CamHenry

OK, I'm glad this wasn't clear-cut! The summary of the replies (as I read it) is: - Lebensohl may or may not be a good agreement in this position and vulnerability; with other vulnerability it is less likely to be useful. - X is likely to be penalty in most partnerships, which is unfortunate because a TOX is great here. - 3D is probably GF - other viable calls are 3H, 3NT, Pass, X In response to the various questions: - Stayman could be garbage, but rarely is. - I decided that the HK was worth around 1.5 HCP on the auction - so I wanted a competitive bid, but decided a GF bid was better than NF. At the table I chose 3D, thinking it was GF; partner decided it was non-forcing and passed. This worked out well when his hand was [hv=pc=n&s=skj96hkd86432ck98&n=sa43hq92dkj5caqt5&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1np2c2hpp]133|200[/hv] 3NT only makes because the ♠QT fall doubleton and clubs are 3-3; 5D is no-play as you can't avoid a second diamond loser. +130 was a second top; one of the three pairs in 3NT made it. Partner's argument was that we should be in 3NT (not certain I agree), because he could have something like Axx/QJTx/Kxxx/AQ - I'm not sure what W would be bidding on, though...

Playing 1NT 15-17, in a 2/1 GF system, you have the auction: [hv=pc=n&s=skj96hkd86432ck98&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1np2c2hpp]133|200[/hv] The 2♣ call is Stayman. What do you call? Supplementary questions: - Is 2NT Lebensohl here? - Is double for penalties? We got a good result but had some disagreement over the hand evaluation.

I agree with Zelandakh: the 3♦ bid did take up a lot of room. S rebid 4♣, not necessarily setting the suit but quite likely. After a pause, N bid 6♣ - on the basis that there was no way to find out about second-round heart control after this start. As S, I reasoned partner must have something useful - probably a heart void, or heart filler given LHO's predilection for vile overcalls. He must also have at least a doubleton club, meaning that anything other than Qxx offside was manageable. I therefore bid 7♣. LHO led a diamond; I pitched a heart on the honour, then played a round of trumps (intending to cross back to dummy with the ♠K for a second heart pitch, then a club finesse, if trumps were 3-0). It turns out LHO held Jxx/KQ8xx/QJT/Qx.

[hv=pc=n&s=saqhajtdcakjt9542&n=sk76h953dak732c76&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=p2c(23%2B%20or%20GF)2h3d(Positive)p]266|200[/hv] Double of the 2♥ overcall would have shown a negative; pass a semi-positive or balanced positive. The 3♦ bid shows a full positive response, with at least two of AKQ in the suit. How should the auction proceed? We found a decent result, but I'm wondering how other people get there.

Playing 2/1, at matchpoints, N deals. At the table neither of us bid well, I think. [hv=pc=n&s=saqj964hk4dakj43c&n=shqj765dq8cakq532]133|200[/hv]

[hv=pc=n&s=sq653h96dkqt97ca3&n=shakj43daj4ckj642&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1hp2d(GF)p3cp3np4dp4n(RKCB)p5n(Even%20number%20%26%20void)p6dppp]266|200[/hv] (Comments on the auction are welcome; system is 2/1) Opening lead is the ♣9. Enquiring, you are told that this promises 0 or 2 higher cards in the suit; if you cover with the J then East plays the 8. A quick count shows 5♦, 3♣, 2♥, and 2♠ ruffs for 12 tricks: but entries are a potential challenge. What's the best line? You can potentially ruff ♥ good, but again entries may be difficult.

Because LHO, on lead with void/xxxx/ATxx/Q, decided that she didn't want to give up the club position and led a diamond instead.

Thanks all - LHO held x/AKxxx/Axxx/QJx; RHO had Jxx/Jxxxx/Qx/xxx. The line I took was to draw two rounds of trumps with the AK; I then played a small ♣ from hand and ducked LHO's J. I assumed that RHO would not have both the ♣Q and the foresight to overtake it and play a diamond through; this assumption worked well! We were the only pair to bid game, though some other declarers made 10 tricks.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq965h3dk97cat9&n=sj32hq9dj632ck842&d=w&v=0&b=14&a=1hp2h2s3h3sp4sppp]266|200[/hv] Both sides' bids are natural; EW play 4-card majors and a weak NT. 2♥ is natural but could be weaker than 6-9 HCP. W leads the ♥A and continues with the K. What's the best line? It's apparent that most of the honour strength is with W, so the diamond finesse is likely to fail. If you play on trumps, W shows out on the second round (discarding the ♥4). If you ask about the discard, the answer is "even cards encourage the suit discarded".

I remember an opponent breaking up an endplay when I tried to exit. I led the 6 from dummy, 5 from RHO, 2 from hand, and LHO found the accidental master-play of the 3. I can't remember the details of the situation, but if he'd won that trick I'd have made the contract...

OK, everyone else is also down 1. You take two rounds of trumps (RHO showing out on the second); RHO wins the first club with the A and gives her partner a spade ruff (having opened 2♠ with KJxxxxx/x/JT/Axx). You can make double-dummy by playing for diamonds 3-2 with the K onside, scoring 4 trumps, 2 spades, 3 diamonds and a club. However, I decided that playing for spades 6-2 was better odds.

Matchpoints, last board. You're definitely in contention (around 70% coming into this round), so a solid result should see you safe. Opponents are a strong pair, playing Precision. What line do you take on this board? (Also, comments on the bidding are welcome: I was South, and felt that neither of my calls was clear-cut but both were OK). [hv=pc=n&n=s52hkt97daq74cqt5&s=saq3haqj5d9532cj9&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=2sppdp4hppp]266|200[/hv] The 2♠ opening is described on the card as "weak, 5+ cards". Trick 1 is ♠10, 2, K, A. What next?

