keylime

In one partnership, I play this sequence as a mild slam try for a minor: 1m-1x 2NT-3C 3D-3NT Since diamonds were bid here, I'd assume diamonds is the suit in question. The problem is, you're control deficient for this bid. Just bid the normal 3NT here and strongly consider ditching short club.

3NT. Where's Bob Hamman at?

1♠ for me, and it's clear of mind. Allow pard to have 4-5-x-x or 4-6-x-x to support you, and now you can reeval your hand. I disagree with 2♣ to set the GF, because you know it's your hand already; the opps are likely to stay out. Additionally, if pard finds a jump bid, the KQ of trumps, is prime cards for a slam try.

Ditto the Hog. You've stretched. Be ready for high spade and shift.

I'm bidding 4♠ here. Double is wrong, and your hand I feel is much more suited for declaring instead of defense, especially when pard was kind enough to raise in a comp. auction to 2♠.

1NT for me. Best to show range and type of hand.

I'm bidding to six here, and would have considered it initially.

Pass. For me, clear. You have the worse holding for partner in diamonds, 3 dead. You may take an easy +100 into a -100 with any other bid excluding double (which if maximals were on the card I'd have a think).

I have a good/bad 2nt available here. I still double. They are coming in at adverse probability. It's far easier to net +200 at 2HX -1 versus a hard fought +110 at 3♦ when pard's on a 1-5-2-5 hand dreaming of a double.

4♥, because of field and pard is likely short in clubs. May be able to take 11 tricks in hearts versus 9/10 in NT.

EHAA. Since you're already going to be in an adventure, why not bid it as well? :(

I like the 4♣ bid showing both suits here. Once a cuebid of 4♥ has been tabled, I would have bid 5NT (pick a slam) myself.

Double for me is takeout; since pard is only on a 0-bad 8, I won't bid 1NT, to allow a possible 2♣/♦ partial.

If your 2♣ opening could be based on five clubs with a 4 card major, then playing double as negative has some merit. However, I'd play penalty doubles over any pure 2m opening being six cards or more, regardless of the possibility of holding a side major.

1NT for me. Control deficient.

HB man; where can I send you the meditation book of Vulcan psychology at?

It's not really a contradiction. It's more of a "what would pard make a balancing double on" and bidding appropriately. If he's aggressive, then the penalty pass stands out, under the "take the sure money" situation, and getting +800 often scores top boards at club bridge. If however he balances on decent hands, then, yes, I'd have a think.

Larry and I play system on, so the double is major centric; 3♥. 3NT is not what's for dinner.

A big fan of the penalty pass admittedly. Squarish hand, decent values. The double....gotta compete. It's MPs. You have two places to play. After balancing, tho, that I'm still thinking over. Admittedly, pass is attractive (could be wide open in spades for a game contract, and pard may be on a 3-2-4-4 hand too).

I have a quip that goes along the lines of "The restroom's over there if you need it, since you seem to be in a rush.".

I'd treat 3♣ as mildly invitational to some game here. North already knows South's hand, and at a red game, South should take the push - 3NT.

I think A♦ and then leading back to the Q-9 is the right play here.

Pard wouldn't double here unless he's exposing a light redouble. I'm going all in - 4♠; pard would raise here if he wanted to just compete.

I had one from a few years ago at the Victoria Regional: You're playing 4♠ via an unusually normal auction. The lead is tabled, and everyone in British Columbia knows it's a stiff. It goes club, club, J....and you staring at the Axxx in dummy and Kxx in closed hand, DUCK. Another suit is lead and continued, and then a club gets pounded. Hand's ice cold, but -100 you record. As you fret over your vulnerable game loss, when scores are compared, you learn that somehow, the opps also went down in the ice cold game. Imagine how you feel when, you learn the opps did THE EXACT SAME THING you did. Brilliant!

East. Pard's bidding some of your cards, but not this much of a fine passed hand.