npreik

I agree with 655321. You need that ♦-trick and the clubs are well protected in most cases. If you exchange K and T of♣, i will climb with the ♥K, to take the pseudo-finesse in ♦, of course.

"Splinter bids" are rather common in uncontested auction and means something like: 1♥ - 4♣ 4♣ shows good heart fit, single or void in clubs and interest in slam. It's a useful convention, since the double jump is not useful as a natural bid. In the contested auction however, many players prefer "fit jumps": 1♥ - 1♠ - 4♣ or - 3♣ They show good heart fit and a useful side suit (pls not Jxxxx). They are exactly designed for this sort of situation, helping partner to find a double fit and thus giving him aid in deciding to pass, X or bid on if LHO bids 4♠.

As rfedrick stated there are hands, where the south bidding makes sense. Look at the point where North bid 3NT. North must have two hearts, he cannot have 4S, longer diamonds AND enough strength to bid 3NT. In that case the bidding should have started: 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 2♠ With 5♠ and even as few as 4+♦ the bidding starts: 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♥ - 3♦ The conclusion is, that north has pretty well described his hand and South is now commander of the bidding. So 4C shows an very unbalanced hand, with mild slam interest in ♥ or possibly ♣, if partner has fitting values. Partner may sign off or get the slam machinery going. The rest of the bidding was struggling and wriggling and was already explained by others.

Two comments: I have messed things up by not producing a fit jump and my just punishment is to be laft with an awkward decision. With my favourite partner i would pass, lead the club and get ready to apologize :ph34r:. I have voted for 5♥ and was surprised, that many others favoured 5♦. Why? To help partner finding 6♥ over 5♠? Otherwise 5♦ only helps opponents. Again, if pulling is wrong, it is my fault. No use trying to shift some guilt over.

Not that easy, i think as many seem to think. If (as some stated) 4♣ is not available as Gerber, then 4NT should be Blackwood. In this auction 4C should be Gerber, so 4NT is quantitative (Possibly asking for help in ♦. Openers hand is well described and responder generally can place the contract. I can not see a hand, that needs 4C as natural. As often, the most important clues are the bids not made. Clues: Opener has not bid 3♥. So he has really no interest in a suit contract. Most probably some sort of misfit with too much in hearts and/or no clubs to be proud of. If opener bids 3♥, responder can always make a waiting bid of 3♠. Responder has not bid 4 ♦ or ♥. So he agrees with NT and is not sure if there is a source of tricks.