The most interesting hand (or certainly most successful) hand for me was Board 2. Without interference, 7D is very findable, but was only found 3 out of the 48 times played. One of those was at our table, where opposition then bid 7H which was doubled and went 9 down (2300 v 2140 if you are wondering – though it is possible to get out for 1700). My suggested auction (without interference) would be as shown:

1S is automatic unless playing a strong club system (do not open this sort of hand 2C – you will almost certainly not be passed out and you lose too much space to effectively show the two suiter). 3D is a standard game forcing bid at which point North starts getting very excited. With 2 aces, a singleton and 5 card diamond suit, North should be thinking 6D minimum opposite a GF and 7D is possible. North starts slowly with 4D (still 100% forcing) and then hears a heart cue (most likely a singleton). Given the GF, if there is no diamond loser 7D rates to have play. I have no objection to a 5C cue here (should get to the same place), but with no diamond honour, I wanted partner to have AKQ to bid 7 (he may only have 4) and so investigated via blackwood (5H is asking about the Q diamonds).

At most tables there was a 2C bid by West followed by a double by North. 6D should always be reached, but 7 is harder. In total though 6D was bid at only 15 of the remaining 45 tables (3 of 11 in our matches). The way to get to slam depends on the how many clubs East raises. If East raises to 2 or 3 cubs, then South should jump to 4D showing a strong hand and North should bid blackwood or cue 5C – either way you are getting to 6 or 7. If East bids 4C, then South will only bid 4D and whilst strong, is not as strong as the jump previously – I would not bid 4NT here, but 5C cue is certainly warranted and South will surely bid 6 or 7. If East bids 5C, South bids 5D and North should just raise to 6 (a 6C cue is certainly an option and would get to 7, but it is not unreasonable for South to think you would have a diamond honour so I don’t think I would find that).

The key points are that South needs to bid strongly when they have the chance (and don’t hide the diamond suit as happened at some tables), and North has to realise how huge their hand becomes. Aces are very valuable, 5 cards suits are huge, singletons are fantastic and doubleton in partners other suit is not bad either (better than 3 low). When partner shows a powerful hand with a diamond suit, though you hand is only an 8 count, it has all the features partner could want.