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IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2024 MAY MSC
« on: March 12, 2024, 03:32:16 PM »
Initial thoughts.
Problem A
Imps
Neither side vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ 6 4 ♥ A K 7 3 ♦ 10 9 7 ♣ A J 10 2
— (1 ♠) 2 ♥ (Pass); 2 ♠ (3 ♦) 3 ♠ (4 ♦); ?
What call do you make?
Pass Partner forced us to game with the 3 bid, so I will show a willingness to move toward slam with a forcing pass.
Problem B
Imps
Both sides vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ A 9 3 ♥ A 2 ♦ A K 10 5 4 ♣ A 7 4
— — — (1 ♥); Double (2 ♥) 3 ♣ (Pass); ?
What call do you make?
3 Partner has some points and club length, so I will show my points, and hope we get to the right strain.
Problem C
Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ A Q 8 7 6 5 ♥ K ♦ K 5 2 ♣ A 8 3
— — Pass (1 ♥); 1 ♠ (Pass) 1 NT (2 ♥); ?
What call do you make?
2 NT I have the values for an invite after partner's 1NT, and help, albeit not for long, in the opponent's suit. Seems right.
Problem D
Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ K Q 10 8 ♥ K 9 7 5 ♦ Q 5 ♣ J 5 3
— — Pass (Pass); ?
What call do you make?
Pass This is the type of hand I get into trouble with. Clubs are my worst suit. If it goes 1 - (? ) - Dbl, invariably, we end up in the 4-3 major suit fit instead of the 4-4. Better to back in with a minimum, balanced casino point hand.
Problem E
Matchpoints
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ A 10 8 5 2 ♥ K 8 3 ♦ Q 10 8 ♣ Q 5
Pass (Pass) 1 ♣ (2 ♦); ?
What call do you make?
2 I hope this will be regarded as constructive with a fifth spade. Struggled with thoughts of 3 and 3 ; ultimately, I thought both as using too much space - 3 virtually insisting on a spade contract, while 3 is more flexible regarding strain, but also cramps the space. I can see this heading into NT, spades or clubs, but am not certain about the best way to get to the right strain.
Problem F
Matchpoints
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ 2 ♥ A K Q 8 6 ♦ 7 ♣ A K J 10 6 2
— — — (1 ♦); 2 NT* (3 ♦) Pass (Pass); ?
*BWS: hearts and clubs; any biddable strength
What call do you make?
4 I hope this shows longer clubs than hearts, and a desire to be in game in whichever suit partner is willing to try.
Problem G
Imps
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ 5 ♥ A Q 6 4 2 ♦ 7 6 5 4 ♣ K J 10
— — 2 ♦ (Pass); ?*
*BWS: simple new-suit bid forcing; 4 ♣ = key-card-ask; three of a major asks about that suit
What call do you make?
5 I am torn between throwing out a lead director in case we defend, and 5 hoping to place us in a contract with potential and trying to prevent the opponents from finding their spades.
Problem H
Imps
East-West vulnerable
♠ A 9 4 2 ♥ A 8 7 5 ♦ 8 4 ♣ 10 6 3
Pass (3 ♦) Pass (4 ♥); Pass (Pass) Pass
What is your opening lead?
A I have the feeling we need to find our tricks quickly, or they may go away on diamonds once the heart ace is extracted.
Problem A
Imps
Neither side vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ 6 4 ♥ A K 7 3 ♦ 10 9 7 ♣ A J 10 2
— (1 ♠) 2 ♥ (Pass); 2 ♠ (3 ♦) 3 ♠ (4 ♦); ?
What call do you make?
Pass Partner forced us to game with the 3 bid, so I will show a willingness to move toward slam with a forcing pass.
Problem B
Imps
Both sides vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ A 9 3 ♥ A 2 ♦ A K 10 5 4 ♣ A 7 4
— — — (1 ♥); Double (2 ♥) 3 ♣ (Pass); ?
What call do you make?
3 Partner has some points and club length, so I will show my points, and hope we get to the right strain.
Problem C
Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ A Q 8 7 6 5 ♥ K ♦ K 5 2 ♣ A 8 3
— — Pass (1 ♥); 1 ♠ (Pass) 1 NT (2 ♥); ?
What call do you make?
2 NT I have the values for an invite after partner's 1NT, and help, albeit not for long, in the opponent's suit. Seems right.
Problem D
Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ K Q 10 8 ♥ K 9 7 5 ♦ Q 5 ♣ J 5 3
— — Pass (Pass); ?
What call do you make?
Pass This is the type of hand I get into trouble with. Clubs are my worst suit. If it goes 1 - (? ) - Dbl, invariably, we end up in the 4-3 major suit fit instead of the 4-4. Better to back in with a minimum, balanced casino point hand.
Problem E
Matchpoints
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ A 10 8 5 2 ♥ K 8 3 ♦ Q 10 8 ♣ Q 5
Pass (Pass) 1 ♣ (2 ♦); ?
What call do you make?
2 I hope this will be regarded as constructive with a fifth spade. Struggled with thoughts of 3 and 3 ; ultimately, I thought both as using too much space - 3 virtually insisting on a spade contract, while 3 is more flexible regarding strain, but also cramps the space. I can see this heading into NT, spades or clubs, but am not certain about the best way to get to the right strain.
Problem F
Matchpoints
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ 2 ♥ A K Q 8 6 ♦ 7 ♣ A K J 10 6 2
— — — (1 ♦); 2 NT* (3 ♦) Pass (Pass); ?
*BWS: hearts and clubs; any biddable strength
What call do you make?
4 I hope this shows longer clubs than hearts, and a desire to be in game in whichever suit partner is willing to try.
Problem G
Imps
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:
♠ 5 ♥ A Q 6 4 2 ♦ 7 6 5 4 ♣ K J 10
— — 2 ♦ (Pass); ?*
*BWS: simple new-suit bid forcing; 4 ♣ = key-card-ask; three of a major asks about that suit
What call do you make?
5 I am torn between throwing out a lead director in case we defend, and 5 hoping to place us in a contract with potential and trying to prevent the opponents from finding their spades.
Problem H
Imps
East-West vulnerable
♠ A 9 4 2 ♥ A 8 7 5 ♦ 8 4 ♣ 10 6 3
Pass (3 ♦) Pass (4 ♥); Pass (Pass) Pass
What is your opening lead?
A I have the feeling we need to find our tricks quickly, or they may go away on diamonds once the heart ace is extracted.