LEARNING CENTER

1. Yes, I advocate 2/1 GF, but with 5+ cards in a major, you have to start with it.  A jump to 2 is not 2/1 GF (most play it as weak). Even if you play the jump-response as strong, this isn't strong enough.

4. Facing spade support, you know you want to play in spades.

Facing a minimum opening bid, you know you want to play in game.

Just bid it.

Win anywhere, draw trump, cash the other heart, then play A and another club.
This is a 100% line (barring a 9-0 heart break, so let's make it 99.999999999% and ask West why he didn't bid his 9-card suit).

Once hearts are gone and trumps are drawn, you can throw the opponents in to break diamonds or give you a ruff and sluff.

Play a club. No matter which opponent wins it, help is on the way. You can't/won't lose 3 diamond tricks.

2. Playing the king might allow the defense to take 3 diamond tricks. Playing low will lose to East, who then has to help you. The full deal is below:

Playing the K would lead to down 1. Playing low, endplays East.

East could have doubled 4 to suggest a lead of dummy's diamond suit. That would have set the contract (East wins trick 1 and exits in clubs).

Click here to play practice deal #4.