Posted 2015-February-05, 11:32
I don't enjoy a lot of different topics, so tend not to answer. That's just me and if this format works for the OP and others, I'm ok with that and am not being critical, just explaining why I don't often answer and why, when I do, I may not answer all the subtopics.
Here, I just wanted to comment on the auction in which advancer bid 1♥, opener rebid 2♦ and advancer reopened with 2♠.
This sequence doesn't exist absent a mistake on the part of advancer.
Advancer would always bid 1♠ with equal length, so presumably advancer is feeling 'stuck' with a 4=5 hand and lacking the values to respond 2♥ (about 8-10 hcp) or 2♦ (about good 10+, unlimited upwards).
So he bids 1♥ and infers that partner doesn't have 4 hearts.
Now, it used to be that doubler needed some extras to bid 2♥ over the 2♦, but I think the current popular style is that doubler should bid 2♥ in competition with any 4 card holding. Thus advancer can infer that partner lacks 4 hearts, and so may infer that partner 'must' have 4 spades.
However, that isn't necessarily so. AQx KJx xx Kxxxx is a double of 1♦, not a 2♣ overcall.
That means that bidding 2♠ risks forcing partner to the 3-level to correct to hearts, which makes no sense when advancer is weak.
The answer lies in realizing that on these types of hands, the almost sure 5-3 heart fit will play well enough to be the contract, rather than trying to hit the probable 4-4 spade fit. 4-4 fits often generate a trick more than a 5-3, but this isn't as true for low-level contracts with modest values as it is for hands where the declaring side has most of the strength. In addition, the ability to stay at the 2-level makes up for any other issue.
'one of the great markers of the advance of human kindness is the howls you will hear from the Men of God' Johann Hari