Dick!  Glad to hear from you as always,  but you have missed the nasty little points of the hints in both A and B  .  in A passing 3H means you were uaing t convention to bail out in club partial...So a disciplined partner will never act again except possibly to raise your phantom club suit to four  with AQx.  Not many imps to be won there even if you make it  .
   On B, you tortured yourself, hopefully briefly wondering if X of 3   was game-invitational!  The hint was entirely dedicated to letting us know that this is not the case.....But all's well as we chose 3   as the quiz answer anyway
  On C, Iam with you --chapter and-verse.
  As for #D! I cannot wrap my head around having a spade void here!!  This could be very very bad for our chances on defense, or it could mean we can BUThCER his 3NT noise running minors. more news on about April 30th
.........On April 19th, I am doubling.  Cannot sit this out and let partner reopen four spades wit a 5-card stack behind him.  We may need to run a bunch of minors or have dummy's hearts be not-running whic is not that desperate.
..
...
....
On the lead problem Dick-- I couldn't have said it better!  hope we get the 100 here. 

SOLUTIONS FOR:thomas McQuade3180 NW Division, #106Hobbiton OR 97030U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: 4 Hearts    C'mon--partner just has a good 2-level overcall
PROBLEM B: 6 Clubs     Partner can only have KQxxxxx and zippo''--The other 16 HCP  must be with the opponents.
PROBLEM C: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM D: Pass
PROBLEM E: Double
PROBLEM F: 4 Diamonds--  Too close to  game-in-hand  for "4 " and no reason do deny partner from turning up with three hearts (OR EVEN JUST TWO IF THE CLUBS ARE RUNNING)
PROBLEM G: 5 Diamonds    At Matchpoints,  my simulation champ , "4 " is a winner--  but the wins are smallish. On the rarer occasions where everybody makes a bunch are game-swings when they come up, and the penalty for overbidding par is usually not double-digit
PROBLEM H: Spade Ace--GOING FOR the tap-out defense, since neither minor lead appeals to me at all

To keep a record of your solution

A:>>  Like many of this month's problems, this answer would be given, "at the table" in about 5 seconds!  (Onward to 4 Hearts).
  Partner has accepted our game invite, and we have a rather small supply of extras, so what's the problem?  But as the month goes on, my mere balanced 12-count is starting to look more and more like a push to the 5-level--such a PERFECT 12 1/2! 
   IF I bid five clubs that might:
        (!) get partner to a 28-point slam...
        (2)  help him judge what to do if the opening side sacrifices over our four hearts...  or...
        (3)  give us a self-inflicted -50 when otherwise everybody was going tolie down for our heart game-bid


B:>>  Axx Ax AKzxx Axx,  (1H) Double, (2H) 3C; pass, ___ What is this?  My 19 primo + opps open and raise with...16??  This leaves partner with KQxxxxxx and hopefully a doubleton diamond or stiff in whatever major they lead!   Hence, a pretty good grand slam. At the table, I bid 6 Clubs in 10 seconds or less.  Cue bidding is pointless [pard can't possibly co-operate.] 

C:>>  AQxxxx, K, Kxx, Axx.  (1H) 1S, (2H), pass; pass, ___?  6-1-3-3 and max overcaller's points? What is this--bridge-kindergarten?  This is utterly what "Double" shows and there is no alternate answer lurking in my subconcience, id, or ego!  Less than 5 seconds ..DOUBLE
  On Tuesday 3/12,  Jim reminded me that partner has advanced "1NT, not passing as I misread.  This requires a rethink big-time--and makes this a much juicer problem.
,
D:>>  KQTx, K97x, Qx, Jxx,   Pass, (pass), ___?  Our match would have to be on life-support if  I didn't risk letting LHO find a passout-- vul at imps.
                    PASSING in tempo.  IF I did bid, I think it would be One Spade.  BWS  plays a simple Drury (reverse, I assume--they didn't say so I can drop pard's 2 of a red suit.

