I've remembered the cards that matter, and to make it more readable I've randomly placed the other cards too.
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Playing a Strong NT, West opened 1♣. North has the perfect hand for a takeout double. Although East would normally bid with 7 points it's hard to find a bid here, so he passed. South then replied 1♠. Except in the very rare case he wants to defend 1♣x, South has to bid in response to the double. So his 1♠ reply does not promise any strength, and in fact could be based on 0 points. With nine or more points South should jump to 2♠. This hand is close to a jump, but having so much strength in Clubs before opener means it's only worth 1♠. North should have passed this, having no interest in game opposite a 0-8 point hand. But he wasn't quite sure what partner had, so bid 2♠ to be on the safe side. I then persuaded South that partner must be showing a very good hand to be bidding 2♠ opposite a potential 0 count, so he raised to 3♠. This was passed out, at least one level too high.
3♠ was going to be a stretch then, but it's got some chances. The defence got off to the right start with a trump, which makes things tough for declarer as he's got few high cards, and could need trumps to deal with all those Club losers. The trump lead went to East's ♠K, and he shrewdly returned another trump. Declarer won in hand, and immediately went for Diamonds. In these sketchy hands you need to get your second suit going quickly. I was hoping that West would win and have no trumps left, but instead East won and played a third round of trumps. Declarer played another Diamond up, won by West, who played the ♥K. Declarer gave up a Heart, his fourth loser, but is now home.
There are three losing Clubs in hand. One gets ruffed in dummy. One goes on the top Heart in dummy, and one on the long Diamond in dummy. 3♠ bid and made.
Here's a hand from Friday. Mostly, it doesn't matter what bidding conventions you play. The best system is the one that partner plays. But, just occasionally, there's a hand where you need a little bit of science to find the best contract.
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West opens a Strong NT. East has a good 9 point hand, so has to go to game. With no Stayman or transfers the only bid I think is 3♠, giving partner the choice of 4♠ or 3NT. Here, with a small Spade doubleton, opener went for 3NT.
Unfortunately, there is a Club weakness and the defence found it. Declarer ducked the first Club, won the second, then set up the Diamonds. When Clubs split 5-5 declarer lost four Clubs and one Diamond, for 3NT-1. I suggested that it's slightly better to boldly win the first Club with the ♣A, and maybe even continue Clubs, as ducking here can never work.
Here's how the auction would go with transfers:
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After the 1NT opening, East bids 2♥ as a transfer to Spades. West completes the transfer. East now bids 3♥, natural and game forcing, showing a hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts (at least). West now has a choice of three games (3NT, 4♥ or 4♠), and bids 4♥. This is an excellent game. The only disadvantage of bidding like this is that you might give more information away to the defence, especially if you end up playing the same 3NT anyway.
Finally, here's how me and Anna would bid it (I hope):
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Playing a Weak NT, West has to open 1♦. East replies 1♠. West doesn't quite have enough to reverse into 2♥, so rebids 1NT. East now bids 2♣, Checkback Stayman, asking if opener has any extra length in the Majors. here, this is specifically asking if opener has either three card Spade support, or four Hearts. West shows his four card Heart suit, and East raises to game.
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