OK. Let's suppose that every artificial bid was alerted, and every natural bid was not alerted. Remember when bridge was that simple?
One club would be alerted, but they knew what that meant. One spade, and two hearts were natural, and not alerted. Every bid starting with four clubs ...
How could they know better?
Four clubs could be natural, some big 2-suiter. More likely, four clubs is artificial. I would guess shortness, but it could have been some form of ace-asking.
Of course, if it is anything except natural, it should be alerted. No, wait! Stupid legislators have decided ...
Heart ace, king, then spade ruff back. If trumps aren't up, and the spade queen hasn't dropped, club finesse.
Trumps rate to be 2-2. West, looking at a sure trump trick, would cash the diamond king. East, looking at a potential trump trick like Qxx, would force dummy ...
And on this auction, I am a passed hand. I can't imagine any hand where I would want to make a game try over a balance, yet I would want to pass over two hearts.
You write, on p. 7, "Partner's order of spade plays is suit-preference. However, this does not negate his play at trick 1 of the 8 of diamonds. That is definitely partner's highest diamond spot. If partner didn't have the king of hearts, it is inconceivable that he ...
And how is North supposed to describe this hand after South (or East) bids 3♦ over the silly 2♦ response?
The correct response, for North, is 3♣. And a coach can spend some time explaining why three clubs rates to work out better than two spades. But ...
I don't mind passing two diamonds. The choice is close. Two diamonds rates to be an easier plus than, say, two notrump, if partner moves again.
However, if I did preference to two spades, and partner raised, I'd bid a game. In essence, this is how the auction ...
Partner is, mostly, captain. 3NT could be based on power, or tricks, or simply a gambling psyche. Pass is not forcing. 4NT suggests a hand where I hope I make it, and double shows a hand where I hope to win four tricks on defense.
But most of the time ...
I rather suspect that the problems described are entirely, and I mean entirely, due to District 3 management.
The district is quite long, extending all the way to the northern portions of New York, yet they hold the GN finals in New Jersey every year. This means some members must ...