I have just started so maybe this is premature, but a couple of initial thoughts.
On A, I am thinking that if I can run six spade tricks then I should have a good shot at nine tricks in NT, and if I can't run six spade tricks then I am not so sure I want to be in 4
either. Assume spades run. If the opening lead is a heart, I have six spades and a heart so of partner has either minor suit A I am home. Or maybe he has Qx in hearts and nothing else. I take the Q at T1 and lead a diamond from the board. 6+1+1+1=9. Or; well there are various "or"s but I am thinking 3NT sounds good.
On B, well, Jx isn't much of a heart suit but it will allow partner to ruff a spade or two unless they start with a trump. If they do start with a trump and then another trump, that should help establish the suit after which partner can hopefully score up a bunch of tricks in hearts and diamonds. Pard knows that I do not have three hearts and if his hand is unsuitable for playing opposite a doubleton he can still put us in 5
.
On the other hand, I think 3
shows a spade stop and suggests 3NT if I have a
stop. I do. So maybe 3NT. As I understand it, after 3
partner, if he has a club stop but no spade stop, can bid 3NT and hope. If he has a spade stop and no club stop, he can bid 3
inviting me to bid 3NT. But I am far from sure everyone agrees that this is how to interpret pard's 3
and 3NT in this situation.
And I agree that there is a lot to be said for 2
over 2
. A little more strength would be nice, but what I have is pretty good.
So I find these tough but what else is new? If we wanted easy there are places to go for easy. I like hearing thoughts as well as choices from others. It's a way to make good use of these problems.
Added thought on B: I am thinking 3NT is the way to go. We all seem to agree that the hand is at least close to a 2
call on the second round. With that in mind, then it follows that my actual choice of 3
could not be any stronger than it is. If it cannot be any stronger then, unless 3
is very narrow, then it could be weaker. Still, partner has elected to go on. This is good news. I have more than he might expect, and he has bid again. So where should we play it? A bid of 3NT shows something in clubs, so I would be showing a decent hand with diamond support and something in clubs. That's what I have.