E:>>    AT8xx, Kxx, QTx, Qx,  Pass, (pass), 1 Club, (2 Diamonds) opps vul,  At last, a problem  with more than  1 1/2  answers!  I found 5 of 'em.
                   1>  Bid 2 .. This will often propel us to 3NT with this ratty 11 facing a similar count in pard's hand
             2> Bid 2NT..  This operation may be a sucess, but the patient may die anyway
             3 and 4>  Neg Double,  then show the 5th spade  or neg double and bid notrump at whatever level.
             5>  Lurk in search of the elusive 200 at 2   doubled?  How happy will we feel,  if partner can't find any reopening call
     Definitely a worthwhile problem, and the one likely to make big swings in the final tally

Eight quick and wild views:


A:  get in with my spade or his diamond ..then run 6 clubs + a,k of hearts.  --3NT--
Problem A:>> There are tonnes of legitimate double-and bid-in-clubs hands that don't run that suit facing a singleton--or show up with a 2nd spade stopper.  So, discretion may be the better part of valor.  On a really bad day, pard's 3C may not even com in---on a REALLY bad day it might go down while 3NT DOES come in (xx, AQ, AKx, AJxxxx)?
   Anyway  I am  switching to the cowardly pass           ---Pass---

B:  part 1--bid 5H; part 2-- complain to the system-builders about that 4NT NOT being "red suits"(Unusual NT)!
Problem B:>>   what I wrote above still stands --every word in it.     ---Five Hearts---

C:  Lightner at the 5-level?? -- of COURSE!       --Double--
Problem C:>> " Jxxx, Axx, --, Qxxxxx" is a pretty bizarre four-raise, and certainly going to 5  now is ridiculous whatever our reasoning may be. So that leaves no options except "Pass" and "Double".  I don't get this problem frankly; maybe partner thinks his pass is forcing and is about to unleash a "pass-and-pull" after this double?  Now THERE's a juicy problem IF it happened, and IF forcing pass is agreed which I doubt.
                                      ---Double---
D: 3NT; sometimes it goes down no worse than 3   does.      --3NT--h
Problem D:>>  Qxx, AT8x, 9xx, AQx...Expecting good play for 3NT opposite a measly 1D overcall is almost fantastical.  The only reason I talked myself into bidding 3NT earlier is that giving a comp 3-level raise with 12 GUNS instead is so undignified.  Better than 3NT would be to make a responsive double in case pard can bid hearts (and HOPE he is showing four of them?).  Despite my good hand, I keep seeing layouts where neither side can even make 3 of a minor .
                                    ---Three Diamonds---

E:  two spades shows 2 or 3 good spades and at least jump-rebid values. next rebid of 3 then shows "this hand".   God has spoken / we have had more   than enough of "Bridge World Horror Hand Number Two" to quit insisting this "jump-shift" is entirely natural!!                                                   --Two Spades--
PROBLEM E:>>  The MSC always gives me about a "20" for the jump-shift equals just a reverse" treatment mentioned above, so to try for a better score, we're settling for the immediate jump-raise .
                                      ---Three Hearts---
   P.S.  votes will be all over the place, like "1 ", "2 ", ""3 ""[gaag], and "FOUR  "

F:  I will probably STAY with this choice even after UPS delivers my meds--seriously.  --6NT--
PROBLEM F:>>  Yes  i am staying with the NT slam idea.  IF the clubs do not run, then possibly partner will come through with
                                    AQJxx, AQxx, xx, xx, which is 8 top tricks to go with my four.  [Kx, Kx, Kxx, AKQxxx
p.s.  "Real men don't need blackwood on responding hands like this!"

