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♠

A:  3
Partner could have something like ♠Jx, ♥ Ax, ♦AKxx, ♣AKxxxx where we want to be in 5♦.  Or partner could have 18+ with just long clubs.  Partner must have a doubleton ♠ simply because if opps had a 9 card fit they surely would have raised spades.  Could it be ♠Jx or a low doubleton?  I think 3♦ would cover all bases. Maybe partner would next bid 3♠ with ♠Jx looking for 3NT, or raise diamonds with ♦AKxx, or just repeat clubs with just long clubs. 

B: 5NT
2 places to play. The only bid that gets anywhere near describing my hand.

C:
Double
We have a good chance of making 3+ tricks here.

D: 1
A 1♦ overcall should be on 5 good diamonds and an opening bid.  So I go for 3N.

E: 3
This is a gamble on partner having 5 hearts or at least J10xx

F: 6NT
Give partner a min opener ♠AQxxx, ♥Axxx, ♦xx, ♣ Jx  and we have 12 tricks in clubs or no trumps. I trust that 3♠ is forcing but I want to either play in no trumps or clubs to protect my K♦.  So 3♠ gets me nowhere.  I am not selling out with 3NT.  We could just about be missing 2 aces partner having ♠AQJxx, ♥QJxx, ♦Qx, ♣xx so I cannot blast 6NT. 
Is there a way out?  If I bid 4NT, that would (I assume ) be keycard in ♥s so that is out. 
What about 4♣?  I don’t think that will get me anywhere.  In principle I will bid what I would bid at the table and not what I think the panel will bid.  So 6NT it is.

G: Double
Awkward if partner has say ♠xx, ♥KQx, ♦AKxx, xxxx.  Say you double.  Partner would likely bid 2♣ and then you would have to correct to 2♥ non forcing.  Lots could go wrong but double is the least of evils.

H:  J
WTP?   

A: 3
B: Dbl
C 1NT
D: 2
E: Dbl
F: 2
G: 1
H: 2

A: 3NT
Partner's 3 4th suit bid says "tell me more".  I have extras but not enough for a slam try so 3NT it is.

B: 3
BWS says that a double jump shift is a splinter. So if I splinter with 3 partner is obliged to cue a minor then I will bid 4 (exclusion)

C: 4
Slam cannot be ruled out. Partner could have  xxxxx,  Kx,  Kx,  AKxx where 7  is almost a laydown.  So I will force with 4 . 

D: 3
Partner has a likely balanced 3-4-3-3.  I will be cautious and bid a non-forcing 3 .

E:  Pass
We have a likely 8 card spade fit and the opps a likely 9 card heart fit.  If the opps can make 4 , then we will only make 7 tricks in spades.  A disaster sac.  If the opps can only make 3 , then we will be 1 off in 3 .  (A good sac) To cater for this we must pass and then pass ff opps bid 4 or bid 3 if the opps pass over 3 .   

F: 3
If we have 2 spade losers and play in 5 , we need partner to have A and at least a doubleton diamond.  If partner has a stop in spades we have a better chance in 3NT.

G: Double
I am not sure about this.  Perhaps a 3 splinter is better. If opps raise to 4 partner will not know that I have a spade void.  OTOH a 3 splinter could reveal too much to the opps or it could be what partner needs to know to find the right spot.

H: 4
What lead is (a) least likley to give a trick and (b) is the most attacking?  I just don't know.  I will be different and go for the 4 .

Problem A

4NT. 
I would like to ask partner how many Aces.  If 2 then I ask for kings.  How do I do that? I think 4NT must be asking for aces.  So 4NT.

Problem B

2NT.
I have a balanced 13 so I must show that by bidding 2NT.  OK what could go wrong?
Suppose partner had ♠x,  ♥AQx, ♦Qxx, ♣KQJxxx.  Then I would expect him to bid 3♣ and we get to the reasonable 5♣ contract.
Suppose partner had ♠Jx, ♥Axx, ♦Qxx, ♣KQJxx and you raise to 3♣. Then only poor bidding will get you to the making 3NT.  So 2NT it is. 

