ashdown4

A while back partner and I messed up this auction. I then asked Bjorn Fallenius what this sequence should mean. He said it should show about 17 hcp unsuitable for 2NT, likely due to the lack of heart stopper. Regards, Alex

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=s94h975dxxxxc8765]133|100|Scoring: IMP P P 1S 2H P ?[/hv] How much do you need in diamonds to raise partner's 2H to 3H?

I can only wish that all 3NTs I give away were this subtle. West should probably assume that partner who has not doubled Stayman is more likely to have KJxxxx of clubs than KQxxxx. Not that West's next move is clear. Just my $0.02.. Best regards, Alex

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sxxhaxxdkxxcjtxxx&w=skxxhktxxxdqcakxx&e=sqjxxxhqjxxdjxcxx&s=sat9hxdatxxxxxcqx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] At the table 3H made 3, as defense scored 3 aces and a spade ruff. We lost 7 imps to 130 at the other table (don't know the auction). 3NT our way was on. Not very surprising now that I think about it. One hand proves nothing, of course.

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sat9hxdatxxxxxcqx]133|100|Scoring: IMP PASS PASS 1♦ 1♥ 1NT ... 3♥** ?? ** preemptive [/hv] Match 1 of a regional swiss was full of swings. With one hand to go you are not sure who is ahead. Another potentially swingy board arrives from the other table.

Fair enough. I was only two tough decisions away from getting an average plus :)

In Roger's scenario (nice ha lead) a trump shift at trick 2 looks anti percentage. It is quite possible that the rest of the hand for declarer is just a spade guess. E.g. he may have KQTxxxx Q x AKxx and is about to finesse ST in hopes of an overtrick. Spade continuation would be pretty suboptimal then. On the auction given my best guess would be that declarer is 7=1=1=4 with less than solid spades and at least one high honors in clubs. On most such layouts club and diamond shift seem to work about the same.

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sj9ha32d8543cq543&w=skq87642hqdcakt97&e=s5hk8765dakqjt6c2&s=sat3hjt94d972cj86]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv] This was the full hand (from the first qualifying session of Open Pairs in Reno). My club lead caused a disaster. Declarer captured partner's jack with the ace, ruffed a club, and pitched a heart and two other clubs on the run of diamonds. Making 5, -450. 5 matchpoints on 38 top. One hand proves nothing, so I am still not sure what the best lead is....

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sj9ha32d8543cq543]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] The following opening lead problem came up in a recent matchpoint tournament. My RHO opened 1♠ in the second chair, a suit that he would name 4 times in their uncontested sequence: 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ 3♥ 3♠ 4♥ 4♠ PASS Opponents clarified that 2♦ was natural Game Forcing, and all of their subsequent bids were natural. Lead = ????

At the table I thought one good reason to duck this trick was that LHO who bid 3S without S9 or ST might not be able to continue suit (or might quash partner's s9). A switch would be helpful. This ploy did not work :) LHO played s9. I am hazy as to whether it is better to play diamonds from the top or work on clubs. Much depends on whether you think +600 is valuable because some people are collecting 300s and 500s. Playing on diamonds guarantees a plus but makes it very risky to try for 630. Contrary to my at the table expectations recaps show very few 300s and 500s. The goal was 630.

Hmm, this carding problem needs more context. Third hand holds 4 hearts marking partner with a singleton. The opening lead is specifically S2. Having led from a 4 card suit, opening leader is a big favorite to hold 4=1=4=4. The third hand is trying to get partner to continue diamonds from any 4 card holding including KJxx.

On a different opening lead the hand becomes an interesting carding problem. After the same auction I won SQ at trick 1 as a third hand and shifted to a diamomd from 9876. Which spot should I return to get partner to continue suit despite that scary DT? At the table D6 intended to trick partner into thinking I have Axx(x) of spades did not work.