pilowsky, on 2020-September-20, 05:24, said:
Here's how I see it: I think West is the one that was a bit verschmickled.
1NT: 14-18 balanced - this seems to be the modern 1NT opening.
2♥: Cappelletti ♥ and a minor
Double of ♥: transfer to ♠
2♠: Aha! I've got ♠
3♣: the suit I'd prefer to ♠ since I was a bit light for my 1NT anyway
3♦: the minor I mentioned earlier.
3♠: West must have misunderstood what was happening.
5♦: Oh boy this going to be great.
Pass: I wish West would shut up.
Double: Gotcha
Pass: Hmmm
Pass: WTF
Pass: should I redouble...nah.
1NT: 14-18 balanced - this seems to be the modern 1NT opening.
2♥: Cappelletti ♥ and a minor
Double of ♥: transfer to ♠
2♠: Aha! I've got ♠
3♣: the suit I'd prefer to ♠ since I was a bit light for my 1NT anyway
3♦: the minor I mentioned earlier.
3♠: West must have misunderstood what was happening.
5♦: Oh boy this going to be great.
Pass: I wish West would shut up.
Double: Gotcha
Pass: Hmmm
Pass: WTF
Pass: should I redouble...nah.
No.
1NT - "I have HCPs and a suit, but I don't like them much. Give me some direction partner."
2♥ - ♥ and a minor.
X - transfer to ♠. Alternatively might be, "I have other 2 suits" because West infers that South's minor is ♦. In any case, value showing. In light of West's next bid, probably not a game force (yet).
2♠ - "I know you don't have ♠ partner. I'm hoping that my hand is useful, and this may be the last chance I have to find out."
3♣ - "I have 5+ ♣."
3♦ - "This is my minor." Cooperative. Probably also infers nothing useful in ♣.
3♠ - 100% forcing to game with good ♣ support. ♠ stopper, if East wants to play 3NT, but expresses doubt about the red suits. No worry about right siding the contract, since East already bid ♣ and 1NT.
5♦ - "Maybe partner can cross ruff to glory. In any case a good sacrifice."
Pass - Forcing Pass. Partner must X or bid. West has already made a game forcing bid and East does not have a clear action, particularly since West has taken 6♣ out of the picture by expressing doubt about the red suits.
Pass - "I respect partner's action and have nothing to add."
X - "I don't have a strong enough suit to bid 5♠ (suppose West had AQJTxx instead), 5NT is too speculative, and I don't have a red suit void to justify a 6♣ bid."
FelicityR "Thank you for your replies. I wanted to establish the thinking behind the 3♦ bid. It turned out well as it resulted in a double game swing and 16 IMPs for her team ... West led the ♣A and 5♦X made. Now that the hands and bidding have been given, I'm still interested how you view this."
++++++++++++++++++++
IMO, the auction is reasonable by both sides. South took a risk and got lucky It's a bidders' game