hatchett

2NT for me

I don't understand 3♥ after 3♦, I would just bid 4♠ Neither do I understand rebidding 3NT with such slow stuff in the other suits outside spades. Personally I would rebid 2♦. Partner knows we are playing matchpoints as well.

Yes For starters; Running the club J works whenever the Q is onside which is 50% not 24%. You also missed out Ax onside Qx offside in your analysis. Low to the K in nowhere near a 79% line. For a start it loses to AQxx offisde, AQx offside and AQ offside and A offside which is about 44% of all the holdings, and even if it wins you still have to guess what to do next.

As above

1. I agree with those that say we should have raised♦s earlier. Having got to this stage we have an enormous hand; I would bid 7♦ 2. 5♥ 3. Double 4. The second sequence should set ♦ and demand cue-bidding On the first sequence I would bid 5♦ and in the second sequence I would bid 5♣.

Looks clear to bid a game. The QT♦ is a nice holding and you have goodcards in the majors too. While 3NT could be right, 4♠ looks normal.

Why not 5NT grand slam force?

I agree, with no discussion 4-4

double

I would bid 3♠, my lowest 4 card suit . It's a matter for agreement whether at this level the double promies 4♠s but I prefer not so I can double on xxxx xxx Ax Axxx. Forcing to game is too rich and punsihes partner for acting.

3♣ as well

There's a high chance they have 7 club tricks (looking at our club holding), so if RHO has bid 3NT to make (as opposed to having a joke), 3NT rates to either be cold or one off (possibly depending on what we lead).

3NT. Looks normal. Club Ten could be a big card and the ace gives us control.

Common sort of problem. 1NT ugly but practical

2NT for me.

Pass, no defence and a good chance we can describe our hand on the next round.

Agree with FrancesHinden.

If east has played the J from Jx, I think we are going to get a rather big clue how to play the trump suit from LHO on the second round!

I also think 5♥ is clear over 5♦

I didn't say that!. I said finesseable minor honors in clubs and hearts.

I like the arguments for the spade lead.

Win. Simplest way to beat the contract is to have four spade tricks and for partner to have a fifth trick. If we duck we need partner to have two tricks and that given our club and heart holdings is unlikely, since we know partner is likely to have finessable minor honors in those suits.

Isn't this the issue with playing pass as penalty, the vast majority of the time you theoretically have a penalty they can play something else, not least 1NT since they have an opening bid opposite 9HCP?

Not forcing for me.

I might bid 4♦ over 3♣, to emphasize my great trump support. I am willing to commit playing this hand in 5D playing IMPs, since there is an excellent chance of slam. I would then plan to bid 5♣ if he bids 4♠ or to drive to slam if he bids 5♣.