APRIL GUESSES (with some reasoning--such as it is)
SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: 2 Hearts An overbid. But 3
(for me) should have a better suit, not this collection of fluff. I have no source to cite for this, it just “feels” right. 2
also has the advantage of leaving more room to find our best strain. One additional reason I respond with a GF 2
:
I would open this in first seat, which is often a deciding factor for me on hands like this.
PROBLEM B: PassPass will be the popular answer, probably a majority. The red suits are too ugly to contemplate mentioning. Also worth mentioning, since I have only two spades they almost surely have the spades. So why open?
The only remotely viable option is to mention the clubs. That club suit has some “stuff,” and opening 1
intrigues me. But it would open a can of worms, so I pass.
PROBLEM C: PassLooks like a textbook 3
. But the note: “*BWS: 3 ♣ weak, but values for 3NT opposite a balanced hand with 18-19 HCP” differs from my personal methods, and therefore, if I strictly adhere to the system notes, my hand is too weak.
So I pass.
But this “feels” wrong. Often, I feel a though the system notes added to these problems are trying to talk me into an action. Here, it feels as though they want to talk me out of a “normal” preempt. Do I ignore the note and risk partner going on? Or does the preemptive value of 3
outweigh the risk?
PROBLEM D: 4 SpadesI already expressed my thoughts in detail upthread. But this one really has me flummoxed. I see several answers as possible, including:
• Pass
• 3
• 3
• 4
• 3
• 5
• 5
--- I like this, but go with 4
, which is safe.
PROBLEM E: PassBoth 2
and 1NT will be common. Both of them right on values. But it is quite possibly a misfit, in which case I want to “get out fast.” I can’t get out any faster than the one-level—so I pass.
Yes, it’s an underbid of sorts; I’m a queen too strong for this. But I overbid on “A,” so I’m compensating now. 😊 (Hey, I had to justify my decision with a reason and this is the best BS I could come up with!)
This one is definitely my “out there” decision this set.
PROBLEM F: 3 NotrumpNine tricks is fewer than ten?
Second choice is 4
.
I am not brave enough to contemplate pass, but at these colors at Matchpoints it's a possibility.
PROBLEM G: 2 HeartsI failed to preempt, therefore this should imply spade tolerance . . . yes? The K&R on this hand is over 10 (yes, even without the
Jack), so I want to keep the auction alive.
My second choice is pass. It’s close.
PROBLEM H: Heart 4In case I haven’t made it clear, I hate lead problems. Last month’s debacle should be proof!
I need partner to have any of the A or K or J for a low heart to work. With East rebidding 1NT, then 3NT over his partner’s 3
, my guess is he has a diamond filler. If so, it is impossible for East to have all of the missing heart honors.
My initial choice—a safe one—was the
Ten.
I’m not brave enough to try the
Ace, which is also a possibility.