Below are my first blush thoughts. Unless I have an epiphany, I feel like I am headed for a 450 this month with an honor roll that dips into 650 or below.
Problem A: 3
Close to abstaining because this auction has gone from bad to worse. I take it back to spades so the tap will be in the short hand and to discourage partner. At least the worst that can happen is a zero.
Problem B: 2 NT I hate this bid, and will look for something else, but it describes the strength, shape, and near stopper. Maybe I will get lucky and either find partner with an honor or LHO with a void.
Problem C: Pass A passed-hand partner, an inadequate NT stopper without help from partner (perhaps Jxx), and the spades missing in action. A lot of problems if I enter the action. More than 40% of the HCPs are in my hand, so it becomes difficult for partner to balance if I choose to pass. It is matchpoints, so passing may be my last chance at a plus position.
Problem D: 3
I like to give partner a boost when they overcall and I have a fit. I have decent hand for having passed, but there is no shape, some of the values are soft in the opponent's suit, so I will downgrade to a simple raise instead of upgrading to a limit or better.
Problem E: 4
My hand has gone up with partner's raise and RHO's responsive double, but has it gone up enough to try for a thin slam? It is possible to come up with hands with a reasonable chance if partner has a maximum or near maximum, but as more people at the table bounce in, the chances drop, particularly at this vulnerability. I think a game is possible opposite most minimums, so I would rather be in game than not. If I am wrong and the hand really belongs to the opponents because partner raised on a sub-minimum, then the opponents are guessing at a high level.
Problem F: Dbl My options seem to be overcall the hearts, an underbid, overcall NT, suggesting a better stopper than I possess, or double, helping me to describe the strength of the hand and still allowing me to bid the hearts later. However, double allows the opponents to make rebids uncomfortably high, so it becomes a risk.
Problem G: Pass Despite the spade fit, my diamond length and spots cry out for passing, hoping for partner to reopen with a double. If. we are not defending, then I will show my spade fit and decent values.
Problem H:
6 Almost anything could be right. My gut said lead a trump, but that might pickle partner's holding, and there is nothing to indicate the need to cut down ruffs except my own shape. I will revisit this decision before submitting.
