Here's an ugly hand from Friday's set.

In 1st at unfavorable:

AQT63 / AQ4 / Q4 / Q95

I opened 1NT (I'm a big believer in frequently opening 1NT with 5 card majors.)  Jeff bid Stayman.  Righty whipped.  I bid 2 Spades.  Jeff bid 3 Diamonds.

What's your call?

I bid 3NT.  That was a really stinky bid.  Jeff could have rebid 3 Clubs if all he wanted was a Club stopper.  3 Diamonds has to strongly imply serious concern about the Club situation and here I'm sitting with a nice fat 5 card Spade suit and I decline to rebid it when my Club stopper is tenuous at best.

Jeff's hand was what I deserved:

K42 / K952 / KJ875 / J

AQT63 / AQ4 / Q4 / Q95

So where would you rather be, 4 Spades or 3NT?  What if I told you Spades were 4-1 offside (no stiff Jack)?  4 Spades is dicey in that situation, but 3NT is hopeless.

Did I say hopeless?  Well, ALMOST hopeless.  For true hopelessness you have to turn to my LHO's opening lead.  That person held:

J987 / 863 / AT3 / 863

Here's my bridge tip for the day (I'm sure it'll be a BOLS tip later this year.)  When choosing your opening lead against 3NT between 2 identical suits, lead the one that partner made a lead directing double of as opposed to the one that dummy showed length in.

That's right, Lefty led the 8 of Hearts and 10 tricks for the good guys soon followed.