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj54hkqt983d92cq&w=sak3h65dakq83ck84&n=s982hajdj754ca976&e=st76h742dt6cjt532&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1hd2cp2h3d3hppdppp]399|300[/hv] Though N was dealer, South started off proceedings by bidding 1♥ out of turn. Director was called promptly, and started off giving a ruling: "You can accept the call, in which case the auction proceeds normally as if South was dealer. As an alternative, you can reject the call out of turn, in which case bidding reverts to North and South is silenced throughout." Here, South interrupted, and said "I don't think I'm silenced; can you show me that in the lawbook please?" Director looked in the book, didn't see anything about South being silenced, and ruled that play continues unless South bid something other than hearts. The auction proceeded as in the diagram; S made 3HX for a top. Later on during the session, EW discuss the hand at your table (you're the club's chief TD), and explain the ruling. You recognise that something isn't right, confirm in the lawbook that North, not South, is silenced throughout, and have to unpick the mess. NS say "We just did what the director told us; we should get to keep our top!" whereas EW say "A correct ruling would probably lead to S opening 4♥, W doubles, and +100 to EW is a very good score". How do you rule?

My actual line was very similar to this. I started off with the CA, HA, SK (no 4-0 split), then cashed three diamonds instead of clubs, which was fortuitous as W guarded clubs and hearts.

[hv=pc=n&s=sat652hqjt7datct8&n=skq93hadkq63cakq5]133|200[/hv] S plays 7NT after an ambitious auction. We have 12 top tricks, plus a chance for 1 more in any of hearts, diamonds or clubs. My (very much inexpert) analysis suggests that we need W to guard any two suits: we'll be cashing spades, pitching minors from dummy (having unblocked the HA). Is this correct? My other question is whether this type of squeeze has a name, and if so what that name is.

Thanks for the suggestions, all! We were playing a possible-canape precision system, so W had an easy (minimum) 1♥ opening. We proceeded: [hv=d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1h2d3d5dpp6hppp]133|100|Good raise[/hv] Most pairs will have been playing Acol of some description; I suspect a lot of auctions went P-1S/1N-2H/4H-end.

Your choice of system. None vulnerable; S deals and passes. [hv=pc=n&w=sq7hq8652dcaj9752&e=sa9642hakj3djtck8&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p]266|200[/hv] How does your auction proceed? NS are silent throughout. As a variation, N makes a minimum sufficient bid in diamonds at her first turn, which S then raises to 5. I was surprised that we were the only pair in the room to find 6♥.

[hv=pc=n&s=s8hqd87c82&w=shk764d2c6&n=sthdq543c9&e=sh8djt6cq3]399|300[/hv] S is declarer in 4♠, with the lead in dummy. The next trick goes ♣9-Q-2-6. My recollection is that declarer has lost 2 tricks so far. At this stage, dummy quits the ♠T instead of the ♣9. E leads the ♣3, and declarer then says "Hey, where's dummy's spade?" A director call rapidly follows, and the players report: S: "I had led the ♣9 from dummy, losing to the Q; the ♣3 was then led and I noticed that dummy's remaining trump had vanished". E: "I only led the ♣3 because there was the 9 on table!" N and W are mostly silent, but the facts are agreed. What is your ruling?

OK; some answers to questions raised. - EW are a former regular partnership who now manage one or two games per year. - 3♦ was fully agreed (and documented) to be GF. - E chose to bid 5♣, which made +1 for about 75% (5SX-3 can't be achieved without help from oppo). Post-hand discussion indicated that W was considering 4NT, to show his 6-3 minors (with the ♥A). He passed instead because he was afraid of 4N being misinterpreted. E's remark was "if you bid 4N that slowly I'd definitely have understood it!" I'm glad that my action (I was E) was ethical under the circumstances; I felt confident enough that we didn't call the director. NS saw my hand afterwards and agreed that passing didn't look viable.

Easter Swiss Pairs; an agreed hesitation around halfway down the field. No director call, in the event, but what if there was? [hv=pc=n&e=s8hqt8da32caqj765&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p1c2s3d3s4d4sp(Very%20slow)p]133|200[/hv] It's obvious that partner's considering *something*, but what? Does his slow pass suggest doubling, bidding 5♣, bidding 5♦, or something else? Secondly, is pass likely to be an LA here, at matchpoints? Thirdly, does the answer to "what is suggested" change if partner's 3♦ bid establishes a game-force here (obviously it makes pass definitely NOT an LA)?

Options are pass, double, 4N, 5C, 6C. I rule out 6C and 4N quite quickly; I'm settling for 5c though I'm tempted by both X and pass. Not 100% clear to me.

I'm not sure why no-one's suggesting 5♥ on the first one: sure, you've found a fit, but this gives partner a better clue if they push on. I'm definitely not defending.

OK, thanks all - as you may have guessed, my concern over communication in 3NT (especially if partner has a doubleton club) led me to bid 5♣. Dummy was about as suitable for 3NT as possible: ♠QJx ♥Qxxx ♦AKQx ♣Kx. Of course we lost the first 4 tricks in 5♣, for a cold bottom. I wanted confirmation that by bid was as ill-thought-out as I originally assessed! I'm glad that 3♥ was also considered a viable option; I thought it was more likely to show a 6-5 pattern than a 7-4 which is why I rejected it.

Just checked the hand record and N was dealer, not W - so I hadn't passed that hand in first seat. Glad to know I wasn't entirely comatose!

[hv=pc=n&w=s98hj543dcaqj7652&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1d1n2d3c3ddp]133|200[/hv] Opps play Benji; you are in a second-time partnership and it's undiscussed territory. GBK suggests that partner's double is for penalties; do you sit or pull? Edited: dealer was N, not W, so you're an unpassed hand. I don't think that changes much, but my apologies for the error.