bucky

Do you play that 3♣ commits us to game? If not (many play that 3♣ shows inv+), then 3♥ might be viewed as a counter-game-try. And if 3♥ is not length + strength + slam interest, then perhaps you do need the 4♥ bid to convey that meaning. In any case, I do not think 4♥ should be automatically taken as splinter without discussion.

It is imperative to have bids that set up major suit as trump after 1NT - 2C - 2M. Just as a general principle, being able to set up trump in earlier bidding will greatly clarify later bids. The 3♦ bid here, even if agreed as not to deny spade support yet, runs the risk of complicating further bids with the ambiguity. Some of the bids mentioned by others are semi-standard (e.g. 3OM showing support with stiff somewhere, 4C as RKC, 4D as balanced slam try with support), although recently I saw an article advocating to switch the meanings of 4C and 4D to conserve room after balanced slam try. Lacking these methods, a simpler agreement is to use the OM bid as setting up M as trump. Here, after 1NT-2♣-2♠, 3♥ is pretty much an idle bid in many structures, therefore it can be used to announce spade fit and at least mild slam interest.

I probably wouldn't want to risk it at the table, but the 3N bid really ought to be for minors. Had partner wanted to bid a natural 3NT (unlikely, but I imagine some running minors with spade stopper is not impossible), he/she could have bid 3NT right after the 3♦ call.

Or maybe doubling 3♦, followed by 4♣ over opp's 3♠? A confusing 3NT should be avoided if possible.

In the hand you initially gave, there was one less club and one more diamond than the actual hand. If anything, it made 4♥ even more appealing with shorter clubs. East's decision for GF 2♣ is also interesting. Many probably would simply have treated it as limit raise.

What is the point of this thread? In an open event where any team can join, anything can happen on qualification round.

Partner not only "need not have a powerhouse", he certain does not, and actually he should have less than minimum takeout at 1-level. Still, with 5 hearts, good controls, no wasted value in diamonds, I bid what's in front of me: 4♥

What type of hand can bid this way but not opened with 2♣? 6-7-0-0? Even then, it is quite shocking to make a non-forcing 3♠ followed by slam try...

That's why in 2/1 you have a distinct range of 12-14 OR 18-19 for the 2NT bid. Partner treats it as 12-14, but you will bid again after partner's supposed sign-off, when holding 18-19.

Sorry, I don't see the logic here. Just because he rates himself as advanced, doesn't mean he IS advanced. In fact the self-rating can be so inaccurate that people have coined a new word called BBO-expert.

1♥ -- 2♣ 2NT -- 3♥ 3NT -- 4NT 5♣ -- 6♣ 6NT -- 7NT 2♣ = game force 2NT = 12-14 or 18-19 balanced, side suits stopped 3NT = serious slam try with spade control 5♣ = 1 or 4 (must be 4) 6♣ = tell me your 3rd round control in clubs 6NT = ♣Q, no extra cards than already showed 7NT = that's enough for me to count to 13 tricks

Thank you.

I think 3♠ is clearly wrong. Having passed earlier, I'd have to catch up with 4♠. If partner has load of clubs, he should pass and be happy to get plus score, as we likely cannot make anything.

Sorry my mind skips one trick ahead... I meant pass is clear-cut at MP.

I would be more nervous at IMPs. At MP this is clear-cut. This action doesn't have to work out EVERY TIME, it just need to gain often enough.