skjaeran

1♥ for sure, 2 and 3 is not alternatives IMO. w/r I might try 4♥, but 1♥ is still very reasonable.

This looks like a very straightforward raise to 3♠, to answer the Now what part. As to the what then part I can's see any possible reason to bid anything else than 3♠ on the previous turn, so I've got to abstain. I can't have this hand after that sequence.

Why ♦Q and not ace? Would seem stupid to lose to the bare ♦K wouldn't it?

Playing standard methods (opening style) and no specific king replies to 5NT I'd never do anything else than just bidding 6♠ over the BW reply. Playing with two of my three regular partners I'd bid 5NT and 7♠ (or NT even) if partner replied 6♦ (showing the ♦K) since partner would be 95% sure to hold 5c♦ in our methods.

1♣ 1♦ 1♠ 3♠ 4♠ at any form of scoring would be the bidding if I were sitting north and south. Only 3♠ by south because of 8 losers, bad trumps and light opening style. 4♠ by north because of 6 losers only, but this is still close. ♣J instead of ♠J would make the raise automatic.

Pass then. You don't have to look at it displayed in all it's "beauty" as dummy. :)

It looks like Justin thinks east made the opening lead when in fact west mead the opening lead of the ♠3... Whatsoever there's more than one way for east to get this one right; the easiest one by far is to consider the meaning of west's non-raise. Surely west can't have 4-card support here. So I'm with Josh on this one.

This position is very different from 1♠ x xx where it's standard (but not universal) that pass just show no preference. I'm playing pass in the OP auction as penalties.

I would double on this hand too. Me too.

Why not? It's hard to imagine much less offense given the 3♠ bid. I would have doubled as south. A pass to me would be if one of south's diamonds were a heart. Definitely agree with this. Not even close to bidding at the 5-level with this hand, and not enough to make a forcing pass either. Absolute clear double IMO.

That would definitely keep you out of a bad game on this occation, I doubt that, I'd most probably support ♠s at the 4-level.

By opps you mean? :)

3NT should have chances. Much more so than 5♣. So I'll try 3NT. Pass is too wimpy IMO.

Bingo!

Unilateral would to me be taking the "final" decision when you haven't got enough information to do that. I.e. in a position where you know the best contract is 3NT or 4♥ and you bid 4♥ instead of making a bid that will help partner make a more informed decision. It't unilateral in the sense that there's no longer any way back. 3♣ here would therefor not be unilateral IMO, since partner still has a chance to get it right.

I don't think south's 3♠ invites slam, it just shows a side suit and forces game - north could be 4-3 in the majors, and then 4♠ would probably play better. North's got too much offensive strenght to double 5♣, but not enough to venture the 5-level IMO. Thus a forcing pass is the correct call. South should double this, not being able to underwrite a contract of 5M. Btw, I can't see how 5♥ could be a make, with a loser in every suit except ♣s. Edit: Sorry, I misconstrued the bidding. South should double 5♣ and north should then pass IMO.

Fine with me.

Penalty, penalty, penalty....

With a 7-loser minimum hand and a downgradable ♣K this is a clear 3♠ IMO. The only conceivable alternative would be 3♦.

I'd never have made any direct ♠ raise here. 2♥ natural and forcing and raise ♠s next - help partner evaluate by telling him/her what you've got.

I'd sit for this one. Partner can't count on more than one trick at most from me. Being a passed hand he shouldn't double this without very nice trumps and something more. Btw, we can't expect to do too well in 4♠ on this sequence anyway, probably 2-3 down, so even if 4♦x might make that won't hurt us too badly here.

Agree with 5♠. Since this denies any red suit cuebids it should be pretty clear for partner what kind of hand I've got.

I'll promise to read it as soon as the magazine arriwe at work. Btw we've got a complete collection of BW from October 1929 in the book shelves of my office. :)

A lot.

Posing is indeed the word. :)