruffing the 3rd round of diamonds drops East's ♦Ace, establishing North's ♦Queen as a winner. Declarer discards a club loser on the ♦Queen. A club ruff completes the Dummy Reversal. Declarer has 10 tricks: 4♠ + 1♥ + 2♦ + 1♦ ruff + 1♣ + 1♣ ruff. A club lead by West is needed to beat 4♠.

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East may be reluctant, vulnerable, to preempt 3♣, especially with four spades on the side and the club suit far from solid. In that case, South will open 1♦ and West will bid 1♠. North may try a Negative Double since he can support diamonds. East should spring to life when West bids spades; revaluing his hand, he should get the hand to game.

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The Bidding: South's hand meets the Rule of 20 for a 1st or 2nd seat opener. South falls short of the Suggestion of 22 with 1½ quick tricks. South's singleton ♠King merits a bit of a downgrade. South doesn't have a convenient rebid over a 1♠ response. As Steve Weinstein discusses in his "Let's Take a Pass" article, it is often best to pass marginal hands with rebid problems. After South passes, West opens 1♠. East, with 12 Support Points for spades and a potential source of tricks, is strong enough to Splinter opposite a 1st or 2nd seat opener. Opening Light in Third Seat is a common winning tactic. To avoid getting too high opposite a 3rd seat opening, it is common to play some form of Drury . East uses their partnership's Drury agreement to show an invitational or better spade raise.

South would like a diamond lead. At favorable vulnerability, a diamond sacrifice may be profitable. Over an artificial 2♣ Drury response, South can overcall 2♦. Some partnerships use an artificial 2♦ bid as a Drury response. Over an artificial 2♦ Drury bid, South can double to show diamonds. West's 14 Support Points suggest accepting an invitation. West's Losing Trick Count of 8 suggest declining an invitation. Aces are worth more than their 4 HCPs. Declining an invitation would be too pessimistic. East-West are forced to at least 2♠. In competition, it is common to play a direct 2♠ bid as the weakest action. Passing expresses mild game interest. A game try would show stronger game interest. Here, West's hand merits a game try. Help Suit Game Tries often help the defenders by revealing where help is needed. It is better to use Game Tries which ask where help is available. With that agreement, West artificially bids the next step to ask where help is available. East has great help in the minors and mediocre help for hearts. East could jump to 4♠, but West could be looking for slam. East bids 3♣ to say they would accept a game try in clubs. West places the contract at 4♠.

The Lead: North has the luxury of a choice between an honor sequence lead and a singleton lead. In their "Winning Suit Contract Leads" book, David Bird and Taf Anthias advise "Side-suit singletons are usually better leads than those from honor sequences such as K-Q-J or Q-J-10."

The Play: Declarer is likely to suspect the ♣Jack is a singleton. Declarer calls for the ♣Ace and leads a spade. When South plays the ♠King, declarer wins and finesses against North for the ♠Jack. After drawing trump, declarer knocks out the ♣King. Declarer has the tempo to discard their losing diamond. Declarer scores 12 tricks. Here, a heart lead is needed to hold declarer to 11 tricks.

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South opens 1♣ and then bids hearts--either after North bids 1♦ or in support of a 1♥ bid from North. North may just rear back and bid the game--he has 12 HCP and a useful doubleton.What will West lead? A diamond would help the offense, as would the ♠A. If it's a low club, declarer will have to lead toward the ♦Q twice, so he has to plan entries carefully.

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West can make a strong argument for opening 2♣ with all those winners and lovely Kings. Both significant minor suit honors are well-placed to lead to an overtrick. This time, if East responds 1NT to a 1♠ opener, West will just bid the spade game immediately, showing a good hand and a self-sustaining suit.

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With the likely heart lead, South makes 6♦ or 6NT effortlessly. But what if a club is led? Then if he plays low, East takes and ♣K and cashes the ♥A to defeat the contract. Not a problem in 6♦: win the ♣A and eventually pitch the hearts on the long spades, just giving up the ♣K eventually. North can make 6NT since the lead is not through his ♣A.

