HeartA

Agree with Eric. North was on the margin to overcall 2S over 1NT and pass is OK. To pass 2D, North earned the bottom. As for West, pass 2D was OK, though I agree 2H was better.

I would NOT open 1D (nothing else in other suit) or 3D (D is tooo good). I might open 3NT or pass with pd's hand. I would pass pd's 3NT, as I was not sure what 3NT meant, but would let pd handle it. To pull 5DX to 5S was completely wrong, especially after 4S already got dbled.

ditto.

double again, of course.

OK. I didn't make it clear. I meant w/ nfb, you can't dbl AND bid 2/3H later. if you dbled, ♥ would be hidden forever unless pd has 4 ♥s.

It is not that you are right. It is that the dbl was wrong.

1) 4D or 5H. 2) PASS. 3) 4C. 4) I would open 1D. I assume someone opened 1C for me while I was away, bid 2D now. 5) This is tough. 4C might be bettern than 3NT.

agree with Ron.

Completely agree with Ben.

If you play NFB, you can't dbl. dbl then what would you do in the next round? 3H which is better than direct 2H? pass which hides your AKTxx ♥ forever? The purpose to play NFB is to be able to bid this kind of hand (close to minimum) freely.

Well, since I have already use exclusive RKC, ♦K should not count at all. BTW, I think commonly used way of answering Kings is the location not numbers. So depending on agreement, 6♣ (relay) instead of 6♦, can be used for King asking. Or after South answered 2 RC, North could directly bid 7S, hoping ♥ could take care South's ♣ loser(s) if any.

South North 1C 1H 1S 5D* 5N** 6D*** ?? 7S *Exclusive RKC **2 Key cards ***Kings? ??depends on the agreement.

6H asked too much from pd. Pass should be the right bid.

I can't vote, since I play NFB and I would over-call 2H which is not forcing. If my pd insists no on NFB, dbl is the choice.

what's dbl for? try to find Spades fit? not likely. With 8 HCP (HQ wouldn't help anything in any suit contract, S, D or C), game is almost impossible even if pd has a running diamond suit of 7-card (3NT opening hand), because opps would take the first at least) 5 tricks with ♥ and some winners in ♣. Pass is right. 4♣ is certainly right, either. With a good 7-card ♦ suit and weak ♣ suit, I would bid 3D (or 4D if you are aggressive).

This hand almost qualified for 2S. Passing over pd's 2S is completely out of the question. The only concern is the quality of ♠. I would bid 3D, if pd bid 3S, I will bid 4S. If pd bid 3NT, I pass.

partial elimination. almost as what Ben said. Win ♦ in hand, cash ♠A. ♥A, ♥ ruff, ♠ to King (bad news, the good thing is EAST has 3). ♥K and ♥ ruff. ♦ to K and run [CQ]...

3♥ for me. ♠K and ♦A are good cards, but that's it.

I was thinking (of 6C).... 4NT? no, as you have clear ♣ fit; 5♣? underbid, pd dbled 3♥ while you passed twice (I would not pass 2♥). 4♥ is the best (I peeked Ben's answer).

I will bid 2H only. As my pd haven't had a chance to bid yet, He may have a good diamond suit and we may belong there. Or pd has the right card for the ♥ game (even a slam), or pd has enough to set opps' 4S, or opps don't have a game and neither do we. I just bid what I have, a 6-card ♥ though it is a little bit too good.

Completely agree with Ben. My range of splinter bid is 9-11, excluding stiff K/Q/J. I don't say I never splinter with stiff Ace, but very rare, in which case, I would depreciate the Ace a little (3 or 2 HCP).

I vote for 6♦. My ♥ is not good enough to bid 7.

Holding ♠AKx, ♥Qxx, ♦x, ♣AKQxxx, 2♠ is the correct bid after 1♥ response. 1♠ should guarantee 4-card.

I am for "almost forcing" as well. Since this is not an option, I have to be on the NF side, though I voted for forcing <_<. Ben, could you change my vote?

1♦-1♠-2♥ is forcing, in sayc and 2/1, and most of the natural system, I believe. Precision is different. 1D opening limits the hand to 15hcp (assuming 1♣=16+). Though 1D opening is also limited (to 20 or 21), it has a much broader range. A reverse hand opposite a hand that can respond, game is very close. Even if responder has dead minimum, game is still very possible. I know, if you hold ♠QJxxxx, ♥xx, ♦xx, ♣Jxx, and responded 1S over pd's 1D opening, game is not likely when pd reverses to 2H. But hey, pd may have 3 ♠ and is false-reversing ♥ to wait for your clarification.