Do You Like My Bidding?

Here were a few situations I pondered yesterday. I admit that my choices turned out well but I was quite unsure when I made them. And even looking at my hand now I still wonder.

This was my hand.

West passed and my partner opened 1♣ . East doubled. What do you think is right?

Some purists might consider 1H. But my partner will always have a three card club suit or more and I thought it was more important to push on clubs. So my choice was 3♣, 4♣, 5♣. 2♣  never occurred to me.  Now West who was a passed hand bid 4♠  over 3♣  and partner bid 5♣ . East bid 5♠ to me. Here is the whole auction

I decided to double. I thought I had a trick with the heart ace and my partner probably had a trick or two as well for his opening bid. Yes I know are clubs are not cashing. As it turned out doubling was a pretty good choice as partner may well have passed it out if I passed. Here is the whole deal:

 

We beat it three. We did get the diamond ruff but couldn’t time things to also get two hearts and a heart ruff.

Okay, it worked but how would I have done in the Master Solvers Club?

So then I held this hand at unfavorable vulnerability. 

East passed and I opened 1♣ .  West overcalled 1♥  and partner bid 1♠ . East bid 4♥  and it was up to me.

While we haven’t discussed it I thought partner was likely to have five spades for his 1♠  bid since he had a negative double available. He had at most one heart and therefore most likely a few clubs. So I liked my fit.

But still do I have enough for 4♠ ?  That is the bid I want to make. After all at imps vulnerable games are the prize.  I guess my only other choices are pass or double. I think double is mostly for penalty. What do you think?

And of course you know what I bid. 4♠ . This was passed out and partner had a great hand – enough to justify my bidding.

In fact 6♠  is a pretty decent contract and will make as the cards lay. Do you like my bids? Do you agree with my reasoning. Would you be there to defend me at some Master Solvers Club?