HeartA

It is on the upper limit for 1NT opening. I don't mind opening 1D (I said I "might" open 1NT). After 1D opening you would have a rebid problem. I don't like 3D which would show longer/better D, and I don't like 2N which would be a little too strong. Sure, the 3NT rebid is very bad, but 6NT is as bad if not worse. In my method 3N rebid shows a self sufficient 7+ suit (D), but less HCP, with no interest in pd's suit.

Holding 12-14 count with 4-3-3-3, I would pass. It shows double-then-1NT hand: 18+ to 20 HCP balanced hand with C stopped.

I might open 1NT with South's hand.

pass. pd should have 6+ clubs 90% of the time.

After pd's 2/1 response, 2H would be forcing (pd promised to bid again if you play SAYC. And if you play 2/1, 2D is game forcing). 3H would be UNNECESSARY jump and is therefore Splinter. After pd's 4H you don't much space left for exploit slam. 4NT as BW is OK as your honors are all primary cards (including SQ). Could be risky. But if you want to try grand, I guess that's the only choice. It's not too far away, though pd could have one less diamond. If I held the hand and heard pd responding 2D, I would bid 4NT (or 4D or whatever is RKC for diamonds), instead of Splinter. Anyway, I would bid 7D with all keycards, Kings and my SQ support for pd's suit.

North's dbl is for penalty or take-out, depending on partnership agreement. I would bid 2D instead of 2H as South.

Unless you have special agreement with pd, to "correct" pd's 2C to 2D would show a hand with extras, e.g, a hand too strong to have a direct 2D overcall.

plaur, If pd was void in clubs and wanted me to return club for him to ruff, he would not play that way. First, he played HA instead of HK (or Q), which means he preferred a higher rank suit instead of clubs. Secondly, pd shd know I am not void in trumps. If he wanted club return, he would cash HQ at trick #2 and return small H for me to ruff. That would be clear for me to return club. Finally, declarer's bid of 4S could based on strength or length of trumps.

With this hand, dbl is OK, and it is OK to bid 2S (of course) over pd's 2C. But it is NOT OK to rebid S without support pd's hearts. 2C cue-bid could mean both majors and invitational strength. But after 2C-3H, it is clear that pd (responder) has a hand of hearts with gf strength. To rebid S is a crime, imo.

I would support clubs and bid rkc later. If I bid spades now, it would be difficult to show such good club support. But if you play MP and have a good agreement between partnership, to bid spades might be winning strategy.

For hand #1, I think it is the dbler who should bid 5C. For hand #2, I would pass. You can't always get the best result.

Phil, After 2CL cue-bid and pd bid 2S and 3H rebid, doubler's bid would tell if he has a monster hand or an ordinary hand. If he simply raised to 4H, that would tell an ordinary hand. If he bid something else, including rebid 3S, that would mean a monster hand.

I completely agree with Roland on this one. With minimum strength, you doubled and you are done unless pd forces to bid. 5-4-3-1 (short in opp's suit) is one of the typical shape.

For me, 4♥ is not an option at all circumtances. (1) Agree. (2) You seem to contradict your first point. With 6 hearts and intermediate hand, it is equivalent to a "values 4♥" hand. I would start with 2♣ and listen to what pd has. Then I could emphasize my heart twice if necessary to show good hand and long hearts. (3) If pd has a big hand without a lot of hearts, I will get the information by starting with 2C bid easily without wasting so much space.

Ruff the 3rd ♥ and shift to diamond.

That's my thought, too. The danger of pass is that it might go 1S-p-p-p and we have a game (pd is a little too weak to balance and chooses to pass). Another concern is if it goes 1S-p-1N-p-2C/2D, my bidding would be awful.

3♦ as well, with 2NT as remotely next. 2♠? not a choice for this this hand.

4♥ is an impossible bit, and 3♥ is a weak hand with 7+ hearts. That left me two choices: 2♥ and 2♣. With 5th H and 10 count, I would force to game. If pd supports my ♥, 4♥ should be no problem. And if pd doesn't have support for ♥, which means he has more than 17+ HCPs, I would bid game as well. As for 2), that's tough. I think I would pass.

It's OK to think, but 20-30 seconds is a little too long.

The biddings up to 2C are fine. South's 2C was a very weak bid and sign-off. I agree that North could bid again over South's 2C, but I would bid 2S only. Also, North should pass over South's 4C. South had been trying to tell North of a weak hand with some C fit via 2C and 4C. If I "assign the blame", I would give it to North of 100%, 50% on 3S and 50% on 5C.

Completely agree (almost always) what Ben says here.

I would open 1D.

You meant you passed with TWO aces and 11 count after pd opened? I would not. Now I bid 5H (2 aces, or cue-bid if pd takes that way).

Another pass here.

There is one exception, that is, if you have 9: Q9x. In that case, if pd has Tx and you didn't cover, you lost a trick.