Problem C
3♠
First of all, after 1♥-2♣, I believe that if you rebid 2♥ in this position, then you are showing a 6 card ♥ suit. You have good alternatives with only a 5 card ♥ suit.   With say ♠xx, ♥KQJ10x, ♦Axx, ♣Kxx,; then you  would raise to 3♣.  With say ♠Qxx, ♥KQJ10x, ♦Ax, ♣Jxx you would rebid 2NT (similar to problem B) So when partner bids 3♦, he has longer clubs than diamonds and not 4♠ and likely singleton ♥.  So 3145, 2146  or perhaps even wilder.  So I bid the 4th suit 3♠ and partner will bid 3N with 3145 and a partial ♠ guard. Or 4♣ with 2146.   If I bid 3♠ now partner should be able to supply the answers.
Partner with a strong hand say: ♠Ax, ♥ x, ♦ KQJ10, ♣ AKQxxx will bid 4NT

Problem D
Pass 
Partner has likely 1444 distribution, say ♠ x, ♥ KJxx, ♦ Axxx, ♣ AQxx.  If as good as this we will take 2♠ + likely 3♥, +2♦ + 1♣ = +500 more than game our way.  If less then we will still get more than the possible  part score.


Problem E
Double:
We could only have an 8 card fit.  Partner could have a 3244 distribution; say ♠Qxx, ♥xx, ♦Qxx, ♣Kxxx.  If I double could we still get to 4♥?  I think so.  Partner will bid 3♣ and I will rebid 3♥.   And partner will raise to 4♥ with a doubleton.  I note that opps having a 10 card ♠ fit and we having an 8 card ♣ or ♥ fit then total tricks = 10.  So if we can make 4♥ then opps should go 2 off in 4♠ and so we have a 500 penalty which is more than our nv +420 in 4♥ . 


Problem F
3NT
First thoughts were that I am too strong to bid 3NT. Say partner has ♠ AKQ10xx, ♥ Kxx, ♦x, ♣ AKQ.  Then would we miss the ♣ or ♠ slam?  OTOH this is match point pairs and perhaps we should go for the certain 3NT +1 or +2. 
 
 

Problem G
3♥
I think shows the minors.  Problem:  What if partner then bids 3♠? I think I will bid 3NT and hold my breath.


Problem H

Why did East double and then bid 2 suits when a response of 2♠ would have been forcing? I will leave this until I can answer that question.   

I remember this hand and gave my opening bid a lot of thought.  Open 1NT or 1H?
Open 1NT
Advantages:
It is has 15HCP and is worth 16 and so gets over my strength
It right sides the contract ensuring that I am declarer.  eg    Q7 is best led up to esp if partner has Axx. 
Disadvantages:
If partner has 4 spades and fewer than 8HCP then I miss the 4-4 spade fit.
Open 1
Advantages:
I will always find a 4-4 spade fit or a 5-3  fit if there is one.
Disadvantages: If partner has 9-10 HCP I am unlikely to find a 3NT contract. 

I decided to open 1 and my robot responded 1NT.  This gave me a problem.  Normally I would only pass 1NT if I had 12HCP trusting that partner had a hand worth fewer than 13.  On this occasion though I decided to pass hoping that partner did not have a hand worth 10HCP (partner had already passed)  Also robots do not shout at you if your decision does not turn out well.

As far I remember this was the final contract and my robot partner mad 9 tricks.

I think this was a MP tourney.  Maybe at imps I would go in favour of a 1NT opening bid. 


 

SOLUTIONS FOR:
Jack Goody
Guildford
England

PROBLEM A: Pass
PROBLEM B: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM C: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM D: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM E: 4 Spades
PROBLEM F: 6 Hearts
PROBLEM G: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM H: Spade 2

SOLUTIONS FOR:
Jack Goody
Guildford
U.K.

PROBLEM A: Double
PROBLEM B: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM C: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM D: 2 Spades
PROBLEM E: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM F: 3 Spades
PROBLEM G: 1 Heart
PROBLEM H: Diamond 10