Play with an Expert

East has a very fine hand but once partner has passed may decide that a slam is unlikely. If so opening 4H should stop NS bidding at all. On this hand start at the end and work backwards. If you do not think slam is an option, but game is bid it. After this opening it is very difficult for the vulnerable NS to find the good sacrifice in 4S. On this hand South make an attacking lead, declarer might be about to draw trumps and run a side suit.

This contract is completely safe played by S as EW cannot attack Hearts without conceding two tricks in the suit. However 3 NT by N should be defeated after a Heart lead. Even if declarer wins the first Heart with the King when he tries to set up Spade tricks before cashing Clubs an alert West should win the Ace of Spades on the first round and return the J of hearts. Whether North covers this with Queen or not the defence takes four Heart tricks straightaway to defeat the contract.

West will of course will Pass and North has one of those awkward 4441 shape hands. In Acol the classical opening is the “suit below the singleton”. If North opens 1H South has a choice of actions. His aim should be to show a good hand in support of Hearts; a raise to 3H would not be unreasonable as in Acol this shows 10-11 high card points and four card support. Some Souths may think that their shape needs more aggressive action and may bid 4H directly. (More advanced bidders may try a “splinter” bid of 4D, this shows 10-12 high card points, four card trump support and a singleton in the bid suit).
Whatever South does North is unlikely to be encouraged to go beyond game. Although the computer says 6H can be made, in practice North has some choices in the play and depending how many he gets right will make 10, 11 or 12 tricks.

Another approach is that given in the bidding. When North rebids 4H, an astute South will deduce partner has at least 9 cards in clubs and hearts, or a very good hand. With such lovely support in both suits, this may be a prompt to make a slam try by asking for aces.

With both majors do not open a weak barrage style bid. Why not? The point of upping the anti is to make it difficult for the opponents to bid the other major. So quite simply, when you hold it - they probably don't! On this auction the NS struggle to find their fit, and you have participated constructively with partner. On this hand 2H is high enough for EW; although it may be defeated by one trick NS can make nine tricks in clubs.