G:  A negative double commits me to a 2 rebid, doesn't it?  a free 1NT doesn't commit me to any.  --1NT--
Problem G:>>  I don't mind "lurking" when sitting over an opp's overcall--and that would be my second choice, but this time, we stay witn the
                                                      ---1 Notrump---

H:  After being unable to decide what is my "longest and strongest" red suit I have decided to just hit partner instead! -- J--

Hopefully, no more that 3 of these will make the final cut...but hwho knows

SOLUTIONS RECEIVEDYour MSC Solutions have been received for theMarch 2024 Contest
]SOLUTIONS FOR:thomas McQuade3180 NW Division, #106Hobbiton OR 97030U.S.A.
[/size]PROBLEM A: Pass
[/size]PROBLEM B: Double
[/size]PROBLEM C: 1 Heart
[/size]PROBLEM D: 2 Hearts
[/size]PROBLEM E: Pass
[/size]PROBLEM F: 2 Hearts
[/size]PROBLEM G: 2 Diamonds
[/size]PROBLEM H: Club Ace
[/size]
[/size]Your confirmation number for this contest entry is: 24037156MCQU

Problem A:>>  A98, QTx, K9x, T9xx;    (2H) p (3C) p; p, Dbl, p, ___?
  This may make, but I am not betting the ranch on hitting pard's 5 card suit [ if he even has one]. Poll question:  Might partner have as little as 11 pts?  If so,  color me frightened
                                   ---Pass---

Problem B:>>  x, x, AKJxxx, JT9xx;  (3H), 3S, (4H), ___?  After mulling over "5D" and [briefly] 4NT I choose defending, I double more to get partner to assume a misfit for his spades than because I have real confidence in setting them.
                                   ---Double---

Problem C:>>  KQ9x, ATxx, 9x, 9xx;  (1C), 1D, (p), ___? Not so many years ago, this is a one-answer problem--PASS!  Now I am sadly convinced that "4-card majors up the line" works better.  sigh
                                  --- One Heart---                              ---One Heart---

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Problem D:>>  Axx, --, Qxxxx, Qxxxx;  1C, (1H), ___?  All I lack to make a jump-cue THE perfect bid is another queen (king??).  Here on Jan 11, I am voting for it anyway.  Just bidding what I have can lead to a major disaster here; Bidding what I WISH I had should just throw another 50 on the campfire when partner doesn't bring the extra we need.
                                      ---Three Hearts---
                                   

Problem D:>>  Axx, ---, Qxxxx, Qxxxx;  1C, [p], ___?  Cue-advance is all right but short sighted.  I am going ta award myself an extra queen  and make what would then be the perfect bid...  ta-da:
                                     ---Three Hearts---
                                 
Problem E:>> ♠ A 4 2,♥ 8 4♦10 7 6 5,♣ A Q 9 7; 1H, (2D), ___?  I have always lurked with this sort of holding, and I have a bucket of +100s on file to prove it (for some sadly below average MP scores--sigh).   I'm continuing stubbornly to make the book call of pass despite the above (and leave in the reopening double, too)
                                       ---Pass--- 
   P.S.  None of my partners fail to reopen with appropriate [or nearly appropriate SHAPE despite no extras, or they are banished to te "funzies" tables!


Problem F:>>  I wanted to interact with Jim's thoughts on this one but... one of us has misread the auction, and it is now Jan. 21, so:  If the bridge world asked what the response, is to 1 with 3=4=3=3 and game values the panel would be unanimous:  "2 ".
   With this 16 count though, I am feeling the urge to drive up to the five-level so will start and continue to bid where my cards are.  Yes--I see tis is an (adjusted) 7-looser and, see may be bucking some stiff headwinds for that reason alone
                                          ---Two Hearts---

Problem G:>> Like JCreech says--sure.  won't somebody research whether 1m, "3 spades"  is a splinter or not? (Not saying that would be a good bid,  but in the running if so).
                                         ---Two Diamonds---


























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what happened to my early  problem  A, B, C  guesses??  Well there wasnt much juicy insights in those  ...or any other until the "ahahh!" that finally gelled  for the lead problem