[patroclo]

What is the only possible contract

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[Lord Molyb]

EW looks to be making 2NT since the hearts are blocked and there's no entry into north's hand, don't see a makable contract for N/S since EW have 7 top tricks, don't see a contract for E/W better than 2NT.
West dealer, west opens 1♠ - P - 1NT - P - 2♦ - P - 2NT - P - 3NT or pass
South/North/East dealer, south opens 1♣ - 1♠ - P - 1NT - P - 2♦ - P - 2NT - P - 3NT or pass

[patroclo]

Lord Molyb, on 2013-October-23, 11:51, said:

EW looks to be making 2NT since the hearts are blocked and there's no entry into north's hand, don't see a makable contract for N/S since EW have 7 top tricks, don't see a contract for E/W better than 2NT.
West dealer, west opens 1♠ - P - 1NT - P - 2♦ - P - 2NT - P - 3NT or pass
South/North/East dealer, south opens 1♣ - 1♠ - P - 1NT - P - 2♦ - P - 2NT - P - 3NT or pass

there isn't a true declared hand. But a quiz with open cards

[PhilKing]

Spoiler

I quite fancy 4♥ redoubled. You have seven tricks in aces and kings and three ruffs to go with them.

[Zelandakh]

Every N/B plsyer should be taught to bid 4♥ on these cards. This was an excellent learning thread for anybody learning the game.

[EricK]

Zelandakh, on 2013-October-23, 15:32, said:

Every N/B plsyer should be taught to bid 4♥ on these cards. This was an excellent learning thread for anybody learning the game.

There are 4 lessons from this hand which are useful for any N/B player

1. Aces and Kings are very useful. Not only are they a valuable source of quick tricks, but they also allow you to control the play better (eg here, the ♥A is far more useful than the ♥KQ would be as it stops defense drawing two rounds of trumps)
2. When taking ruffs, it is often a good idea to cash tricks in other suits first. If declarer tries to ruff spades too early, North can discard a ♣.
3. Never give up! However bad a contract looks, there might be a lie of the opposing cards which allows you to make.
4. There are almost infinite depths to the game - there is always something new to see or learn.

[ahydra]

EricK, on 2013-October-23, 15:59, said:

There are 4 lessons from this hand which are useful for any N/B player

1. Aces and Kings are very useful. Not only are they a valuable source of quick tricks, but they also allow you to control the play better (eg here, the ♥A is far more useful than the ♥KQ would be as it stops defense drawing two rounds of trumps)
2. When taking ruffs, it is often a good idea to cash tricks in other suits first. If declarer tries to ruff spades too early, North can discard a ♣.
3. Never give up! However bad a contract looks, there might be a lie of the opposing cards which allows you to make.
4. There are almost infinite depths to the game - there is always something new to see or learn.

You missed one: ruff with the highest trump you can afford. Here (assuming a non-heart lead) you will be rather embarrassed if you spot the winning line, but ruff a club with the 5 instead of the 9.

ahydra

[the hog]

Look at the title. Surely there are many possible contracts.

[Fluffy]

EricK, on 2013-October-23, 15:59, said:

There are 4 lessons from this hand which are useful for any N/B player

1. Aces and Kings are very useful. Not only are they a valuable source of quick tricks, but they also allow you to control the play better (eg here, the ♥A is far more useful than the ♥KQ would be as it stops defense drawing two rounds of trumps)
2. When taking ruffs, it is often a good idea to cash tricks in other suits first. If declarer tries to ruff spades too early, North can discard a ♣.
3. Never give up! However bad a contract looks, there might be a lie of the opposing cards which allows you to make.
4. There are almost infinite depths to the game - there is always something new to see or learn.

There is a more important rule, playing with more trumps than opponents is the way to success. One that is much more important for novices than those.

I think it had a name, someone´s law, but I don´t remember.

EDIT: Thanks to Tyler and Robert, its Burn's law

[TylerE]

Burn(e)'s