OK, for better or for worse I have chosen.
SOLUTIONS FOR:
Ken Berg
Eldersburg MD
U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: 3 Spades
PROBLEM B: 5 Hearts
PROBLEM C: Double
PROBLEM D: 4 Hearts
PROBLEM E: Pass
PROBLEM F: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM G: Double
PROBLEM H: Spade 9
Thoughts:
PROBLEM A: 3 Spades
This shows
and a minor in BWS. I assume 3NT by partner asks for the minor.
If partner bids 3NT I bid 4
. I think he will then have a pretty clear picture of my hand.
If partner bids 4
, as he well might do if he holds 5=1=1=6 shape, I am still bidding 4
but I will not be so happy about it.
PROBLEM B: 5 Hearts
I am assuming that the opponents have a 9 card
fit.They are going to go on to 4
if I bid only 4
.
And, with partner holding 10 red cards and 3 spades, we have a ruff coming if we can get it.
Assume, as Todd suggests, that Lho has six clubs and five spades. He will have a problem after I bid 5
. Of course if they have adequate control in the red suits they can make 6
. Unless we can take the first 2 tricks they may well be able to take 5 spades, 6 clubs and an eventual ruff after pitching red cards from the dummy. But a heart to the A, if it holds, and a club back will beat 6
.
I am pretty confident I can survive in 5
X, not going for more than 500 and maybe less.
PROBLEM C: Double
For the negative double at the 2 or 3 level I need to have either both majors or a fall-back position if partner bids the wrong major. No problem. If partner bids 3
I correct to 4
. If partner has a bigger hand and bids 4
instead of 3
then we should be fine in 5
.
PROBLEM D: 4 Hearts
My first thought was "Of course I bid 4
, what's the problem?". But there is an alternative bid, 4
. I would like this to show a stiff club and hearts. It seems 6
is a definite possibility here. But does 4
show a stiff club and heart support? Not as far as I know. As to just what to make pf partner's 3
, I think it could be many things. It's a forcing bid that does not take us past 3NT and shows at least something in spades.
PROBLEM E: Pass
That 3
will force them to 3 NT or 4
so it's some sort of big hand that didn't want to bid 4
directly. Maybe I'm just timid but I don't see this as a hand where I want to do anything to encourage partner to do much of anything. A bid of 4
would, I assume, ask for a club lead against a
contract. But I don't really know that I want a club lead and, if 4
is doubled, then where are we? Nowhere good, I think. And I see no reason to double the 3
. Pass is sometimes the best call.
PROBLEM F: 2 Clubs
Yes, I suppose that allows the opponents to get in. But I have a good hand and the way to show it is by starting with 2
and then bidding some number of spades. Probably 4
.
PROBLEM G: Double
X is the most flexible call. If partner has four spades, we probably want to be in spades. My spades aren't great, I know. Still.
PROBLEM H: Spade 9
Any lead, including this one, might give away a trick. But if partner has the T this will be fine, and if dummy has the T this lead is likely to be fine. If declarer holds AKQx with the T on the board then I have given away a trick. So be it.
I found these to be tougher than last month's. I am far from sure that I am right on any of them.