JULY Guesses: PROBLEM A: Pass.
What does partner have?
o He doesn’t have heart support, otherwise he supports.
o With a minor, over the1
overcall, he bids it. Both 2
and 2
are forcing.
o With both minors he doubles.
o With
Kx and no heart support, by the process of elimination he would have one or both minors. So partner’s spade stop is a long one. At least Jxx but almost surely Jxxx. (Yes, it’s remotely possible partner has the
King and overcaller has Jack-fifth.)
These “dog that didn’t bark” clues lead me to believe partner has something like:
Jxxx —
Tx —
AKQx —
QJx
Even giving partner more, say:
Jxxx —
Tx —
AKJx —
AQJ
Leaves me wondering where 12 tricks will come from.
I have no source of tricks.
PROBLEM B: 2
.
Not forcing! Very close decision for me. 1NT also works. Yes, it’s a mild upgrade with the nice spots—but it’s still not 10—and a redouble only gets us in trouble further into the auction. 2
is a
bid-where-I-live choice.
PROBLEM C: 1
.
WTP? 1NT is my second choice.
PROBLEM D: 2
.
What does starting with 1NT do for you? If you intend to BART this hand by responding 1NT and rebidding 2
(remember, it’s forcing), then what? If partner has a 2
bid (as he does here!), you simply can't show your hand.
If instead, you begin with 2
(yes, it’s an overbid), since you are a passed hand, you may very well play there or maybe partner may rebid 2
.
This problem is the poster child example for not playing BART!
PROBLEM E: Pass.
No confidence in this. Less confidence in 2
and 1
.
PROBLEM F: 3
.
Another
bid-where-I-live choice. Although I have two five-card majors, the spade suit is too sparse to mention with some misguided intention of later showing the hearts. A double, which would be my second choice, might land us in an unmakeable 5
. And the cuebid of 4
, presumably forcing partner to choose a major at the 4-level, is too rich.
PROBLEM G: 3
.
Matchpoint decisions are tough. A double could easily be right. Pass, too.
This is forcing, so I may be turning a small minus into a larger one.
PROBLEM H: 8.
Correct from this holding.
The
Ace was my second choice (and
A third), but doing so could be setting up dummy’s KQ.
SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: Pass
PROBLEM B: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM C: 1 Spade
PROBLEM D: (a)
PROBLEM E: Pass
PROBLEM F: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM G: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM H: Club 8