NOVEMBER GUESSES:PROBLEM A: 2NT. The value bid. QT is a stopper if I squint a bit.
PROBLEM B: 3
. Not necessarily promising a fit. I think 3
and 3NT will be the popular solver choices.
PROBLEM C: 4
. With a perfecto, we may have slam. This is how I tell partner my hearts are crap.
PROBLEM D: 3
. Not necessarily playing this in hearts (though partner doesn’t know it yet). But this will force a spade control from partner . . . if he has one.
PROBLEM E: 3
. Partner has more than a complete minimum, but less than GF values. It could be a simple obligatory raise of 8 or 9 HCP. This is due to the wide range of my 2
rebid which could be anywhere from 11 to about 17 or so. But partner could be just short of game values and have a limit raise.
If this were Matchpoints, I would be more inclined to pass and go quietly. But it’s IMPs. And we are vulnerable. I’d like to bid 3
to “ask” partner for
help. But that would probably get me a director call! And 3
, another call below 3NT would promise delayed support, ostensibly showing three.
If only there was another call below 3NT to keep the auction alive. Hey . . . there is! 3
It’s not forcing, so carries the danger of getting passed. But it keeps the auction alive in my grope for 3NT. And because I failed to jump-shift, partner knows my range is around 15-17.
PROBLEM F: Double. The helpful hint will make this a popular choice.
PROBLEM G: Double. Not enough for 4
. Too much to pass. Looks like the versatile double will have step in again. Partner will strain to bid a major.
PROBLEM H: 4. I hate lead problems!