hatchett

I would think that 4NT should typically deliver one and a half or two club stops and a 1543 shape. 4♣ sounds like a good 1543 hand that is uncertain about strain say with one ♣ stop or worse. Most other shapes can make a more descriptive call over 3C.

lol. I hope that's not his hand

I don't think ducking the diamond guarantees the contract if they are 4-3, for instance, if LHO is 2434 a heart switch would beat the contract

You sure? Low to the Ten feels like the 'vacuum' play.

2♠ for me. Pass scares me with Axxx playing IMPs

If 1NT shows 18-19 I'm not sure why I want to double with a flat 16. I think could be either played as a penalties but based on a source of tricks ie a good ♥ suit I guess you could also play as a take-out hand with short clubs. 2♣ is definitely natural by partner

Why does pass work ? 1NT looks cold and may make an overtrick?

I also consider 2♠ clear on this hand.

What about when it's right to play in 5m rather than 4♠?

Agree with the two posters above. In practice the J tends to be fom QJ rather than J. I would play for the drop.

I like 3NT. It looks ugly but seems to work more often than you expect at the table.

4NT a mild slam try in ♣s for me

Agree with the initial double, we probably want to defend if partner has a weak NT. Now I bid 5♣

4♥, pretty clear at the vul.

Well I'm not surprised that it wasn't bid at this table after south started with 2♠

2NT heart invite for me

2NT for me.

not very keen on partner's 3♠ call, I think you have to bid 3NT with a tripleton diamond. On the given auction over 3♠ I would bid 4♠.

5♦, consistent with what I bid on a similar hand in another thread

5♦

I'd bid grand slam force over 4♦

The example hand given was Kx Axxxx xxx KQJ. This is an obvious 4S call over 4D. If partner can't key card or bid 5♣ you rate to be off 2 aces. I would have some sympathy if you held Kx AQxxx xxx KQJ but equally I would still expect 4♠ over 4♦ to get the job done if you are making slam.

err... Partner shouldn't be blackwooding if he can't cope with one of the responses. I agree with 5♠. 7♥ is obviously idiotic.

I quite like 3NT, it's a reasonable gamble. Put the pressure on the opponents to find the right opening lead. I much prefer to lead against 3♦ than 3NT on this kind of sequence. Sure it's going to be playless a fair percentage of the time but equally there are going to be hands where it's cold and partner has an obvious pass of 3♦ or they lead the wrong thing and it makes.

Pass for me. There's no compelling reason to be in the auction opposite a passed partner at the moment.