@ Benoit,
I should think that it would be useful to at least some prospective voters if you were to clarify whether the opponents' 1N opening bid (in lieu of 1D, ergo 1st seat All VUL, IMPs) was weak or strong. If the former, the increased likelihood of Opener holding 15 ...
@ David - I would suggest that you would be wrong to feel at all abashed and instead should stick to your guns: (A) "motive" connotes "motif" only in the context of art, literature, and music, hence (B) @ Andy B has indulged himself in polemically over-stretching in his defence of the post ...
@ David - the answer is perhaps even more prosaic than the somewhat more literate yet broader net of the English "motif": the Polish "motyw" translates directly and simply to the English "theme" [rather than the similar-sounding and doubtless etymologically similar "motive"].
"I think that double is indicated"
If I were on opening lead, then I would concur that the plurality of today's expert community would ascribe to such a X by a preemptor a "I have a peculiar hand with extra shape/offence and wish to bid again" interpretation (N ...
The key to this Pandora's Box is the interpretation of Responder's 4m 9i.e. the "raise", not the unbid m). If (A) natural and NF, then indeed you have a dilemma, losing either BWood or strength-definition in 3N. But if (B) natural and GF+, then you can comfortably ...
Han,
A very interesting read - and I applaud your enterprise at trailblazing a debate that to my knowledge has heretofore attracted considerable instinctive opinions and bromides but nothing remotely as structured as your approach.
In the last paragraph of your section entitled "The price of bidding Stayman" you state "Knowing ...
@ Kit
Your articulation of the "psychological" interpretation of East's position is both admirable and a propos. As soon as the premise of my first paragraph is unclear (i.e. there is not insignificant doubt in East's mind as to whether or not this particular South would accept the ...
@ Paolo
Thank you.
I fully concur with your remarks as to both (g) and (i), and now stand corrected (and somewhat chastened) as to my conclusion that Oren had "played mildly against the odds".
Is it really SO clear that East's defence points to the ♣K in his hand?
You suggest that East does not know whether the closed hand holds ♣Axx or ♣Kxx. Would the closed hand have accepted the 3♥ invitation with AKQx / Kxxx / 98 / K(9)x by now ...