MFA

I think you should seriously consider playing a direct double of a transfer after a weak NT as "values". As late as Saturday, I had Kxx, Axx, AQx, JTxx all vul. (1NT 12-14) - pass - (2♦) - ? X. This is not a hand where I'm dying to compete over 2♥, but if partner has some shape and/or strength, my hand is suddently very useful. Double and then selling to 2♥ felt perfect. X & X strong takeout X & 2NT strong natural P & X limited takeout P & 2NT twosuited 2♥ 5 spades+5minor. Delayed actions weaker than direct actions.

No, I don't think so. If anything, double would be a double shot. If 5♥ is right, then +650 is what he might get from the TD anyway. So it's the same horse, he's betting on.

4♣. Then 5♦ on a 4M cuebid, although it's tempting to blackwood over 4♥.

I fully agree with 1NT.

X of 2♦ is takeout of spades for me. This suggests 3 hearts, but it's not a support double as such.

I'm tending to accepting this appeal. If pass to 4♥ should be a LA, we need a significant percentage of players who would actually take that action. This will be close, VERY few would pass here nv vs vul. This is somewhat dependent of skill level, of course. Deeming the appeal frivolous does IMO and with all respect deserve a ;).

I wouldn't be too worried about giving away this underlead by asking about cuebidding style. This is helpful info with the ♣Q as well, and although these guys are good, they can't see through the cards.

Assuming penalty doubles, I would try 2♠ in east instead of 2NT. When partner didn't double neither 2♣ nor 2♦, the chances are good that he has 4 spades. We might wind up in a 4-3, but he should rescue us with only 2 spades.

I assume the play started ♣K to ♣A, ♣ to ♣T and ♦shift. I think it can be made if we plan to ruff one diamond in hand and discard the two remaining red losers on the clubs. Cross to the ♠K without cashing the ace and run the ♣J. Plan to discard a heart first and a diamond later, but ruff when south uses his ♣Q. No matter what north does, we can use ♥A and ♦ruff as entries later on to play more clubs. In due time, we'll cash the ♠A and hold the losers to 2 spades and 1 club.

Prefer lebensohl.

It's clubs or trumps. Leading a singleton trump could be harmful for the trump situation. What are my spade spots? If I have AQ432, I'd certainly not lead a trump. Righty often has 4+ spades also, so a trump lead is pointless if I don't have good spades to protect.

I hate north's pass here. He has an uncomfortable hand, but surely he must scramble with 2NT.

North will typically be the declarer, so perhaps east has a normal heart lead?! Then the crossruff gives 11 tricks. I think the crossruff line seems most promising.

3♥ is not enough, I think. When there is no cuebid avaliable to show a good raise, 2NT should serve as one. So I'll try that. If partner won't be on the same wavelength, I'll T/O-double and correct to 3♥. This shows limit raise values, but usually only 3 hearts.

I think that 4♣ is natural with long clubs, unsuitable for 3nt.

Yes, this is a mandatory double if playing forcing pass. Passing would show values. jdonn: Something is very odd here. If we play forcing pass, responder can - pass over 5♥, inviting a bid. - double 5♥ noninviting, expecting to play 5♥X. This is all fine. But without forcing pass, responder can - double 5♥, inviting a bid - pass NF with a bad hand, but perhaps pull partner's double anyway?! Why is partner not allowed to double 5♥ to say it goes down with just marginal extras? When playing forcing pass we are obliged to double them, and if this can possibly be reasonable, surely we would want to double them very often also without the forcing pass convention! So I don't see how a subsequent double from the original doubler could encourage a pull in this situation. If the original doubler wants to bid on to 5♠ or slam, he must gamble over partner's pass, just as he must gamble over partner's double, a possible yarborough, had we played forcing pass.

It's clear to bid 1♥. 1♥ vs double: At high levels, (3D pp or 4D pp) it could easily be right to double with a (stronger) 3523 pattern to stay flexible. But at the 1-lvl, partner could conveniently have overcalled 1♠ with 5, and later on it's much easier for him to remove 1♥ than 3♥ or 4♥ if he has a decent alternative to hearts. Also, hoping for a penalty is not very much in the picture so low. So one should almost always bid a 5card major before doubling at this level, or the suit will get lost. 1♥ vs pass: We must fight for the contract. It takes a very good catch to have a game, but there are MANY imps/mps in the long run for winning the partscore battles. Partner figures to have his share of the points here, so we surely can't sell to 1♦.

I would not expect to be saved by a 5♠ very often. Quite rarely, actually.

But in latter case we are forced anyway if we play ♥ to the A, aren't we? The second diamond ruff is not overruffed, etc.

What he said. The fact that I was separately having a discussion with someone about a hand from last night where I bid 2S showing specifically hearts and diamonds is of course irrelevant. But as MFA says, running the S10 is a safer way of dealing with the singleton CK than my approach. I'm not so sure that "what he said" is accurate. Of course a defender may pitch a diamond from 1-5-2-5, if he wants to convince you that he has diamonds. :) Given that you have placed LHO with diamonds (which is correct), when you play the club Q from dummy, it is covered by the K. Now what? Eliminate and play ♣J + ♣. West has only clubs left.

4♥ over 3♠.

I agree. Also, I feel we're ambushing partner when we have all our strength in their suit. We don't want him to be too eager to bid 4♠ over 4♥.

I would have run the ♠T instead of playing ♠ to the J (no, he won't cover :unsure:). Then run the ♣Q to cater to x, xxxxx, QJxxxx, K with East. Now I play ♦ to dummy and finess in clubs and later play for the endplay of West. EDIT: East has diamonds because noone would shed a diamond with 1-5-2-5.

I will rate it 3NT > pass > 3♠. But I'm far from convinced. This could be a MSC problem. If partner has a chunky 5card spade suit, taking the defense rates to be wrong. So I'm not going to gamble on that. Between 3♠ and 3NT, 3NT rates to be right if partner has significant extras, if we have good control over all suit, if it's a "same tricks" board or if a heart ruff will hurt us. I'll try this. Passing 3♥ was clearcut.

That is not the end of the world, I think. If he is one-suited with clubs, we don't have an attractive place anyway. 2♣ might even be best, if he has a huge bunch of them. I agree with majors + 3♦. Partner is probably not so strong, but he might have a good fit for one of our suits. This plan caters to all 3 of them.