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21 point 1444 -- Board 12: North has 5 1/2 quick tricks but no long suit. Best to open a minor, if you get passed out you are not missing game. 1C leaves maximum room for someone to bid. South responds 1S, as expected; North rebids 2D, a forcing reverse. Ordinarily this promises five cards in the first suit, but the alternative of opening 1D and jumping to 3C suggests five diamonds; there's no perfect bid.
South counts 7 losers with clubs as trumps. Opener's reverse suggests 16+ hcp; at around 3 hcp per trick, that can cover 5 losers, plus at least one spade ruff if North cannot support spades. Smelling a slam in clubs, South can make a straightforward jump to 4C, or rebid the spades first hoping, perversely, opener can't raise. Opener promises the values for at least 2NT and so 2S is forcing in the modern style, without showing or denying extra values; it is routine with any five card suit, but should deny 4 hearts. With no major suit fit, opener bids the obvious 3NT game. South is not done, though; his 4C bid is a clear slam try -- one doesn't pull a game contract to play in a part-score. North bids 4NT, RKCB, South bids 5H to show 2, and North can see zero losers -- responder has shown 5 spades and at least 4 clubs (or 3 and a good hand) leaving only 4 red cards which North obviously has covered. However, 13 tricks may be hard to find; North lets South in on the decision by bidding 5NT to confirm all 5 key cards plus the Queen of clubs. South, however, is uncertain about a possible spade loser and bids only 6C, which North passes. The fifth club, heart Queen and stiff spade make for an easy 13, but 6C making 7 is a top board anyway.
They have 12 spades -- Board 26: East opens 1D; South glances at the vulnerability before passing. West can visualize slam if East has a club control. For example, xxx Kx KJ10xx Axx makes for an easy 12 tricks -- but you'll need that magic 10 of diamonds (or a 3-3 split) to allow overtaking the Queen, assuming they knock out the Ace of clubs early. West's hand looks good for 2H (strong), which may shut out North (who also glances at the vulnerbility.) East bids 3C, West 3H as planned -- the clubs are too poor to raise with in a slam auction, while the hearts are self-sufficient. East can show his heart support and the spade void by jumping to 5S; if that might confuse partner, East can bid 4NT to check on key cards, West replies 5S to show 2 plus the Queen, and East bids a practical 6H, unsure which side Ace partner holds. 6H making 7 ties for a top -- no reason to risk such a good score chasing a grand slam.
I'm sure most West reponded 1H; now North is likely to bid a bold 2S or a timid 1S. East can make a support double to show 3 card support if those have been agreed. (A support double is by opener, only, after partner has responded 1H or 1S, only, and 4th hand bids. Not a convention for casual partnerships!)
Not playing support doubles, East bids a slow 3C, 3D or 3H. The break in tempo will be obvious but does not create a problem as long as East bids; West cannot know whether East considered a stronger or weaker move. A slow pass, however, strongly suggest extra values and can limit West's ethical choices.
3C seems the most flexible call, though it risks missing a better fit in diamonds or hearts. South leaps to 4S -- his shape is poor, but E/W are unlikely to double your 12 card fit at this level. All of West's cards look better for offense than defense; he's sure to bid either 5C or 5H. The near-solid major looks best. East has shown a good hand but no heart support and along with the void a raise to 6H is justified. This should end the bidding unless South thinks 12 trumps = bid for 12 tricks; down 5 doubled and vulnerable is 1400, slightly better than 6H making but hardly a triumph. E/W tie for a top with 1460.
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