More embarrassing grist for your mills from over the pond:
A. 3N. Presumably N has 6(+) clubs and according to
BWS VI. A. (“The normal simple overcall maximum is 18 HCP with 5-3-3-2 distribution or the equivalent after trading off high cards for shape”) should have 19+ HCP. If that’s true, 3N looks good unless W opened with 12 HCP and E has Kx(x) in spades and out. Would E have raised spades with that over a x? We’re vulnerable at IMPs with the power hand over the opener, so my granny would expect me to bid 3N.
B. x. A little like A with the seats reversed. Over N’s spade bid I can bid hearts (5
over 4
, if necessary). N might surprise me with 3
. One problem is if N passes the x, which is possible at this vulnerability (I guess). What will N do with xxx xxx xxx KQxx if W (with 7 or 8 spades) is silent over the x? Actually, if W bids 3
over the x that will help me.
C. Pass.
BWS II (forcing v non-forcing) seems to suggest that my pre-emptive 4
makes N’s pass of 5
non-forcing. Same section
(lead-directing doubles) “b) no special lead is suggested by a double: … (2) when some combination of dummy's suit, leader's suit, and doubler's suit is available.” If I double, I will make partner squirm: that's far too impolite.
D. Pass. Pass and defend 3
or bid 3
? East looks likely to have 6 clubs and 6 HCP. Roughly a 20/20 HCP hand, suggesting N has AKxxx in diamonds and a J or AQxxx and a Q with a singleton club in both cases. We’re getting 2 diamond tricks, a heart, my club A, and prospects for a fifth (the club K
could be right, partner’s Q is in hearts, or J in spades). With that kind of layout in 3
, we get 4 diamonds, 2 hearts, only one club (am I really going to try a finesse with a singleton club in N?) and a spade if opponents lead them for us … ? Pass and defending looks better.
E. 2
. How valuable are my diamonds and the singleton club K? The latter might deter a club lead at Trick 1, but only then. Can I get diamonds going and still have an entry or be able to pull trumps? All looks very doubtful
at the moment, but partner has lots of options over 2
– game tries, 2N, pass – which will clarify matters. Let’s give N the chance.
F. 4
/6N. This feels like a NT slam. With our power E must surely have the diamond A for a vulnerable overcall, so a direct 6N looks feasible. A bit
‘blunt instrument’ for the pros? What if N is very shapely (65/66 with a diamond void) or E overcalled with seven diamonds with QJ? Maybe 4
is best just now to give N a chance for another descriptive bid. It’s not quite clear from
BWS II what 4N would mean, but even if it is ace-asking, how helpful is N's response when holding 65 or 66 in the majors with a diamond void?
G. 1N/x. We’ve not heard from W, so N could have a common-or-garden opening hand in which case we don’t really want to be playing in 2N. That’s where we’re likely to be after a negative x is followed by 2
or 2
, unless I then bid 2
(and then I’ll find only two small hearts in support - yuck). Over 1N partner has opportunities if he has a bigger opening hand. 1N could lead us to missing a vulnerable game in hearts at IMPs. Perhaps I’m too pessimistic? The pros with their better luck will double, find N with a 4-card heart suit and laugh all the way to the bank in some number of hearts.
H. Diamond 4. Am I crazy suggesting a low diamond and hoping E started with AJx? N has the missing club honour, so he’ll get in at some point to lead a diamonds across E. Either J seems too slow – we’re supposed to be aiming for fast tricks here, are we not?
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