[the hog]

You are playing against a strong pro and his weak client. All green

You hold:

QJxxx
x
KJxxxx
x

Partner holds:

K
Axxxx
ATxx
Axx

The bidding:
1H (X) 1S (P)
2D (P) 4D (P)
5D

We would have liked to bid 6 on this. Who is to blame?
A few system points, 2D over the X would have been non forcing. 2NT over the X would have shown a good raise to 3. xx = 10+ and a willingness to penalise them.
Yes, I know that there are probably better methods available after the X, for example Rubens advances eg 2C t/f to D and then follow up with a S bid, however this is a new partnership and not all of our bidding has been "tweaked" yet, so please keep answers in the context of the system used.

I later heard that ex partner bid the hand as follows:
1H (2C) 2D* (3C)
3D (P) 3S (P)
5D

*Natural and forcing. I don't like this sequence at all. While you have excellent shape, you have a paucity of high cards. Anyway this was not available to us after the X. What do others think?

[irg20]

Irrespective of rdbl showing 10+ points I think that good, shapely hands should start by bidding suits. Using methods in which 2 level bids are NF you are forced to rdbl with INV+ and either one or both minors (unless 3m = INV with long minor).

This situation is slightly different as INV+ spade one or two-suiters can start by bidding spades.

As for the auction at hand the 5161 hand poses certain problems. Bid 1S (F1) and hear partner bid 2C, risk overbidding the hand to get diamonds in or alternatively bid 2D (NF) and potentially miss something when partner passes it.

I would go with 1S as this seem to keep most options open, pd can raise with 3 card support to 2S, bid 1NT (now 2D=NF) or as pointed out bid the worst-case 2C.

Thus bids 1H, 1S and 2D all seem reasonable. After 2D I would tend to play:
2S = NF
2NT = 5S, bal, INV
3C = FSF
3D = INV, NF
3H = 3H, 5S, INV
3S = 6+S, INV
3NT = 5S, 2-H, NF
4C = splinter, D support
4D = F (not sure of this one though seems a bit much to play as just INV with no interest in 3NT)

In this framework it seems that the 5161 hand needs to decide whether to bid 3D, 4C, 4D or 5D. 3D is a bit of a misdescription (sounds like 5S and 4D only) and I think 4C and 4D show stronger hands (if these hands are excluded from an initial rdbl). This leaves 5D as my bid of choice - with three As and the K of pds first bid suit opener might find a raise to 6D.

My preferred auction:

1H x 1S p
2D p 5D p
6D

In the original auction over 4D by responder I certainly think opener is worth a cue bid of 4S (4H being NF), after that slam shouldn't be a problem.

Transfers over 1Mx are indeed a preferrable method but if natural methods are to be employed then playing as without the double below 2M seems reasonable (1x and 2x = F1) as there is no pressure to bid with weakish misfitting hands.

[the hog]

In the original auction over 4D by responder I certainly think opener is worth a cue bid of 4S (4H being NF), after that slam shouldn't be a problem.

I think the jump to 5D is probably a better bid. Re the comment above, I would probably take this as delayed S support rather than as a cue.

[inquiry]

K
Axxxx
ATxx
Axx


QJxxx
x
KJxxxx
x

Original bidding:
1H (X) 1S (P)
2D (P) 4D (P)
5D all p

Four diamond sounds "safe" by LOTT since partner probably has 4 diamonds, i have 6, 6+4 = 10. But, with 6-5 hands with a known fit, I would bid the south hand a little more agressively. I would jump to 4 CLUBS. Patner will know several things. First I don't have a heart fit (I could have bid 2S or 3S as fit jump over dbl). Second, I don't have a black hand, as I wouldn't risk bidding thusly with no fit. This has to be a splinter and enough diamonds to feel safe at the four level.

Not sure if this will get us to slam, but I suspect it might. Partner looking at DA, CA, HA, and stiff King of spades would surely want to cooperate. A possible auction...

1H (x) 1S (P)
2D (p) 4C (x) (guess they have clubs)
xx (5C) 5D (P) (xx shows first round cntl)
6D all pass (5D=good offense, poor def)

or

1H (x) 1S (P)
2D (p) 4C (x)
xx (p) 4H (p) (4H = cue bid)
4N (p) 5D (p) (4N= RKCB)
6D all pass

or

1H (x) 1S (P)
2D (P) 4C (p)
4H (P) 5D (p)
???

(It is easier if they get in and bid in clubs. Here north has a harder guess. But i think more than half the time will bid on...Also over 4C, north might just trott out RKCB)

[Free]

If you ask me, 4D is slam invitation. Without slam invitation you'd bid 5D, and game invitation, you start with 4th suit ©. So you should bid controls or something similar to explore slam (or even bid 6D because you have controls in all suits).
Or maybe he tried to find a 5-3 fit in S, but that's against the odds...

In my system, 4D is RKC, so I'd find the 6D without any problem. But that's not a standard method I guess.