[Hanoi5]

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Who should double? Does the pass from South over 5♦ mean anything?

[Lord Molyb]

What does 2♦ mean?

[PhilKing]

I'd rather double without looking at my hand. How can West bid 4NT here?

Having looked at the hand, South's cards look pretty reasonable for 5♠ opposite partner's presumed 6-5 monster, so South should pass - after all, he has nothing in the minors. The fact that North's cards bear no resemblance to the bidding is just unfortunate.

North will presumably then double, so there should be a happy ending. But who knows? He does not seem to be a team player judging by the bidding thus far, so anything could happen. FWIW, the double of 4NT sets up a force.

[ggwhiz]

Or 5? Holy Mackeral.

[bigbenvic]

I assume 2♦ is equal length, you choose. So the X of 4NT says I have a power hand I meant this to make opposite almost nothing, over 5♦ pass is the act of uncertainty.
It tells him that we don't have a hand suited to playing it - a shortage in a minor, a good fit for his hand etc; it also tells him we don't have a hand suited to defending, bad fit, trump stack, slow cards in the minors ie QJT's etc.

North now knows he's facing a poor flat hand and should X for blood expecting 2 clubs and at least 1 of his 3 major winners to stand up. Maybe South will be good for an extra trick for 2 or 3 off.

Edit: I should say that with South hand I'd consider heavily bidding 5♠ rather than passing as I think 3-3 and K♥ fits well with his hand and looks like what he'll expect from a pass.

[Codo]

I agree with the bidding till 2 ♦.
Why do you want to be in game opposite say a 2254 yarb?
4 NT, well one bid was wrong 1 or 4 NT. Maybe West opened with Qx,Qx,AKQx,QJxxx? But this is no 4 NT bid....
X another fine bid.
Over 5 diamond, south should use his forcing pass and north will make a decision, seeing his decisions so far, I guess he will at least bid 5 spades, maybe more... I would double...