Posted 2010-December-12, 14:45
pass for two reasons - if the slam doesn't make, then we've won the board by pushing them there, since 5 spades is unlikely to make, so there's no need to X. If the slam does make, other people will probably be there too, so we don't want to give up what little matchpoints we are going to receive by doubling. Also, I hate to make the opponents guess at the right contract and then save over it.
Having let them play 6 hearts, I think the best chance of beating it is leading a club, giving up on partner's potential diamond ruff. I think it very likely that RHO has 6 diamonds and 4 hearts for the bidding, probably with a void in spades. Partner definitely doesn't have a diamond void (no X), so declarer is more likely to have shortness there than partner, and leading A-another diamond is just going to set up declarer's source of tricks. I think my best chance is to try and establish a club trick while I still retain control of the diamonds.
Chris Gibson