Given a chance …

That pass from East is interesting. That means he has equal length in minors – so 1-1,2-2 or 3-3.

How about West’s 3♦ ? Does he have 6-5? Probably, though could be 5♦  and 5 bad ♣ .

If 3-3 pd has ♣ void, 3♦  and so 10 major cards. In this case 4M should be on for you. If  1-1, pd has 2♣ ,5 ♦ and would happily convert 3♦ dbl. But most likely RHO has 2-2. In this case partner has 1♣ and 4♦ . Given RHO electing to bid diamonds over clubs, partner with very little values and 4 poor diamonds won’t be able to convert. Still that gives him 8 major cards, and if they are 5-3 or better, you should have a play for 4M. Only if he has 4-4, you may be in a bad spot. Anyway, you choose to double and partner bids 3♠ . What now?

Partner’s choice of 3♠ is interesting. With 4-4 you’d expect him to bid 3♥ , so he should have 5♠ . Do you raise?

If partner expects you to make one more move, he may bid 3♠ with 4-4, intending to bid 4♥ next time round. In that case 3♠ could easily be your limit. But perhaps partner can give you something like ♦ T9xx – a second stopper. In that case you might have play for 3NT.

You elect to bid 3N, partner bids 4♥ confirming your worst fears and you put him back to 4♠ hoping that partner is 5-4 and RHO 6-5 in minors.

 Move over to partner’s seat to play the hand