quiddity

Thanks for all the comments! Really? I admit I have never done that before, nor would I ever consider doing it (raising to 2♠ and then bidding 4♠ over 4♥ as opener). Maybe that's a hole in my game.

For me this is too strong and I would start with 2C.

I don't play kickback, but wouldn't it make sense to have 4NT ask for the queen? Or more generally, if the initial response doesn't guarantee/deny the queen, 5 of trumps is sign-off, the first non-signoff step is queen-ask, the second non-signoff step is king-ask. And I guess the next NT bid can substitute for a third-round ask. So 4NT = queen ask, 5C = signoff, 5D = king ask, 5H/S = third-round ask, 5NT = third-round ask in diamonds.

I took the push to 4♠ without thinking much about it. The stiff heart and helpful diamond pushers looked good and my tendency is to be aggressive in bidding 4♠ over 4♥. But perhaps this is too aggressive? Partner viewed this as a LOTT problem; it looks like there are 17 trumps so if 4♥ is making then 4♠ rates to be down a lot. Makes sense to me. Anyway, I'm interested in hearing more opinions. Thanks!

Agree, 4♠ is awful. South has a stiff club and given the vul and that the opps have half the deck he should know a 5♣ save is very likely. He must show his second suit to help partner make a decision over 5♣. After a heart bid, North would have an easy double. Given the jump to 4♠, I like North's pass. He has the trump length so, imo, one of the main factors in whether or not to double is whether he has a trump trick. Jxx doesn't look promising. He has a fourth spade, his ace is in spades, he has a ruffing value and some offensive diamond cards which will help if partner has diamond length. South's final decision is close but that's his own fault. I guess I would probably pass. Why should he be forced to act opposite a passed hand? That really doesn't make any sense to me. Forcing passes are forcing because partner could have significant extra convertible values, or because he could be planning to pull a double to show a slam try. That is not the case here; North's hand is limited.

[hv=pc=n&s=sq974h6dqj8ck8753&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=p1d1hd2h2s4h]133|200[/hv] Imps. 1♦ promised 4+ diamonds or 4432. Double showed exactly four spades.

edit: nm, I failed to read the OP

I've never heard this sequence before. What kind of hand fails to super-accept on the previous round but now tries for slam? edit: oops, I didn't see that 3H promised a fit.

The OP auction has East jumping to 6♦ over 4♥. Did you leave out a round of bidding?

As West I would bid 2NT instead of 3♣ (stiff honor, no 5-card suit, minimum points, clubs well-stopped, and I've already suggested an unbalanced hand). After failing to do so I would try to slow things down after 3♠. Controls are nice but my trumps, shape, and values are going to be disappointing. 3NT or 4♠. It is not mandatory to cuebid here. As East I would bid 3♦ instead of 3♠ so I don't have to do something insane on a later round (like jump to 6♦ with a 4X3 12-count). I do like the 2♦ bid though. There is no rush to bid 3NT with Jxxx of hearts opposite a stiff or void.

I usually try to play to the first trick in tempo and then leave the card face up. Breaking tempo after dummy plays can get awkward, imo.

Also, I don't see how 3♦ is "right on values". What would you bid with a weak hand and long diamonds?

I don't see why pass is out; partner's bid is not forcing and we don't have a fit.

2♦ seems 100% normal. Second choice would be 3♦ but partner would have to know that this is our style, otherwise I imagine it could induce an expensive save.

I don't agree with this; I don't even think 2♠ was forcing. It showed a hand too strong to overcall 1♠ but if partner has a trashy minimum with no fit I think he should be able to pass. There is a cuebid available if we need to force, and a jump to 3♠ if we have that sort of hand. Even now that partner has shown a fit we can pass. Partner's 3♠ was competitive. If we had a minimum for the previous auction with a bad heart holding then we should pass. But with an extra spade and heart honors and nothing wasted in diamonds it seems clear to bid game.

Agree with 4NT, and cuebid 5♦ over 5♣. If partner bids 5♦ instead I guess I'll pass. I suspect the 3NT bidder was just messing around.

2♠

I would pass. It seems to me that 2♥ was wide-ranging and so we need double here to show extra values and assert ownership of the hand. The opponents probably have some heart honors and also possibly some shortness so a heart lead could easily set up a discard or two. I'll try a club.

3♣ also overstates our values/defense. I wonder if 2♣ is better. It's extremely unlikely to get passed out and we can hopefully follow up with a jump to 4♠. I don't have much experiences bidding this kind of hand though so it might be a terrible plan.

Of course North would bid differently. His partner invited him to bid on and he has KQx of trumps and a side-suit ace and nothing in the opponent's suit.

I think partner is showing a strong hand with at least four spades and longer hearts. My ♠QJ and ♦A are useful so I would cuebid 4♦.

double. 4♣/4♥ are both bad; can't partner have 5 clubs and a doubleton heart?

I haven't thought it through but my instinct as East would be to play a club when in with the ♥9. He can foresee coming under some pressure and life will be easier once dummy is dead.

I got the point, I just thought it was funny that you mentioned 4-0 hearts as if it were a bad thing.

though it only makes because hearts are 4-0..