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IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2024 MAY MSC
« on: March 31, 2024, 02:59:11 PM »
A: 5♣
Partner has forced to game with 3♠ and east has eschewed supporting ♠s in favour of bidding what looks like a non-forcing 4♦s. This points to partner having ♠AKxx, or at least ♠Axxx. Let’s give partner something like ♠AKxx, ♥QJ10xx, ♦xx, ♣Kx or maybe a singleton ♦ and one more ♣ or ♥. If I pass, will partner cue again missing AK♥? No, it looks like I have to take the initiative and bid 5♣. I trust that partner will sign off in 5♥ with a doubleton ♦ and bid 5♦ with a singleton ♦. Both of us (breaking the rules?) by bidding 2nd round controls😊 above the game level.
B: 3NT
All I need for 3NT to be a good contract is for partner to have ♣KQxxx. What about 6♣? If I put opps with 11 opposite 5, then partner has just 5 and most likely ♣KQ. Suppose partner has 6♣s and a doubleton ♦? Even then slam looks like it depends on clubs breaking 2-2. So, I bid 3NT.
C: 2NT
Points good enough to make a game try so 2NT it is.
D: 1♣
I will stick my neck out here and open 1♣. This is risking zero in MSC. Nevertheless, 2nd guessing what the experts might do in a quiz rather than what you (or they) would do at the table is unproductive. The risk at the table, I believe, is less than the possible reward. With 11 the hand is more likely than not to belong to us.
E: 2♠
2♠ looks right and better than double or pass
F: 4♦
I think that 4♦ gets the message over that I virtually have game in my hand and have longer clubs than hearts.
G: 4♦
4♦ The LAW. Opps have got the balance of points (unless partner makes gross 2♦ openings) Give partner 3 spades then total tricks = 19 and so 5♦ is a phantom. Defending 4♠ I don’t see that a heart lead would be crucial.
H: A♠
I am lost. Let’s try A♠
Partner has forced to game with 3♠ and east has eschewed supporting ♠s in favour of bidding what looks like a non-forcing 4♦s. This points to partner having ♠AKxx, or at least ♠Axxx. Let’s give partner something like ♠AKxx, ♥QJ10xx, ♦xx, ♣Kx or maybe a singleton ♦ and one more ♣ or ♥. If I pass, will partner cue again missing AK♥? No, it looks like I have to take the initiative and bid 5♣. I trust that partner will sign off in 5♥ with a doubleton ♦ and bid 5♦ with a singleton ♦. Both of us (breaking the rules?) by bidding 2nd round controls😊 above the game level.
B: 3NT
All I need for 3NT to be a good contract is for partner to have ♣KQxxx. What about 6♣? If I put opps with 11 opposite 5, then partner has just 5 and most likely ♣KQ. Suppose partner has 6♣s and a doubleton ♦? Even then slam looks like it depends on clubs breaking 2-2. So, I bid 3NT.
C: 2NT
Points good enough to make a game try so 2NT it is.
D: 1♣
I will stick my neck out here and open 1♣. This is risking zero in MSC. Nevertheless, 2nd guessing what the experts might do in a quiz rather than what you (or they) would do at the table is unproductive. The risk at the table, I believe, is less than the possible reward. With 11 the hand is more likely than not to belong to us.
E: 2♠
2♠ looks right and better than double or pass
F: 4♦
I think that 4♦ gets the message over that I virtually have game in my hand and have longer clubs than hearts.
G: 4♦
4♦ The LAW. Opps have got the balance of points (unless partner makes gross 2♦ openings) Give partner 3 spades then total tricks = 19 and so 5♦ is a phantom. Defending 4♠ I don’t see that a heart lead would be crucial.
H: A♠
I am lost. Let’s try A♠