Initial thoughts:
PROBLEM A: 3
. I see this as a slight variation on The Bridge World Death Hand. Six of my suit, three of partner’s major. Extras. My support for partner’s major, however, is so poor that the space eating 3
gets my vote. It’s descriptive of my length. It nails my point range. My second choice would be a flexible 2
.
[Added] Now that I think of it, 2
(admittedly a super-max) has merit. A distant
third fourth choice is 2
.
PROBLEM B: 2
. Too much to pass. Not enough to force. Raising partner on
Qx does not interest me.
PROBLEM C: 3
. I would not have objected to a downgraded opening of 1NT, but we’re past that. Obviously, I intended to rebid 2NT over any 1-level response. It is a very
notrumpy hand. Do I continue with my original plan to rebid 2NT despite the lack of a full heart stopper? I think not. I’m not going to stay wedded to my original plan if the auction steers me in another direction.
What about the spades? Partner’s 1
should promise at least five. Do I ignore the “fit”? Although a jump rebid somewhat implies four card support, since partner now promises five, does that still hold?
Another option, and the most flexible, would be to cuebid 2
, however, subsequent bids (like delayed spade support to show 3 rather than 4) are game-forcing. Does this hand merit a game force? Is the added flexibility of 2
worth the overbid?
PROBLEM D: 3
. This one really stumps me. These two-part questions get me every time. First question, how strong am I? 6-5 come alive? Maybe. An immediate 3
is pushing it. If I were to bid hearts, I’d go through 2NT first. But an immediate 3
, while very pushy, is flexible. It’s forcing and has the added benefit that it may uncover a
fit, so 3
it is. Anyway, that’s my thinking.
PROBLEM E: 3
. Systemic. Part of BWS. What else? (Every time I think this I'm wrong.)
PROBLEM F: Pass. I think partner is probably 5-5 for this 2
rebid. I’m banking on it with this pass.
PROBLEM G: 2
. I could just as easily go with Pass. This is a coin flip for me.
PROBLEM H: 2 . Garozzo.
I’ve not pulled the trigger yet. Will probably do so this evening if I have the opportunity to review once more.
Submitted. Stayed with my initial choices above.SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM B: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM C: 3 Spades
PROBLEM D: (d)
PROBLEM E: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM F: Pass
PROBLEM G: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM H: Club 2