Here are my initial self-flagellations.
Problem A: 3NT Where do I go from here? The opponents have preempted, partner made a responsive double, I have 16 HCPs all in aces, we are unfavorable vulnerability and nothing seems good. Partner has to have values to make a responsive double at that level, so I am thinking 3
if I take the low road, 3NT, 4
and 4
if I take a high road. Aces and spaces really make this difficult. If I pass, I start with two rounds of hearts and try to find partner for a ruff. The advantage to 3
is that is stays below 3NT, but what if partner has 9 or more. 3NT would be better with a third club so I could duck two rounds. Nothing feels right yet, but at least 3NT puts us in a game.
Problem B: 5
I am tempted to just bid 4
to leave room for partner to bid 4
, but then I would also be tempted to bid on havimg underbid on the prior round. So I think I am stuck with jump bidding clubs to show my values and hope I am not finding partner with only three.
Problem C: 1
Again, what to do? The best description is 3
showing invitational values and six clubs; but what a lousy suit, it has way too many honor gaps at the top. For similar reasons, I am not keen on bidding 2
and forcing to game with this hand. At least with 2
I have the right values and a concentration in the suit, but a potentially 3-3 fit is not at all appealing (though I really expect to see at least 4 in partner's hand). The good thing about 2
is that partner is highly motivated to show the heart stop, and perhaps move us toward 3NT. Speaking of NT, I am more inclined to bid 1NT than 2NT. In both, the stiff heart makes me reluctant. The values are more right for 2NT, but the stiff makes me more inclined to bid a heavy 1NT. One last thought ia 1
(borrowing a club to be my fourth spade). If partner fails to bid 1NT or raise spades, I will begin to picture a shape something like 3-4-5-1. Nonetheless, I will have more information about partner's hand.
Problem D: d Planning an auction. The values are reasonable for passing, but trumps are not up to snuff. I will try 4
(d) because I am close to a jump response. My other thoughts include c (3NT) shows values and a stop, but not such a great stopper that I do not pass for penalty, and b3 (bidding 4NT, which should be natural showing the heart stop). Of these, d is more appealing to me. But I would rather just bid 3NT at my first turn than to back into it later over 4
.
Problem E: 2
With two bullets and four spades, I will upgrade a bit for the jump response. 1
is a good choice if you do not upgrade, as is 1NT. I do not like passing the double at this level and with this holding. You will probably emerge with three heart tricks, but still need four more. I might pass with AJ9xx though.
Problem F: 6
With first round control in the three side suits, this feels right. I am a bit concerned about missing 7
. I thought about 5NT, but that only asks about two of the top three - I don't have any top honors, so partner would be justified to go with KQ; I'd have to be sure that we were on the same wavelength to try that. I also thought about passing; it may be right, but seems wimpy. This was the easiest decision in the group for me.
Problem G: 2NT I feel like I have only bad choices. I have enough to jump but my strength is in the suits I am fairly certain partner has length in. I do not feel like jumping in clubs on a very ratty suit. The trump are not good enough to pass and then convert partner's reopening double. So do I bid 3C on a 9xxx or 2NT on T9xx - I opt for 2NT because they may be 4-4 or partner has a stiff honor to give me a for real stop and I should have close to these values for the call.
Problem H:
Q What was it the DickHy said last month - I wish they would stop at G? This month, I wish they had not started this set. But given that they didn't, I am now at the lead. The choices I like best are the
Q and any small spade. Partner was willing to bid the suit, so I will lead it. However, they may be in a 4-3 or worse, and the lead of a trump may help the defense immeasureably. But who knows, maybe the Q will hold, and a switch to a trump will look good.
edited to make my final choice on Problem D make sense with the rambling that I had written and then changed my mind