Slow start

Some auctions start at the 5 level, some never make it past the one level. Some others look like the latter then slowly spiral upwards.

Here's a hand:

Vul: NS Dealer: South	♠ J 2 ♥ T 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 ♣ J T 9 5 4
♠ 9 8 6 4 ♥ 4 ♦ J T 9 8 5 2 ♣ 3 2		♠ A K 7 5 3 ♥ K J 9 8 ♦ A K 4 ♣ 7
	♠ Q T ♥ A Q 7 6 ♦ Q 3 ♣ A K Q 8 6

If it looks harmless enough don't be fooled:

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	Pass	X
1♥	Pass	Pass	1♠

A desperately slow start. Two players acting, four calls and we're not past the one level.

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	Pass	X
1♥	Pass	Pass	1♠
2♣	2♥	3♣	3♠

Warming up now though. The 2♥ was an attempt at a cue raise in spades. Normally my cue raises show more than a 1 count.

3♣ looked very much like one of those "should have bid it the first time" actions. I guess it stops the opposition playing in 2♠. 3♠ must be a dollar each way, more than min but not enough to commit to game.

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	Pass	X
1♥	Pass	Pass	1♠
2♣	2♥	3♣	3♠
Pass	4♠	5♣	X

Not content with cue raising on a 1 count I then considered it a max and raised to game. North made another "should have bid it the first time" noise which prompted the chopper.

5♣ isn't good. On a heart lead declarer drew trumps and threw East in. East played a pointy suit back so a heart went away and there were 5 defensive tricks.