MatthiasK

Exactly, this hand is about minimum at these colors. I played split-range, but today I think it's not so useful. You have a hand with high ODR, therefore you want to outbid the opponents. Either for a make or a good sacrifice. Actually you don't care so much, it depends on partner's fit and defense.

I'm not convinced. With your sample hand, wouldn't opener rebid 4♥? You are in the same position as after Texas transfer. In some cases, you wrong-side the slam, e.g., ♠KQx ♥QJx ♦Kxxx ♣KQx. You have to hope that ♦A is onside.

A remark regarding your options: Jaboby transfer, then Blackwood doesn't exist. This is (should be) quantitative. The hand looks too good for a slam invite. Partner would reject the invitation with some hands that look minimum, where slam is very good or even cold, e.g. ♠Kxx ♥QJ ♦KQJx ♣Kxxx. Ace ask doesn't help either. All I need is ♦K and some tricks from partner. The best option seems to be Texas transfer, then 4♠ cuebid. Whether this works depends on our agreements and partner's judgement but it conveys the message that I have strong slam interest.

I think your recommended methods are far from mainstream today. And also bad. Because a reverse promises a rebid (in good methods), bidding 3♣ is a strong bid, something you don't have. And 2♥ showing 6? Why? This is the cheapest bid, don't waste it.

This is just a slightly above average hand with a lot of defensive value. There is absolutely no reason to bid anything right now. And this does not depend on the system you're playing, it's standard and common sense. For a takeout double you like to have shortness in opp's suite, support for both majors is required, except if you have a very good hand.

Finally, a sensible analysis.

Seriously? Look again. A good 7 card suit + a side king + a void. 9 very good HCP and great distribution. And why open? It is an advantage to open the bidding, because it makes opponent's life harder. But you probably know this already.

I don't think a strong club as refined as Meckwell's is required here. After 1♣ - 1♥ (strong; minimum positive) 1♠ - 2♦ 3♦ it's hard to miss slam.

I think I'd play it as the usual meaning, 8+ cards in the minors. Except for sequence 2 where you had the opportunity to show a stopper and could use 1NT to show both minors the target of exactly 2-5 (or worse, 3-4) in the minors is too small. And even in 2 I'd rather keep 1NT natural, in this case showing the balanced hand without a stopper.

I agree. Passing with the E hand shows bad judgement.

So Partner misbid and you had a hard time to judge the situation correctly.

I agree with the people who think overcalling with the west hand is not a very good idea and very risky. And I would like to add, if overcalling with such hands r vs. w is considered "normal" today, I prefer not being normal in this respect.

I don't think so. Partner bids your singleton, your long suit is weak, the points are in the short suit ... this hand is not worth 15 hcp now, IMHO.

I think the most useful lesson for NB to learn regarding bridge rules is: Do not try to make your own rulings. There is a (hopefully experienced) TD for this job! In this case, if you really wanted to play a club, tell the opponents. At this point, there might have been an infraction. Anybody at the table may aall the TD. Calling the director does not mean that somebody may have cheated. It just means you want him to check if everything went according to the rules. If the opponents start to explain the rules to you and want to make a ruling, ask politely for a ruling by the TD. Again: Do not make your own rulings. Not accepting a ruling offered by the opponents does not mean you think they are lying to you. It's just not their job. Better let the TD sort it out.