8 to tackle

[Walddk]

7 bidding decisions and 1 lead problem from real life (teams); some perhaps more difficult than others. For convenience, you are always South. What do you suggest?

 

1.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

LHO opens 1♣, your partner overcalls 1♦ and double to your right (4-4 in the majors). You?

 

 

2.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

1NT (3♣) double pass

??

3♣ is pre-emptive, your partner's double shows values. Your bid?

 

 

3.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

1♠ - 2♣*

?

 

* standard, 1-round force.

 

 

4.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

1♣* (1♠) ??

 

* 4+ cards.

 

 

5.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

1♦ - 1♥

1♠ - 2♣*

2♦ - ?

 

* 4th suit GF.

 

 

6.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

1♦ - 1♠

3♦ - ?

 

 

7.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

What do you open?

 

 

8.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Your side remains silent and the opponents' auction is (opening to your right):

 

1NT - 2♣

2♦ - 2NT

3NT

 

What do you lead?

 

Roland

[han]

1. 2C, I'm not done bidding yet. It looks like this is our hand, so I don't feel like lying (for instance with a 2♥ support jump shift) or masterminding (by bidding 5♦).

 

2. 4C, I will bid 4H over 4D. Partner will understand that I have both majors. Pass is tempting.

 

3. Very common problem, possibilities are 2S, 3C and 3D (if this is played as a splinter). I'm starting with 2S.

 

4. 3♠, splinter. This one is easy, I have no problem forcing to game with this hand.

 

5. This depends on agreements. I hope that I could have bid 3C last round with a strong 5-5, so 3C now can't be a suggestion to play in clubs and must show this kind of hand. Anybody for XYZ?

 

6. Tough. Red at IMPs I bid 3NT, hopefully smoothly to avoid a double.

 

7. 2C, but what will I rebid?

 

8. An invitational sequence makes it more likely that a passive defense will set the contract, ♦J. I would have lead a low spade after 1NT-3NT.

[luke warm]

with apologies for bruising anyone's bridge sensibilities, i'll try it

 

1.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53

 

lho opens 1♣, your partner overcalls 1♦ and double to your right (4-4 in the majors). you?

i'd xx unless it means something obvious to everyone but me (which is likely)

2.

dealer: south vul: both scoring: imp]133|100|Scoring: IMP ♠ KQ65 ♥ A1096 ♦ 76 ♣ AK2  [/hv] 1NT (3♣) double pass ?? 3♣ is pre-emptive, your partner's double shows values. Your bid? too tough for me.. i need to take 7 tricks at clubs to beat the game bonus and i'm just not sure of it.. i wish i knew what "values" meant... game only i presume... i think i'll just pass 3. [hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53

lho opens 1♣, your partner overcalls 1♦ and double to your right (4-4 in the majors). you?

i'd xx unless it means something obvious to everyone but me (which is likely)

2.

dealer: south vul: both scoring: imp]133|100|Scoring: IMP ♠ KQ65 ♥ A1096 ♦ 76 ♣ AK2  [/hv] 1♣* (1♠) ??   * 4+ cards. 2♦ if forcing else 2 (or 3)♠ 5. [hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53

lho opens 1♣, your partner overcalls 1♦ and double to your right (4-4 in the majors). you?

i'd xx unless it means something obvious to everyone but me (which is likely)

2.

dealer: south vul: both scoring: imp]133|100|Scoring: IMP ♠ KQ65 ♥ A1096 ♦ 76 ♣ AK2  [/hv] 1♦ - 1♠ 3♦ - ? pass 7. [hv=d=w&v=n&s=s86hkq54dkqj92c53

lho opens 1♣, your partner overcalls 1♦ and double to your right (4-4 in the majors). you?

i'd xx unless it means something obvious to everyone but me (which is likely)

2.

dealer: south vul: both scoring: imp]133|100|Scoring: IMP ♠ KQ65 ♥ A1096 ♦ 76 ♣ AK2  [/hv] Your side remains silent and the opponents' auction is (opening to your right):   1NT - 2♣ 2♦ - 2NT 3NT   What do you lead? ♥9

[pclayton]

1. 2♣

 

2. 3N. LHO has some kind of 7-4 or 7-5 I'll bet. Hearts are splitting miserably.

 

3. 4♦ is a splinter? I'll try that.

 

4. 3♠ (see comment under #3)

 

5. 3♦ but it sort of depends on our agreements about what pard does with a 4=2=4=3 without a club stop.

 

6. Pass

 

7. 1♠

 

8. J♦

[mike777]

1) 2clubs takes away one level of bidding for the opp.

 

2) 3nt, trusting vul opp bidding.

 

3) 3clubs, 4D splinter not an option for me.

 

4) 3S, splinter

 

5) 3D, nice bridge logic problem.

 

6) 3NT Just bid game at imps. Maybe h's are 4-4?

