Reverse

Note: This post contains some VERY COMPLICATED BIDDING.

Hi Heidi,

We ran into another hand below that we would appreciate your guidance.

EW vulnerable, North is dealer:

North
♠
♥AK842
♦KQ
♣QJ9765

South
♠KT95
♥Q
♦A62
♣AKT42

With five ♥ and six ♣, should North open with 1♥ or 1♣?

How should NS bid the rest of the auction?

Heidi's Answer:

I like to open my LONGEST suit first unless I am worried I might not get a chance to bid my other suit because I am so weak.

Here I am definately strong enough to show both suits. I am planning on opening 1♣ and, if forced, later on reverse into my ♥ suit.

Normally this shows 17+ HCP but here I am VERY strong distributionally so I don't mind I am a couple of points short.

South will first respond 1♠ and then after North's reverse, game force with 3♣.

North can just raise ♣ and South can start to cue-bid. Once North hears about the A♦ all they care about is the AK♣. Bidding 5NT asks about those. This does involve getting to the 6 level minimum. North must hope that South has at least one of the two top honours.

South will bid 7♣ to say they have them.

Suggested Auction:

Note that this auction involves reverses, cue-bids, Grand Slam Force and a little bit of hoping for the best. You really have to play all of these to get to the grand legitimately.

N	E	S	W
			Pass
1♣	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♥	Pass	3♣	Pass
4♣	Pass	4♦	Pass
5NT	Pass	7♣	Pass
Pass	Pass

For more on Reverses check out this link:
Simple Reverses
Reverses Part II
Reverses Part III
Reverses IV - Responding to a Reverse
Reverses V - Responding with FIVE in your Original Major
Reverses VI - Openers rebids when Responder has shown a five card Major
Reverses VII - Responding with SIX in your Original Major or Bidding 3NT

For more on Grand Slam Force check out this link:
Grand Slam Force