Halo

2D For me partner is not showing anything extra. I don't have a convincing double of 2C. I do have a reasonable bid available.

Open one heart and, given the rules of the game, watch what the others bid or call.

Yes Wow. I thought I was voting in a 100% poll, and didn't plan to post. Why am I cue bidding if not to make it easier for partner to bid?

JLall position is definitely the mainstream interpretation IMO. You can debate what info was passed, poll people and all that, but the principle is clear.

5C It's surely not down to me to move to slam with this hand. If partner got enough controls to go with his shape, he'll bid it.

Double. Why not? I may have six card support for my suit, but not for partner's.

Pass. Partner will expect more.

1N I'm not a rubber bridge player any more, but it feels like getting 40 towards rubber is good news, and opps need to be cautious about competing at real money when going off. Be interested to hear if there is a different rubber perspective.

Be good to have the hand. I know it doesn't mean much, but personally I always like to see if I was wrong/wrong or wrong/right (right/right is of course not available on this vote!).

I'm happy to be persuaded, but not I fear to take it on trust. My spade play is successful whenever East has Jack of spades - about 65% if we assume diamonds 52. I also make when East has Kx of spades - around 10%. Icing on the cake - I'm OK when East has K singleton spade (unlikely though that is). I don't believe playing through West twice is still 76% after the diamond lead.

Quite close in spades if you are reading the diamonds as 52. But playing the Queen looks odd on the second round, since we have now lost to KJxx in East. Maybe Ace and run the ten is slightly better than the double finesse. Not sure overall - diamond might be a singleton.

4432 versus 2434, with void heart and six on the left. I don't know. Game opposit a 4432 12 count, don't know. Best sequence opposite 2335, don't know. Reassuring that some people know.

Of course not, because pd now bids 3 Spade shwoing 4 Spades and you confidently bid 4 Spade, knowing that this is the right level and the correct strain? I go with the double and agree with the Hog: Who says: never double with a void? I don't think we have heard all the opponents have to say on this hand (unless partner is unexpectedly strong). So I don't share your confidence that after a double all will be clear when the auction gets back to me (if it does).

3C Seems a good idea to show my support. Spades aren't necessarily lost if they were worth finding.

4NT Difficult to see partner taking the initiative with all the cards I'm holding.

6D. Nice if 5NT is pick a slam, but it wouldn't be for me.

Pass. Partner is 1 or 0 in spades. Let the weak hand play the misfit.

Club, ace of spades and another spade, and take it from there. Choice comes when RHO wins the spade and returns a diamond. I think I'll play the Ace of diamonds at that point and continue a third spade.

Pass.

It may be most efficient to use the second double this way. But I guess that it is possible to treat it as penalties and for responder to bid 2S on game invite + hands with diamond support. So it's not quite the case that you can't progress the hand at all without this agreement.

Looking at this holding and the auction, I'd reject the club lead and play a diamond.

Pass and pass. I don't have the agreement that on the first board the second double showed diamonds and no spade stop, so I am assuming partner has a defensive hand. The second is close to a double, but not disciplined with vul opponents, who are presumably not offering up a big score on a plate.

I think it is a good thing to throw some rope to people who take the trouble to post problems. I voted for pass, and as a problem in a vacuum it may or may not be clear. In real life I wouldn't worry if partner chose to open 1C or even the universally reviled 3C.

Double and expect +500. I think partner would need a bit luck to bring in 4S on a forcing defence.

5H OK with previous passes.