Apollo81

100% North; his hand is just a hair shy of Drury

QJ65432 isn't good enough to blast 4♠ on my own IMO

If you're playing WJS in comp then 3♠.

♣Jxx isn't worth 1 HCP.

If your LHO's 3♦ call had been a pass, then I would have said that this looks like a very normal auction for this hand. However, the actual auction doesn't make much sense I'm afraid. I think that it comes down to what you think LHO and partner have for their 3♦/pass, which is more of a poker problem than a bridge problem.

I did have this one once though: 1♣-1♠ 7NT I had 31 HCP

I'd pass, not completely happy with it.

3NT. Not close to any other call IMO

yes.

4NT came from outer space

My company does the data collection/QA and statistics for medical studies. I'm a software developer.

I'd recommend opening 1NT on everything possible except for 12 HCP 4-2 or 4-4 majors hands.

Right, I think it comes down to whether you have extra offense for your bid or not and a lot of that depends on your overcalling style.

This is ridiculous. Doubling 4♠ here has almost no chance to succeed. Opening 4♥ on that hand may not be a great call but it sure could generate a positive swing if you catch a nice combination of hands.

Maybe this comes down to a "what would feel worse" situation: getting suckered by RHO (making the normal pass) or letting him psych you into some losing action (anything else)

I would open 2♥ without a second thought. I don't think I would ever open this hand at the 3-level, except *maybe* 3rd favorable at MPs.

maybe, but given that partner has 7 clubs almost for sure given our holding isn't a stiff spade pretty likely? In that case we make 6C opposite not much at all, and we will probably be safe in 5C. I suppose I should have added that I would pull 3NT to 4♣ hoping partner can bid RKC. He is in a much better position to do so than I am since all my values are keycards. If he just raises to 5♣, fine.

I completely agree. I see virtually no upside to 2♣. If you're just planning on bidding 3♥ next you might as well do it now.

I don't know if this follows, I agree it's 500 or 800 most likely so you have to weigh beating 4S against them bidding 5S and going down. If you think the latter is more likely it makes sense to bid. They will double 5♦ more at IMPs than at MPs, where they are worried that 500 wont be worth much. I think this hand depends a little bid on your style. If you're the rock in your partnership then it seems like you just have your 2♦ bid and can pass, but if you make a lot of lead directors then you have extra offense and maybe should be bidding.

3♦. Given your definition of 3red, I think this is by far the easiest of the five you posted.

I've been playing strong club for years in my reg partnership so in that I would open 1 and rebid 3. I really do not know what to do with this in std....1-2 seems like not enough, 1-3 seems like a misdescription. I guess I'd open 4.

Looks like 500 to me. I'd do it at MPs but not at IMPs.

I would have to be psychic to pull this double against an average player. Because RHO is a pro I will probably tank then pass.

1. Yes 2. Yes 3. 6♦ 4. true dat My first instinct was to pass on #3 but....you haven't even rebid your diamonds and I think you owe pard this 6♦ bid.