Well, the fire started by Blu seems to be guttering, so here's some petrol:
A. 3
(or pass). Partner has 11/12 (1N would have been 6-10) and something like Axxx KJx xx QJxx. Where do we want to be? If partner has the spade T or 9, 3N might be decent, as he can win the opening spade trick x-Q-K-A knowing that West can’t run the suit. Without a good spade spot, West, after winning the opening spade lead with the K can carry on with the suit (if he has an outside entry) or can switch … to a heart across partner’s holding. That looks gloomy. At least if it comes down to a heart guess, partner is more likely to get it right than I am. At matchpoints is choosing a fairly certain part-score better than opting for a fraught game? I hope you wizards will tell me. Meanwhile, I can chew over whether it’s better to pass 2N or play 3
in a 6-2 fit.
B. 5
. According to BWS [C(b)] a passed hand cue-bid guarantees a fit. I guess in this auction 2
could show a fit but a weak hand, 2
a decent raise (6-9) and 2
(10/11) a good one. Partner looks to have 4 spades. With nice spades and Qxx in diamonds, say, he might have bid 1N. Ergo (these Italian drugs are graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate), he has paltry spades and Axxx in diamonds. Carpe diem!
C. 1N. At the table I’d bang this out with nary a second thought.
D. Pass. At best this is a 20/20 hand and I love my partner. I’m not gonna dump him at the 3-level in a (ropey) 5 – 3 (probably 2 knowing my luck) fit with an emaciated hand. Especially when red v white. Besides, I don’t know how the spades are distributed yet.
E. 2N. According to BWS partner is 6-10. If he’s at the top end we look to have a decent shot at 3N. That’s surely a shorter road to fortune than any club contract.
F. 2
. Yeah, the purist voice in my ear is purring “one spade, honey.” Who’s got time for pure bridge??
G. 3N/3
. We’re lacking a spade stop otherwise partner, who seems to have five hearts, would have bid 3N over 3
. With two useless spades I’m hesitant about raising the temperature with a heart cue bid. However, could North have Ax KQxxx Axxx Qx, having rejecting Ax as a stop? Neither East nor West made a 1
overcall (one might hold Kxxx and the other Qxxxx), which seems to place North with a high spade honour. 3
would give North a chance to show Ax in spades (he won’t cue with Kx in spades), so perhaps it’s worth the detour, just in case 6
is on the horizon.
H.
2. East might be able to pick up the heart suit anyway (certainly with Kxx in hearts and maybe with Kx, having a spade entry into West). Partner hasn’t got much but whatever he has I will kill it with a non-heart lead. Leading the
2 might make declarer do the work. I can always hope partner has the
T !