 

7) 1S, easy, I could have less than this. B)

 

9) JD, As some famous Robot once said I believe, Passive! Passive! Will Robinson!

[hrothgar]

1. 4♦

 

2. 3♦ (Which would be some kind of artificial advance)

 

If you're going to play a flexible double style, you need to add some compensating complexity in the rebid

 

3. 2♠

 

4. 3♠

 

5. 2♠

 

6. 3♥

 

7. 1♠

 

8. ♦J

[Gerben42]

#1: 2♣ forcing ♦ raise.

 

#2: 4♣, steering towards 4 of either major.

 

#3: 4♦ splinter

 

#4: 2♠, forcing ♣ raise.

 

#5: 2♠

 

#6: 3♥, lead avoiding?

 

#7: 2NT

 

#8: ♦J

[Winstonm]

1) 3D if a limit raise. A good treatment after a double or negative double is to use 3m as natural and limited and use 2N for a weak raise.

 

2) 3N. I have no big surprise in clubs but do have a double stop which should give the play flexibility.

 

3) Jxxx is highly overrated as support so for me a simple 4S rebid.

 

4) Abstain. I would never open 1C without a suit good enough to ribid 2C.

 

5) 3D.

 

6) 3N. Should be at worst on the diamond finesse.

 

7) 2C. I'm going to treat this as a 22+ NT hand.

 

8) J of diamonds. Let them find their own tricks.

[Walddk]

4) Abstain. I would never open 1C without a suit good enough to ribid 2C.

You are responder after your partner opened a 4+ 1♣ and RHO overcalled 1♠. Now you see the ?? because it's your turn to bid.

 

Roland

[Winstonm]

4) Abstain.  I would never open 1C without a suit good enough to ribid 2C.

You are responder after your partner opened a 4+ 1♣ and RHO overcalled 1♠. Now you see the ?? because it's your turn to bid.

 

Roland

Oops. :) So I see.

 

Now I bid a pedestrian 2S, limit raise or better. NT is certainly not out of the question and my hand is not so strongly suit-oriented to splinter.

[cherdano]

1. I was tempted to make a fit-showing jump in hearts, but it would be impossible to persuade partner to play in diamonds later. Just 2♣.

 

2. I pass. No alternative, given the agreement.

 

3. 3♣, I hope I can bid 3♠ and 4♠ later.

 

4. 3♠.

 

5. 2♠

 

6. Pass, but I don't feel very good about it. I don't like my hand for NT.

 

7. 2♣.

 

8. ♦J.

 

Arend

[Codo]

1. 1 ♥

 

2. 3 NT

 

3. 2 ♠ followed by 3 Club after 2 NT if this is forcing

3 ♣ if this is forcing

3 ♦ else

 

4. 3 ♠ easiest problem of the set...

 

5. 2 ♥ this must be waiting, pd showed exactly 4 spades and around 5+ diamonds, less then 3 Hearts.

 

6. 3 NT, pd has values outside Diamonds and nearly never 3 Spades, that gives him a stopper in H. If 3 H had been artifical and asking for a stop or spade support, this would be the easy choice. But in that case, this problem had been no problem.

 

7. 2 NT

 

8. 2 of spade, 4. best from my longest and strongest.

[P_Marlowe]

1) 3D, trying to buy the contract

2) Pass

3) 4C, alhough 4D is certainly better

4) 2S, fit, inv. or better

5) 3C, asking for a half stopper

6) 3NT, red IMP's

7) 1S

8) spade

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[han]

Could the people who don't bid 3♠ on 4 explain why?

[P_Marlowe]

Could the people who don't bid 3♠ on 4 explain why?

My first impuls (I was scrolling a lot up and down),

of course 3S is more descriptive.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[olegru]

1. hard.

3♣ - Partner, bid 3NT if you have stopper in clubs. Will run to 4♦ if 3NT fot doubled.

2. pass

3. 3♣

4. 2♠. Invitation.

5. 2♠.

6. 3NT

7. 1♣ (Polish) :)

1♠

8. ♠

[Gerben42]

7. 1♣ (Polish)

 

That's cheating, in that case: 1♠: 5+♠ 13+, forcing...

[Winstonm]

Could the people who don't bid 3♠ on 4 explain why?

My reasons:

 

1) I don't consider that hand worth a splinter - splinter to me is game force and I

don't think this hand is up to that standard.

2) Splintering in singleton honor cards can make life tough on partner when

he holds something like Q10xx of spades for 3N. If partner bids 2N over my

2S the Jack may well be useful and I will raise to 3N.

3) I believe I can better limit my hand now and if partner shows some signs of life

the spade control can be shown later either with a secondary splinter over 3D

or by a simple cue bid.

