HeartA

I would open 1H.

I assume North's dbl over 2D was supportive dbl (exact 3 spades). South's 3C was a little bid too weak but OK (3D was a little too strong IMO). Anyway, I think North's 3S was the worst bid. South's 3C denied 5 spades, 4 hearts and promises at least 4 clubs. North's bid over 3H would be 3N or 4C.

I would open 1C, the longer and stronger suit, didn't like D lead from pd if opps get the contract. If pd responds 1D, I would raise to 2D, if pd responds 1H, I would bid 1N, and if pd responds 1S, I would raise to 2S. And if pd responds 1N, I may rebid 2C or pass (if opps wouldn't interfere). After 1C opening, how the opener shows stiff HA is not easy.

Since my LHO opened, my CK could be wasted, Besides, my DKQ doubleton doesn't look good. But still, I have 19 HCP and 8 playing tricks, I would double anyway.

RHO has ♣AJX? I don't think so. It is dummy who bids 2NT and likely has ♣AJx. ♣K lead may give declarer two easy tricks. I am going to lead ST and let declarer develop his tricks.

I bet not many players would understand that. I would think 3H guarantees another bid, so I bid 4D now.

It is a common treatment that dbl show very weak hand over pd's 2C opening and rho's overcall, suggesting no game interest and preferring defense. So pass is the "right" call.

I voted for 4♣ (over your pd dbl), assuming pd opened 2C, your rho interfered with 3C and you passed.

It is difficult for North after 3D. There are 3 choices, Pass, 4C and 3H. Pass shows a minimum hand with no good support for H, no 4-card S, no rebiddable clubs. 4C shows good C suit (and tolerable to hearts). 3H shows 3+ support which you don't have. I am not saying 3H is totally wrong. You have ruff value and side aces, 3H is reasonable but not the best choice. BTW, I don't like South's bidding either. Even if North has 3 hearts, it doesn't mean no heart losers (after all, North had been refusing invitation with 4H and 5H). And how South will get rid of spades losers (possible D loser might be gone on clubs)? Void in pd's opening suit is not a reason sign.

The first sequence will never lead to RKC. You invited game first and how can you launch RKC after pd just accepted your intivation? This is an impossible sequence. If you play 3M as game forcing (not many players play that way anymore), the second sequence is reasonable. As Ben wrote, Texas transfer and followed with 4NT is RKC, as Texas means 6+ (major) suit.

To open 2C with those hands, I have to have agreement with my partner that 2C opener may not guarantee defensive power. When I put pd's dbl to my another major (hopefully I have the chance to bid2 majors), he has to be aware that my hand is offensive only. Under this agreement, hand D is OK, too. As long as pd has a few cards in majors, a game has good chance. Anyway, it is not my current style to open 2C on these hands.

4 hearts. He was planning a reverse. Now 3H is game forcing. Opener's any bid except 4H shows extra value and interest in slam.

I am a little more conservative than you. I don't open 2C on #9.

I dont know, just a lucky guess. Let's see. Assuming 1NT is 15-17, you have 18, the maximum of combination is 35. It is very possible you missed an ace.

Well, you don't have CJ, it is on dummy.

Well, how do you know you are not missing an Ace?

After pd's 2/1 response, it does not require extra to bid 2S since responder promises to bid again. Say, opener holds ♠KJxx,♥AKxxx ♦xx ♣Qx, the rebid after 2C response is 2S. It not only describes the hand well, but saves space also. If reponder's intending rebid is S (responder's reverse), your 2S bid shows S fit before it goes to pd. If you rebid 2H, pd would have to guess if you hold 6 or 5 (only) hearts. And if you support S after his 2S, he is still in guess if hold 6-3 or 5-4 in the majors. If pd has an hand for NT, your 2S rebid removes his worry about stoppers of spades. Given pd ♠xxx ♥Qx ♦KJx ♣AKxxx, he would be stuck if you rebid 2♥. 2N? no stopper in spades, 2S or 3D? that would natural (reverse). He may be poisoned to bid 3H. Now the ball comes back to you. If you bid 3NT, you found pd's holding of pointed suits are reversed (♠AQx ♥Qx ♦xxx ♣AQxxx); if you bid 4H you find 3N is best spot. Note that if pd's strength of spades and diamonds are switched, he could bid 3D over your 2S. This time 3D is not reverse, it is 4s4 now. The disadvantage is your range is not clear, but that can be figured out later. To find fit is more important than range if it does not exagerate the strength. Even if pd would support hearts, 2♥ doesn't save space either. He has to bid 3H anyway. Finally, as a side note, 2S rebid over pd's 2/1 response (2C) is different from 1NT response. The first major difference is that 1NT response doesn't promise to bid again. If you rebid 2S over pd's 1NT, he would forced to choose hearts at 3 level with a poor hand, which would be too high. The second major difference is that, 1NT denies spade holdings. To find spades fit becomes an impossible task.