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The Bidding: North's hand falls short of the Rule of 20 for a 1st or 2nd seat opener. North's hand merits an upgrade for its texture and North's spade honor combination. After North opens 1♣, East overcalls 1♠. South is too strong to jump to 3NT. South's 2♦ response in competition isn't a Two Over One Game Force . It is natural, showing invitational or better values, and is forcing. West has nothing to say. North's 2NT rebid is natural and non-forcing.

To offer 2NT as the final contract, North should have less than 14 HCP. Typically, 2 balanced hands need 33 HCP to make 6NT. South expects their partnership to have 29-30 HCP. South's semi-balanced hand has a source of tricks. Ely Culbertson advised "the partnership is in the slam zone if you can imagine a perfect minimum consistent with partner’s limit bid that makes slam cold." North wouldn't have offered 2NT as the final contract holding a hand like ♠Kxx ♥Axx ♦Axx ♣Kxxx. So some luck will be needed for a slam. East will almost all the missing high cards. East will be on lead against a notrump contract. 12 tricks may be available. A Quantitative slam try will not be helpful. Even if North is a maximum for their 2NT rebid, East-West could have 2 cashing tricks. Gerber might be helpful. If North has 3 Aces, East will likely have the missing black Kings. If North has 2 Aces, South will not know whether a slam is good. South could make a slam try in diamonds, but West would be on lead against a diamond slam. Since slam will need some luck and there isn't a slam try which gives South the information they need, settling for 3NT seems prudent.

The Play: Declarer has 11 quick winners: 4♠ + 6♦ + 1♣. With East holding the ♥Ace, a lobbing finesse can provide declarer's 12 trick. If the lobbing finesse loses, the heart suit will be wide open. If East overcalled 1♠, they should have at least 8 HCP. Without the ♥Ace, East could have at most 7 HCP. Declarer backs their judgment by risking the lobbing finesse. Declarer scores 12 tricks.

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East opens 1♣ with this lovely hand--high hopes. But it passes around to North who doubles. Now East's best bet is 2♣ to deter South. It sounds like East and North have almost all the points. South will pass as will West. Will North double one more time? It pays off this time when they have a 4-4 heart fit.

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North may decide to open 1♥ in third seat. If he opens 1♣, he'd be in trouble with a 1♠ response from partner. But it's a happier story this time. East doubles and South shows a limit raise in hearts. Hands are easier to play when you can locate virtually all the outstanding points. Bonus: trump break 3-2.

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Whether or not East opens 1♦, South bids 1♥. If East did open, West has a preemptive raise in diamonds unless he goes for the Negative Double . Either way, North will probably raise hearts. 4♥ makes when the trump finesse works, but I think part scores are more likely.

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East's 1♦ gets a 1♠ response from West. North doubles with both unbid suits. What will South do now if East passes? Pass is dangerous at the one level, so he might try 1NT. He'll have a long row to hoe in that case unless he's lucky enough to get a heart lead. If West leads the ♦9 and the deuce is played from the dummy, East should let the nine ride. That will hold South to one diamond trick if East is patient.

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West ends up in 3NT; after 1♣--1♠; 2♥ West bids 3NT. Luckily, his spades are solid enough to hold up for a fourth round stopper. Equally lucky, North has the missing club honors as well as the ♦Q. Start clubs by leading the ♣9 and letting it ride.

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South opens 1♠, thrilling North, who musn't get too carried away. South ducks the opening heart lead. What does he do if East wins the ♥K and leads a low club? Yikes! Now the hand will still do well if West has the ♦KJ, but what a risk to take, leading low and putting in the ♦10. And what a rush of relief when it works.

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Pity that West's singleton diamond is opposite the void in East's hand. I can't blame anyone who gets to slam, but the black suit holdings just won't play for no losers. Ah, well.

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North opens 1♦. East bids 3♠. Now South may fear to act with a thready suit and only 11 HCP. No fear--North should reopen with a double and South will now be happy to bid the heart game. But will West go quietly? On equal vulnerability, he can wreck South's party with a 4♠ call.

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When East opens 3♣, South might double (risky but tempting). West should resist anything but a club raise--his points are on the soft side and he must resist overbidding. North just wants this hand over with, but if West passes, all he can do is bid 3♠. Vulnerable it will be a disaster. South should remember to have more points and usually better shape for a double at the three level.

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