Edmunte1

I'm not a big fan of raising with 3 cards when you hold a 6 card minor, just faking your hand type. Hand type should prevail usually: i have one suited hand in ♦'s with 3 card support in ♠ and partner should ask about ♠ fit if intrested. But here's a special case: We have bad diamonds, and very good controls and shape for a suit contract, and bidding 2♦ may too frequently make us miss easy 4♠ games. So add me in 2♠ bidders camp

I play it NF as unpassed hand, but fitted as passed hand.

Or maybe "Running bear", by Johnny Preston :unsure: ?

Double

This could be played either: - 1(43)5 hand and 15+18 or - (233)5 hand 13-14 good hand for NT. I prefer the former.

I don't like 4NT, too often it will drive us to bad slams. The main problems here are that usually hearts values are badly placed, and ♦K-A are points in a short suit and will produce usually only 2 tricks. We can make slam in 2 cases: - partner has a maximum hand with a source of tricks - partner has maximum, with a major suit fit and trumps lie well I don't know your methods over 3NT overcall, but this slam seems a bridge too far for me.

I think East bid well, West should move on, 6NT with 32-33 hcp and 2 potential source tricks should have some play.

2♠ is obvious

4♣ instead of 4NT is much better. Responder should bid 4♠ cue accepting clubs as trumps and showing at least a mild slam interest

I'll pass

This is the norm in Norway. This is commonly standard in Romania too.

I'll pass. I agree that double could work, but this is only the half full part of the glass.

Let's consider this position a little more. a ) Let's consider East had Axx --- KQJxxx Jxxx, a clear 1♦ opening, and still slam has no chances, or b ) Axx x KQJxxx xxx and those pesky opps leads ♣ or c ) Axx x KQ10xxx Jxx and the salm is pretty bad or d )Axx x KQJ10xx xxx and the slam is good on a non club lead Just commenting on the hand East really held, avoids the problem. I wish just to point out 2 ideas with my examples: 1)West hand is not as good as it looks, mainly due to the lack of third trump (just add one more trump in all my examples and the chances for slam will improve consistently). So a direct 4♦ should imply a 3 card fit, and 3♠ and further moving with 4♦ only Hx 2) Passing 3NT is too shy, on many layouts slam is on. After 4♠, maybe 5♣ should suggest this type of hand.

2♠ is enough, too many losers(6) for 3♠. Bidding 3♠ with this hand will result more often in going overboard than in reaching a thin game

2♦ is bad, no matter your methods

Codo, your analysys has a flaw. I understand this position this way: 1. Double - i don't want to play 5M 2. Pass - I'd like to play 5M, but i don't have enough ----> If partner doubles (regressive), i'll pass. If partner bids 5M, i'll pass. 3. 5M - i have a decent offensive hand, with shortage in their suit usually and no extras. 4. Pass - I have a hand with extras and fit and i'd like to be in slam, but i don't have enough cards for pushing into it ---> If partner doubles, i'll bid 5M, if partener bids 5M i'll bid slam Bidding 5M should show around 3 cover cards (♠♥♣-A,K, ♦A,♥Q) along with diamond shortage, and usually a pretty sharp hand (4-5 controls) KQJ10xx Q10x Q QJx - has 1 control and needs partner to hold 6 controls for 5M to make (♠A+♥AK+♣K), so often it won't make, even if we own the board, how it seems. This hand it's between double and pass (1 or 2)

Obvious pass, defensive hand, partner didn't bid ♠ fit, no pressure at all

It seems defense wins. Probably the best play is: ♠A (eliminating South's exit card in spades), and diamond, but South can counterstrike by cashing ♥A (eliminating West's exit card in hearts) and small club. West has to play small, and now North will return ♠, breaking declarer's comunication. Now the end-play is no longer possible.

I would try 1NT

I'm in 5♦ camp

For me Doubl is much worse than pass. So real choice is between pass and 5♣, and i think that 2 world class players holding this hand in a team match won't try to outsmart themselves by passing

Yes, you should balance with dbl

A boy named Sue :P 3♠ for me shows 6+♣-4+♠ (usually 4)

1. I personally don't like West's double but it's ok 2. East should have bid 4♠ instead of 3♠ 3. West should double 5♣

Pass. It's a small chance that we can have a playable contract above 3♦ and double won't be penality in my methods.