Some of my choices might be odd.
SOLVER: Kenneth Berg
Sykesville MD
U.S.A.
Your Solutions [comments added] for the February 2020 Contest
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PROBLEM A: 3 Clubs
This seems reasonable. I suppose partner has long hearts and too little strength to do otherwise. Since, after 1M, BWS says " a jump-shift to three of an underranking suit is invitational;" I suppose he does not have much. Still, 3C seems right.
PROBLEM B: 1 Spade
Often partner will not have four spades and then we will move on elsewhere. If partner does have four spades, it is very possible 4
is the right contract.
PROBLEM C: (a3)
This seems to be a popular choice. Often we read about how disciplined a reverse must be. The advocates for discipline then need to explain what else to do. Here, partner might well rebid 2S over 2H. BWS says "Opener's reverse after a one-notrump response is forcing. Opener's reverse after a one-level suit response is forcing and promises a rebid below game.". Over 2S I am forced, I don't mind, I bid 2NT. This seems like a decent start.
PROBLEM D: 2 Clubs
It would not occur to me to do anything else. I don't know what happens next, but 2C, for now, seems clear. Yes I would like to have a better five card suit or else a six card suit, but I am not passing.
PROBLEM E: 2 Hearts
As has been noted, I should have a sixth heart. I don't. 2H might well end the auction, I don't mind.
PROBLEM F: 3 Diamonds
I have a good hand, partner is advertising a good hand with diamond length. How much length I don't know, but I can imagine a continuation that gets us to 3NT.
PROBLEM G: 2 Spades
Another choice that seems to be just me. Partner could be, say, 2=4=6=1. If instead I bid 3C I doubt he would pull 3C to 3D, he would figure he has one more club than he had shown so far, that I probably had six clubs or else a very good five for my 2C and have now gone on to 3C without encouragement, so he would leave it. But over 2S he will figure I have asked for his thoughts on the matter.
PROBLEM H: Heart 9
How about a small heart? Well, if partner has the K and plays it, declarer will take his ace. That heart K will be close to the last high card partner has, so probably declarer can take four spades in dummy, four diamonds in hand, the heart A and three clubs. Or maybe he will, after taking the heart A, lead a heart to the J on the board establishing the T in his hand. At any rate, if I play a small heart and partner produces the K I doubt we are actually beating 6NT. Better to play the 9 I think. If the dummy hits with the T, this might work well. If partner has Txx then the 9 was no worse than the 7. I really hope the experts talk a bit about fourth best leads against 6NT. Against 3NT we are trying to set up a card by repeated leads. We will not be having repeated leads against 6NT.
And I want to say, as I have before, that I think the MSC thread has been one enormous success.