When East was voluntarily bid 3S, he was showing 4+ (usually 4 only) spades and unblanced hand, which implies longer clubs. You should certainly bid 4♣ which is forcing IMO since you cue-bid in the previous round. There is a misconcepture about 1C opening among beginners and intermediate players. Since 1C guarantees 3 card only, they don't think further about the length of clubs after the bidding develops (not explicitly emphasize the length of clubs though).

Let me try. First of all, I add brackets to opp's calls. 1. 1♦ - (2♣) - 2♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ This is a forced bid, not a reverse. 2. (1♥) - 2♣ - (Pass) - 2♦ - (Pass) - 2♠ This is not reverse, since 2♣ has limited the hand. But it shows extra (not minimum) unless 2♦ is forcing. 3. (1♠) - 2♣ - (Pass) - 2♦ - (Pass) - 2♥ Same as above. 4. 1♦ - (1♥) - Pass - (2♥) - 2♠ This is a reverse, more offensive (shape) values. 5. 1♥ - (Pass) - 2♣ - (Pass)- 2♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ Certainly, it is a reverse as we discussed in the other thread. 6. 1♣ - (Pass) - 1♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ Usually it is not called "reverse", instead, it called "jump shift". It is certainly strong and forcing 7. 1♠ - (Pass) - 2♥ - (Pass) - 3♦ This is not a reverse. Depending on partnership agreement, it may or may not show extra (Most play it as extra). 8. (1♥) - 2♣ - (Pass) - 2♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ This is not a reverse. It is a forced bid (by pd's cue-bid). 2S doesn't guarantee 4-card (if he has 4 spades, club must be 6+). 9. 1♥ - (Pass) - 2♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ It is not reverse (but shows extra, of course). Since H is agreed, 2♠ is a game try. It may or may not have anything to do with spades, depending on partnership agreement. 10. 1♦ - (Pass) - 2♦ - (Pass) - 2♥ (does it matter if 2♦ is forcing?) It certainly matters if 2♦ is forcing or not. If 2♦ is forcing, 2♥ shows stoppers in hearts but not in spades (at least I play this way). If 2♦ is not forcing, I still don't think it is reverse, but certainly shows extra. I am not sure if it is standard or not. I believe it is a general principle that after a suit is agreed, to bid a new suit is invitational (game try). 11. 1♣ - (Pass) - 2♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ (does it matter if 2♥ was weak or strong?) Again it matters if 2♥ was weak or strong. If 2♥ is weak, 2♠ is reverse, IMO. If 2♥ is strong, 2♠ is just a force (feature) bid. 12. 2♦ - (Pass) - 2♥ - (Pass) - 2♠ (does it matter if 2♥ was forcing?) Well, I am not sure here. Is 2♦ a weak 2 (I assume)? Still it matters if 2♥ was forcing or not. If it was, 2♠ is feature bid. If 2♥ is not forcing, than I think 2♠ doesn't make sense unless there is special agreement between partnership (shows ♥ support, for example).

Because you responded 2♣ at your first turn and skipped 1♠. 2♠ confirmed that you had the strength to bid ♠ later. A simple 2♣ and then 3♣ (per agreement between partnership) shows a weaker hand of clubs suits only.

A reverse from responder shows at least opening strength and game forcing.

That is what I was going to say. B)

Completely agree. Jump to 3♦ is wrose than 2♥ (I don't mean the hand is good enough for 2H. It is NOT). It not only uses more space, but also distorted the shape.

1. 2♣ - 2♦ 3♦ - 4♦ 4NT - 5♣ 5♥ - 5NT 7♣ 2. 2♣ - 2♥ (2nd negative) 2♠ - 4♠ 3. same as 2. 4. 2♣ - 2♦ 2♠ - 2NT 3♦ - 4♦ 4NT - 5♣ 5♥ - 5NT 7♣ 5. 2♣ - 2♦ 2♠ - 4♣ (splinter) 4♥ - 5♦ 7♠ 6. 2♣ - 2♥ 3♥ - 3♠ 4♣ - 4♥ 4♠ 7. This is tough 8. 2♣ - 2♥ 2♠ - 2NT 6♥ - 6♠.

Yes, it IS a reverse, showing longer clubs than spades. If you want to show 7 good clubs with such strength, you will NEVER be able to show 4-card spades even if pd rebids spades and you support it. Strategically (or statistically), it may be the right thing to abandon spades and show your clubs, by responding 1NT and bid 3C, or 3C directly (kind of invitational like in the other thread).