HeartA

yep.

That would set the good start for real defeat of 4♠. The actual lead of ♦ was bad and would give away of 4♠ had declarer played it right.

I think I would bid 4♠ for both hands, more confident with hand #2 though. If, for some reason, I want to be conservative, I might pass with hand #1.

5C for me.

What do you want pd to say? To show you a long ♥/♦ suit? I think it is the opposite, it's easier for pd to show you the right Ace if you open 2♣.

1NT over pd's x. Over rho's 2H, I might dbl, or pass, depending on scoring and status of match (lossing, winning, or gamble on swing).

I voted for 2♣: 22+ hcp or 16+ hcp with 9+ tricks.

Raise to 3♦, assuming I opened (I wouldn't).

agree.

I would do the same.

Thanks, Ben for your analysis. Actually, I was sitting South, and the hand shown was my pd's. We were new partnership (well, played a couple of times before, but less than 20 boards as I remember) and I was not sure of what 4NT meant. So I bid 6♥ (I had 2 small ♠s, could be almost sure my pd had control on ♠). After 6♠, I was willing to go grand if my pd had first controls on black suits (void in ♠ and ♣A). My pd doubled and opps made 6♠ while we were cold on 7♥. As it was red to red, this was about 30 imps swing (assume opps wouldn't sac at 7♠). My hand was ♠xx, ♥AKQxxxx, ♦Ax, ♣xx. 4♠ bidder was void in ♦ and dummy was void in ♥ (no ♦ ruff).

How about East continues with ♥ after ♦A?

I have a similar situation, played a week ago on Abalucy club. South was dealer and the bidding went: .S......W......N......E 1H....4S....4NT...5S 6H......P......P.....6S .P......P......X/? North had ♠-, ♥JTxx, ♦KQxxxxx, ♣Ax South: Should North dbl or bid 7♥?

Yes, on some occasions, you could improve contracts by biddig (non-forcing) 2♥. In most cases, you will find pd has no fit for your majors and you get over-board. Besides, when you pass pd's 2♣/2♦, opps might decide to balance, probably 2♥. :D The principal is, when you don't have strength for game, don't try to improve contracts with a unfit hand. Stop ASAP. Save the (new suit) bidding for stronger hands.

yep.

yes, pd has length in D, (maybe 5), and good support for H (AKx, Kxx or even Kxxx), 10-11 hcp. His hand is just a little shy to open, no suit to overcall, and not the right shape for dbl. pd could have Kx, Kxxx, Axxxx, xx.

ditto.

I will play safe (low to 10) as well.

ditto.

3♥ also.

1. Partner uses "tired and want a break" as an excuse to not bid a hand properly? Give me a break! If he has a (relatively) flat hand and has ♣ stopper(s), why didn't he bid 3NT himself? 2. Again I can't bid 3N since I don't have stoppers or any honor in ♣. But I have minimum support for ♦, so I bid 3♦. 3. Since partner is short of ♠ (singleton, I suppose?), 3 ♥s only, and yet can't bid NT (not good/long in ♣), he must have long ♦. I don't want to play 4-3 fit of ♥ because I can't afford of forcing with ♣s, and I don't have ♣ honor. I can't bid 3NT, but willing to play 6-2 fit of ♦. Whether of not pd wants to go to game (or slam) is up to him. 4. See #2. 5. My 3♦ is the cheapest call, and my pd should not get excited about it. I would not go beyong game unless I am forced to. The bottom line: 3♦. 3NT is out of the question.

I remember a couple of hands of similar situation. I opened and an opp (my lho) overcalled. Then with an unfit hand and 3 small of opp's suit on both hands, I was pushed to game no matter how I tried to sign off before game.

3♦ would be a good bid as well.

With 6-4 majors, I would rebid 2♥. 1♠-2♦-2♥-3♣-3♠ shows 6♠s (or very good 5), at least in my style.

I agree with the pass as 2nd position. To open 1♦ (if pd responds 1NT) or 1♠ (if pd responds 2♥) would have awful rebid. A while ago on this forum, Fred mentioned (and a lot agreed) that with a marginal hand, to pass and come back later is a good idea if there is a rebid problem. I would blame East 90% (if not 100%) for failing to rebid 1NT (or 2S) with a full opening hand and AKJ support). After double, I might redouble as West. East, holding AKJ of ♠, after pd's 2♠, 3♠ is almost an automatic action.