Hand of the Week

East has a powerful hand, 6-5 shape with a void and the king of clubs probably makes a trick. You can open these hands 1S and then jump to 3H, even 4H.   You could possibly open a strong 2D. (It's not legal to open it 2C.)

Of course North opens 1D.    Now you have to compete loudly, overcall 1S and rebid hearts twice if necessary.    Or you can start with a double and if partner shows a major suit you raise to Game.     Another way is to overcall 2D, a Michaels cue bid showing both majors, and then raise partner to Game.

After any of these overcalls by East, South is going to support partner's diamonds. Partner might only have four diamonds but you have at least a 9-card fit and you can compete to the 3-level, so raise 2D prepared to go again.

West shouldn't be shut out here.   If East has overcalled 1S then you can raise to 2S, even with 5 points. Again, you have a known 9-card fit, compete !

North has a good hand too, 6 losers, and will keep going, possibly to 5D. 5D might not be making, but 5S has good chances. The vulnerability matters - EW have a nonV game, 420+ only. NS are vulnerable so if 5D goes down it may be better for EW to defend, as long as you double.  East has an offensive hand, rather than defensive tricks, so I think they push on to 5S.

EW can make 480 fairly easily in spades with the HK finessing. 5D goes -2, but undoubled that's only -200.   Doubled it's -500, so just better for EW.

There's a saying in bridge - "six-five come alive". These hand shapes are powerful, assuming you can find a fit.

Board 15 South has 5-6 shape, 5 hearts and 6 diamonds. I break the rules here and open 1H, rebidding diamonds, pretending it's 5-5 shape.

Board 23 West has the same, 5 hearts and 6 diamonds, and again I would open 1H.

- Giles