[AL78]

MPs, playing Acol, weak NT, scratch partnership, standard of the field is low (NGS around 44%) if that matters.

My partner held this extreme hand:

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What do you call and how do you vision the auction going?

[DavidKok]

There is an interesting inference here. South did not jump overcall 2♥, North did not raise, we have zero hearts. With six hearts it is normal for West to pass and convert a takeout double to penalties. I think West most likely has exactly 5 hearts, with South having 5 or very possibly six, and North either having a weak hand with 3 or a slightly wider range with 2 hearts.
The strength distribution around the table is also interesting. For all that we have a very good club suit, we only have 10 HCP. Partner's bid is showing 6-10, so the opponents have at least half the pack. I think it is most likely that partner has a maximum for the 1NT bid, South has a near-maximum 1♥ overcall, and North has the remaining few HCP.

As for what to bid, I'm somewhat stuck. Normally when we bid on shape we're looking for a fit, and this auction just yells 'misfit' at the top of its lungs. If I bid 2♠ partner will likely blast 3NT with a maximum, which is what I expect them to hold. If the clubs come in that likely has play, if not we do not stand much of a chance. Maybe 2♣ is better, relying on South's presumed extra strength to take another action.

[AL78]

That is an excellent analysis and you have inferred well. I will post the full hand after (if) one or two others have given their thoughts.

[AL78]

Sorry I have realised I haven't got the auction quite right, North did raise hearts.

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[mw64ahw]

I had a similar 7-5-1-0 hand last night

Playing any approach I'd favour opening 1♠ and then keep rebidding ♣s

Having opened 1♣ though, I'd bid 2♠ and then hopefully 3♠.

[TylerE]

Also a 1♠ then ♣ and ♣ and more ♣ bidder. Not selling out below game.

[AL78]

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Now what?

[TylerE]

Pass. what else? It's MP, isn't it? Sure sounds like partner has a primary heart hand.

[mw64ahw]

AL78, on 2025-August-01, 05:18, said:

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Now what?

Toss a coin
Heads - Pass and hope you can run the ♣ with responder providing a couple of tricks
Tails - 4♣ You have a self-sustaining suit.

[DavidKok]

AL78, on 2025-August-01, 05:18, said:

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Now what?

This is quite a different auction. Over 2♥, we already know that partner has hearts. We also already know that partner does not have spades. For me 2♠ is a competitive bid, not a strength bid - with extra values we would double or bid 3♥. The 3NT bid is very surprising to me - partner's hand is limited to approximately 10. We know they have primary hearts. They know we know they have primary hearts. There is no need to tell us again. Our 2♠ has denied strength, and they are limited.
Now I understand that partner likely has that maximum within the range, as I gave as a prediction on the other auction. Note that some of my HCP inferences are not as sound on this auction, but it seems the prediction was accurate all the same. Still, that is no excuse for bidding the same hand twice. For me 3NT here can only be based on club support, since we've announced that to be our longest suit. However, and forgive me for the lack of trust, I think it is more probable that partner has misbid. People really struggle on these competitive auctions, and maybe partner did not understand that we already had a good read of their hand and that 2♠ here is competitive only. Harping on this point a bit more: partner can likely also see this in their own hand. With 5 (or possibly 4) hearts in their hand and the opponents bidding to 2♥ they know we are short. If we are short in hearts with a strong unbalanced hand, why aren't we doubling? Bingo, it's because despite partner's length in hearts we want to play in one of our long suits.

[AL78]

The full deal:

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+100 our way was worth 72%.

It was surprising that four pairs in 4♥ and one pair in 5♥ didn't get doubled which helped our score a fair bit.

[DavidKok]

Very nice, partner did have the club support! I am still not a fan of the leap to 3NT, but it worked out well here. South should really have bid again over 2♠ instead of waiting a round.

[AL78]

DavidKok, on 2025-August-01, 06:33, said:

Very nice, partner did have the club support! I am still not a fan of the leap to 3NT, but it worked out well here. South should really have bid again over 2♠ instead of waiting a round.

Looking at it again I should have bid 3♣ instead of blasting 3NT. I had it in my mind partner was showing a decent opening hand and I bid what I thought we could make. South, belonging to the anti-defenders club, gave me a gift with that awful 4♥ bid. I didn't consider the possibility that bidding a second suit could be weak with distribution and strong hands will always go through a double, but your reasoning makes sense.