HeartA

Assuming 18-19 for his rebid of 2NT, what he has is SA, HK, DKQ, CAK that's 19 hcp. Pd has SJ. I can discard one S and one D(9). I will hope pd has D6 and discard D7 and hope pd has D6. Partner can make my job easy by returning a spade and driving out the entry to hand. If declarer cashes H first I can discard Club and then depending on the discards declarer made, I make my discard on clubs.

This time I am conservative, pass in anycase. I don't have control in H, and no first control in C. Even if opps didn't find C or H lead, my 2 side winners (SAK) might provide the only tricks for 5D.

Facing a pd with whom without discussion about which is forcing in this situation, I would certainly re-dbl and than raise ♣s. And I agree that North pass over 3C.

I basically agree with what EricK said. I think East's hand worths 2 bids, and 2D is certainly better than 2C: D is the better suit and would be easier to bid C next round if necessary. If you think you are not strong enough for 3D, then you are not strong enough for 3S either. To bid 3S is stronger than 3D, which I can live with.

3C, wtp?

4H is completely a reasonable contract. North/South could have different hands for the bidding and S could be 5-3.... To judge the bidding with a specific hand is not good for the long run....

Actually I prefer 4C, too. But I can live with 4D (absolutely against 5C). Since 4C or 4D is not the question Phil is concerned (?), I didn't comment on it.

I voted for 5H.

I agree with Ken's line.

I am not so sure if 4D is forcing, but I think it is. Even it is not, I would still bid 5D as West. My CQJ and DQ were gold. It's possible we have two quick heart loser (x, xx, AKxxxx, A/Kxxx for example). Even if so, I would hope no more minor losers. As Mikeh said, it's closer to slam try than to pass.

This is a real penalty dbl, not lightner (directive). I would lead a diamond.

♦A ♦K ♦ruff ♣A ♥A ♥ruff ♦ruff ... Assuming 3rd didn't get over-ruffed, you are home if CK stiff, or CT stiff, or C2-2.

Since I brought up Bergen's law of 20, I would like to add something here. First of all, Bergen's law of 20 is just a reference, I don't follow it strictly. For the hand Roland gave (SQxxxx, HKxxxx, QJ,Q), I would not bother to count the points: the quacks in the minors don't count at all. I also use Zar points as a reference for opening, but don't follow it strictly either. I wouldn't open a slightly better hand like SKxxxx, HKxxxx, DQJ, CK, which has 12 hcp, 22 of bergen's count, and 27 of Zar points.

Use Walsh style, 1C-1D-1N-p. I prefer direct 1N (1C-1N-p) response, but would blame him if my partner responds 1D.

With Bergen's law of 20, which I use for judging an opening hand, it's 19, but both are majors and all high point are in the suits. I would open it. If you count Zar points, it has 28.

Without too much information, I always lead from my best suit which is diamond.

I agree with Free.

I pass, which should be forcing.

I voted for 4S. Opps might have stretched for 4H. But I don't see many defensive tricks: 1D+1.5C+0.5S(from pd). While 4S has a good chance: 1 or 2 H losers. We may or may not have a spade loser. For minors, if pd was short in C (unless toooo short), I have good chance to set up C without lossing a trick; if pd has long C, C may not have losers at all, andpd would not have many cards in red suits.

SQ to knock out the only entry in dummy.

3N is a good choice, except that if you buy 4S later, your LHO would not lead H(A or small) toward you.

My principle is that, if in doubt between game try and direct game, I would bid game. For this hand, 4S could be made or a good sacrifice. Of course, there are some combinations that both sides don't have a game.

pass = no suit to bid: 4-3-3-3 (not 4-card spade), or 2=3=4=4, or 5-3-3-2 (5-card H) or ... agree with Frances on 2S-4S.

They tough, at that high level it's a guess. I would pass for hand #1 and bid 5S with #2.

6C or 6H?