[luke warm]

Could the people who don't bid 3♠ on 4 explain why?

is 2♦ forcing there? neither 2 nor 3♠ is bad, but what if 3nt is right and opener is afraid of diamonds?

[cherdano]

Could the people who don't bid 3♠ on 4 explain why?

is 2♦ forcing there? neither 2 nor 3♠ is bad, but what if 3nt is right and opener is afraid of diamonds?

With a good (double) stopper in spades, he won't worry about diamonds. Anyway, you can never show everything, and with 3♠ you show

- a game forcing hand, with

- spade shortness, and

- good club support, and

- some stuff in the other suits

all below 3N.

The only thing you can't shows is that diamonds are better than hearts.

 

If you start with 2♦, you can't even show a game force and club support below 3N, not mentioning the spade shortness.

 

Arend

[Walddk]

Could the people who don't bid 3♠ on 4 explain why?

is 2♦ forcing there? neither 2 nor 3♠ is bad, but what if 3nt is right and opener is afraid of diamonds?

Sure, 2♦ is forcing.

 

Roland

[luke warm]

If you start with 2♦, you can't even show a game force and club support below 3N, not mentioning the spade shortness.

 

Arend

maybe you're right arend, we'll know when we see both hands... i have a feeling we'll still be able to gf below 3nt, but maybe not

[bid_em_up]

#1) 1H. Who cares that RHO made a neg X. Showing partner where your values are located will leave them better placed later in the auction when you compete in diamonds.

 

#2) 3N. I dont think I can take enough tricks to be profitable in 3C x'd to beat the game bonus. 4C is a close 2nd choice, continuing with 4H over 4D to imply both majors.

 

#3) If 2♣ was g/f, 4♦ appears to stand out by a mile, with 4♣ a distant second. Since the problem says, 2♣ is a standard one round force, I think 4♣ is slightly better. Partner may pass 3♠ on a spade stiff or void, thinking the hand is a misfit (he will be unaware of our club holding) and we dont really care about his spade holding. I dont really care if we end up in clubs or spades, but we must at least reach game somewhere.

 

#4) 2S, with X a close second. (Yes, I know its not perfect, but I think it will work on this hand).

 

#5) 2S

 

#6) 3N. Partner will be unable to bid 3N due to his lack of a club stop. Bid it now while I have the chance.

 

#7) 1S

 

#8) 9H. I see no reason to lead the JD. as it is only likely to help declarer. He had no four card major, so rates to be longer in the minor suits.

[mikeh]

1. 2♣: no number of ♦ directly seems correct: I don't yet know whose hand it is, so let's help partner.

 

2. 3N: I am NOT going to look for a major suit game after LHO shows 7 or 8 ♣'s. 3N may fail on the ♦ suit, but I like my chances of +600 (or 630) enough... and if LHO is 7-5 minors with enough to beat 3N, maybe I'm not beating 3♣.

 

3. 2♠: enough for now. Splintering is putting a lot of faith in partner's 2♣ call, which, in standard, need not be with ANY real length. I can usually get back to ♣ later if that suit should be trump.

 

4. 3♠: colour me simple, but I truly do not understand any other call: ok, I understand them, but I don't like or agree with them. This IS a game force when partner shows 4♣'s.

 

5. 3♦. I am looking at AJ in a suit he rebid. Admittedly, he may play me for longer ♦, but this holding will play better than Jxx. He can still get us to 3N when it is right, and we may still end up in a moysian 4♠ contract (altho the sequence to get there will be slow and anguished)

 

6. Pass: wtp???? On a more serious note, 3N may work, but my partner's rebid 3♦ on Ax xx AKQJxx Qxx or worse.... I hate missing games, and don't miss many, but this hand is just barely too weak for me... ask me tomorrow, and I might bid 3N :P Toughest hand of the group (by far)

 

7. 1♠. If I bid anything else, I would be betraying the habits, and beliefs, of a lifetime. I especially like this because after a 1N response, I can haul out Jeff's Magic Elixir, and rebid 3♣, about to show a gf hand with 5+♠ and precisely 4♥

 

8. ♠2. I would like to know if LHO promised a major, but I don't really care. I'm not going conservative via a ♦, a ♥ is too random, and a ♣ is silly (leading from Jxxx against 3N is a very, very tough way to make a living). So the obvious ♠ is clear (to me anyway)... so it allows a make (I assume, else why the problem?) So what?

[Winstonm]

MikeH: 6. Pass: wtp???? On a more serious note, 3N may work, but my partner's rebid 3♦ on Ax xx AKQJxx Qxx or worse.... I hate missing games, and don't miss many, but this hand is just barely too weak for me... ask me tomorrow, and I might bid 3N  Toughest hand of the group (by far)

 

Barry Harper told me the definition of a "good Canadian slam" was 10 tricks and an American on lead. :P I would think this probable 8 trick hand with anyone on lead would be a "good Canadian game". :P

 

Winston