[mw64ahw]

This is a two part challenge a) can you get to the optimal contract, and b) can you make it?
Partner made a good effort albeit with what I would describe as an odd auction.

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[mikeh]

How we’re supposed to guess the ‘optimal contract’ when not knowing what opener has is a mystery.

Opposite xx QJxx KJx AKQx I want to play game in notrump, but won’t be able to without, imo, misbidding.

Opposite KJxx AKxx KJx xx I want to be in 7S. Since both hands are 1N opening bids, assuming 15-17, I think the better question is ‘plan your likely auction’.

Presumably, absent a super accept by opener of our 2H transfer, we intend to force to game while showing diamonds, since when partner holds, say, xx AKxx KJxx Axx we’d like to play 6D.

[mw64ahw]

pescetom, on 2026-April-10, 14:22, said:

Something wrong in the diagram: is this the hand of East and if not, what did East call?

Corrected

[pescetom]

I would start with a 2♥ transfer to spades and then (without the improbable super accept) a 3♣ secondary transfer to diamonds.

[apollo1201]

Same as the others, the beginning is rather easy, transfer to S and bid D if nothing special happens.

Methods might impact whether you play 3D as 5+ or just 4+ (with 2NT nat invite or GF relay).

Anyway, it is just the beginning as the tricky part starts when partner s 3NT comes next, another go with 4D or just 4S?

[mw64ahw]

A straightforward start taking the double transfer approach.
If 3♦ suits you better take it from there.

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[Cyberyeti]

Our weak NT auction would start 1♦-2♠ so would not be useful here and would get to 7♦ trivially.

However, I would not open the N hand 1N, it is all aces and kings and has very nice intermediates, I would rate it as closer to 19 than 17, and certainly a decent 18 (K&R as a sense check says 18.5)

[apollo1201]

 mw64ahw, on 2026-April-11, 02:06, said:

A straightforward start taking the double transfer approach.
If 3♦ suits you better take it from there.

if it promises 55, an easy 4D Intending to push high even if opposite can it only be a 10 count. The hand with AKA in the short suits + KS and K to 4th has become truly enormous. I d probably have opened 1D planning to rebid 2NT. Then it is pain sailing.

If it can be a 5431 hand, we are facing the problem of diamonds that do not allow to cue below 3NT that clubs are stopped well in case it is your sg. If partner sg is in H I do not want to play 3NT, if it is in C I would.

Things are going to be murky then. I guess it has to be an ambiguous 3S (I do not like it too much but I cannot cue 3H with blank ace), partner is not supposed to bid 4S with 5 (unless H are wide open). But here they probably will bid sth else and we will hopefully survive. I am not 100% at ease with this recommended treatment where I live but I only had it once IRL but twice here on the forums haha. And it was very controversial for ppl of other countries ( if not fitted your 3S will be slower…). I might even forget it and bid 4D at IMPs.