My initial thoughts. As last month showed, I will not be bound by these decisions, but offer them as straw selections to help get others to start thinking about their own choices.
Problem A: a3 [
1 ♦, then, after (Pass) — 1 ♠ — (Pass) — (a3) 2 ♥] I will start with diamonds and reverse into hearts. I might be a hair light for the reverse, I may wish the diamonds were a bit better quality suit, but those are quibbles, not concerns. Nothing else strikes me as being a better choice at this juncture.
Problem B: 6
I will probably change my answer before submission. What I would really like is to bid 4
as RKC for clubs. I may end up bidding 4
anyway, as a fit-showing force, but there is no good way to find out what I need to know, so in the absence of science, try a punt.
Problem C: 2NT Lebehsohl, asking partner to bid 3
. There are a lot of potential contracts just from my side. So what is the most flexible approach? If a direct bid of 3
shows hearts without a spade stopper, then it seems reasonable that by going through the lebensohl relay, that a 3
rebid after 3
, should show hearts with a spade stopper. If that is the case, I have shown two of my possible strains - hearts and NT. And partner has the opportunity to show diamonds with extra strength and length in that suit.
Problem D: Pass The vulnerability speaks loudly to me - they are red, we are white, partner has opened, and I am likely to be looking at four tricks myself. Pass and then pass the reopening double. I can only hope I get the chance for a penalty pass of hearts.
Problem E: 2NT I have both minors, so describe it and move on to the next hand It might be better to put in the lead director and hold the clubs in reserve, but that can be part of my rethink before submitting.
Problem F: 3NT Not happy, but I do have a stop that I can hold up on. By bidding NT, it should deny at least four spades, so if partner pulls, they should be showing their better minor or spade length, so I should be well-placed for such a call.
Problem G: Dbl They say you should try to justify a reopening double whenever possible; this one is light on the clubs and possibly heavy on the spades, but who knows, partner may have the trap pass that makes it worthwhile. Personally, I am hesitant due to the vulnerability, but I have been wrong before.
Problem H:
2 Anything could be right. Partner has close to an opener and did not bid, so I am hoping that he has some spades behind the responder, similar to my having some diamonds behind the opener. When the opponents have bid both of my long suits with a silent partner, that is when I truly hate the lead problems.