Apollo81

Pass. You dont have that much over a min takeout double. For each 1 time you bid on and reach a good slam, you will pass your side's last making contract (4♥) several or more times.

What if hearts are 5-1? Isn't it better to try the hearts before the ♦A-J? Anyway, they aren't. LHO shows out and pitched a middle club on the 3rd heart. Proceed. yes, yes better to play ♦A, 2 top hearts, then ♦J

Cash the ♦AJ and play 4 rounds of hearts.

Here's my opinion. I think a direct 2♥ bid is quite dangerous (see jdonn's post). I think reopening after 2♠pp is clear. If I pass the first time, I believe I have extra values/offense for my balance. I am not sure whether to pass or double at my first turn. If I double, I will be quite pleased if LHO bids 2♦ and it comes back to me. OTOH I may not get another chance to bid, and a club lead may be very wrong against whatever game they bid. If I pass at my first call, I am not sure whether to double or bid 2NT at my second call. It seems safe to assume that responder has diamonds, but does he show enough diamonds to prohibit us from playing in diamonds? My instinct here says yes because they are playing Puppet Stayman; the types of "garbage" hands he could have here contain more diamonds and fewer major cards on average than if they were playing normal Stayman. If we cannot play in diamonds, I assume that 2NT would show 5-5 round suits and double would be less distributional. If we can play in diamonds, what does each call show? Will partner be on the same wavelength? I am going to wait for further comments before posting the actual hand.

I think inquiry has gotten this mostly/all right. I wonder what the difference between 2NT and double is at the second call. Responder seems to have confirmed a hand with at least some diamond length.

At IMPs, I would use a short-suit game try in spades if I had one. Otherwise I would probably bid 3♥. At MPs I would probably pass.

East has no choice but to keep clubs, and West knows that.

I would guess LHO had the ♣Q. I think restricted choice on the opening lead is the strongest inference here. I don't know how strong the following inference is. I suspect it's not very strong. I think the previous one is stronger. LHO signalled honestly in spades. He basically knew that you'd discover the position of the ♠K without taking the finesse so his spade signal was irrelevant. Thus he is making himself look like an "honest" defender and is now trying to dupe you into believing that he is singalling honestly in clubs as well.

So what would you do after you double 2♣, LHO bids 2♠, and it comes back around? Do you have extras for your action of choice?

I didn't say they had a spade fit. I said that LHO would bid 2♠. other posters: try to be unbiased. I think 2♥ here would be automatic if you knew that LHO was about to bid 2♠

4♥ wtp

3♥

I cannot find any previous post that suggests this.

I would overcall a very strong 4-card suit if I held an opening hand. ex. KQJ8 Ax xxx Kxxx I would double 1♣ on some 4423 patterns. ex. AJxx KQxx xx Kxx I would double 1♦ on fewer 4432 patterns. ex. KQ9x KQ9x xxx Kx

it was a 3 part question

♠Qx ♥AKxxx ♦x ♣K109xx all red IMPs (1NT)-pass-(2♣)*-??? * Puppet Stayman three part question (1) what would you do now? (2) what would you do if LHO bids 2♠ and RHO passes? (3) do you feel you have a extra values/playing strength for your actions? I'm assuming that no one would sell out to 2♦pp (if that were to happen)

what he said

I raise to 4♥. I don't think they psyched.

my point is that if you can reasonably put him on a 0-count that has play for game and he should have much better than a 0 count then it seems silly not to bid game

4♣, as described by the OP. I might bid 4♣ anyway, although it would be tough between that and double.

give pard xxxxx xxx xxxx x I potentially make 4♠

Looking at the auction, I'd say double asks for a heart lead. Looking at my hand, I'd say partner intended this as "don't lead a heart."

I'd play a heart. Spades is supposedly his worse major, and I think theres a nonzero chance pard would lead high from ♠Q87.

1. agree with mikeh (pass) 2. 3♣ wtp

pass 300 seems unlikely I'd bid with a 5th spade