[kayin801]

1) 1♠
2) X
3) No, open 1♦, though that ♥7 nearly pushed me to upgrade! (I am completely okay with bidding 1NT over 1♠ and with raising 1♥ to 3)

[whereagles]

Phil, on 2011-May-02, 10:55, said:

1. xxx xx J9x Q9xxx. No one vul. (1♣) - x - (pass) - ?

2. Kxxxx KTx Axx xx. You are vul. (2♥) - 3♣ - (4♥) - ?

3. Ax JT7x AJ9xx Ax. All red, you deal (your announced range for 1N is 15-17, but upgrades are allowed. Yes or no?)

1. Canonical 1♦ response, intending to pass pard's 1M or 1NT rebid.

2. Dbl. If pard bids spades, so much the better

3. This may be worth an upgrade, but with the 54 shape that's streching it. 1♦, then rebid diamonds.

[jdeegan]

I would have survived this set of boards

1. 1♦ seems safest and no raise of pard's 2NT since the ♣ probably won't run

2. Pass - my hand is just an ace and a king on offense with a small doubleton in support, and certainly not enough defensive tricks to guarantee a set once I flag my trump holding. I'll try to look bored and hope for a plus.

3. 1♦ - I want a ♦ lead, and I'm happy to rebid a heavy 1NT. Why mastermind when you are the class of the field?

[y66]

+1 to anyone to whom it at least occurs to pass on #2. I have to admit, this never occurred to me.

[Zelandakh]

1, 1D and pass 2NT (we have 25-26 hcp but it is not going to be pretty to play)
2, Pass (this is a style thing and looks to be related to the interesting Kit Woolsey discussion from a couple months back - I think the 'normal' action is probably double)
3, 1NT (balanced hand, worth 15 - masterminding is not opening it with the value bid)