Problems from Bridge Week 2015

Today's Panelists: Kenneth Rexford, Len Vishnevsky, David Grainger, David Caprera, Mike Shuster, David Weiss, Dan Hugh-Jones, Barry Rigal, Bobby Bodenheimer, Kent Hartman, Fred Curtis, Ed Davis, and John Jones

MPs, favorable, you hold
x 10xx Kxxx J109xx

LHO CHO RHO You

2 Dbl 4 Pass

Pass Dbl Pass ?

KENNETH
4NT
LEN
[Pass.] I don't feel strongly about pass vs. 4NT. At matchpoints, I pass comfortably. I'd probably bid 4NT, prepared to lose 9. [The scoring was matchpoints, but it seems as if Len thinks it's IMPs. --Jeff]
DAVIDG
4NT. much harder at unfav.
DAVIDC
4NT. A two horse race. It isn't clear to bid, but if you do bid it is clear to bid 4NT. This is a different auction than (2)-P-(4)-DBL-(P) where partner has to double with all sorts of offshape good hands. The second double confirms a more classic takeout double. I think the opponents have too many spades.
MIKE
4NT. Seems so obvious it must be a trap.
DAVIDW
4NT. It's unlikely we can beat 4. If partner has enough to do so, we might even make five of our minor. I am a strong believer in taking out takeout doubles.
DAN
4NT
BARRY
4NT. No second choice.
BOBBY
4NT seems right with some useful offensive strength.
KENT
Pass. Partner didn't bid 4NT.
FRED
5 (just ahead of 4NT) but my opponents have been lucky when they pass, but if I do it we have double fits and they have singletons.
ED
4NT. I don't think we will make anything at the five-level and might beat them in 4 but I don't like the odds. They have too many spades (10+).
JJ
Pass. At MP I think the percentage action is to pass. This would be a tougher problem at IMPs. [I think the opposite. At IMPs, if either contract is close, we bid. That is surely the case here. At MPs, if both are down, a lot of matchpoints will be lost by bidding, so the problem is much harder. --Jeff]
WINNING ACTION
Bid. Partner held x AQx AQxx AKxxx. 5 doesn't make, but no one is doubling. 4 is cold, because clubs are 3-0.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
Pass.
CONSENSUS

Action Votes

Pass 4

4NT 9

5 1

JEFF UPON REFLECTION
I wonder how many panelists thought the scoring was IMPs. At IMPs, 4NT is just obvious. At matchpoints, this is a problem. I think five of a minor rates to go down well over 50% of the time and 4 rates to go down well over 50% of the time. But I need both to happen. I think it's over 50% that both will happen, but I don't really know.
Looking at partner's actual hand, I want to be in 4x. Looking at dummy, I want to be in 5.
MPs, both vul, you hold
x Q10xxx xx K10xxx

CHO RHO You LHO

1 1 Dbl 2

Dbl Pass 3 Pass

3NT Pass ?

KENNETH
4 as a cue with club control and spade control.
LEN
Pass
DAVIDG
4. you showed a bad hand with hearts, but partners first double sounds flexible. If double was penalty for some reason (instead of cards), I would pass 3NT.
DAVIDC
I abstain. (I have never done that before. It was fun.) 3 is a bad bid. 2NT as two places is clear. (That is "clear" two answers in a row. More fun.) Now you made a mess and you have to sit in it. [I'm not sure 2NT is two places to play, but I don't see how you can avoid the major at matchpoints. --Jeff]
MIKE
4. Partner has doubt about NT. I am sure it is wrong.
DAVIDW
4. In my partnerships, opener's double showed three hearts. So 3NT offers a choice of games, and I think the choice is fairly clear. If partner merely showed extras with the double, then I would not know what to do and would throw up my hands and pass.
DAN
4
BARRY
4. 3NT is not right maybe something else is? With a stiff spade and no diamond honor partner could have two spade stops and we can make five of a minor, but not 3NT.
BOBBY
4
KENT
Pass. Bob and I had a similar auction, where he felt that delaying 3NT like this expressed doubt. I also have doubt, but six diamonds, the A not stiff, and a spade trick are enough.
FRED
Yuk. Maybe 5 as 4 now tends to sound stronger and I am assuming 3NT was natural (Hamman's rule) while CHO's double did NOT promise three or more hearts. (If it did systemically, I revert to 4.)
ED
4. My preference is for partner's double to show three hearts and extra values. The 3 bid presumably showed five hearts without enough values for game. 3NT by partner is probably a balanced 18+ HCP hand with a single secondary spade stopper (not the ace) giving me a choice of games. I reject notrump and bid clubs just in case partner does not have three hearts.
JJ
4. Partner has around 18 or 19 with three hearts and is giving me a choice of games. Picking hearts assures that neither of my suits gets lost.
WINNING ACTION
4. Partner was 3352 and 4 was a (somewhat lucky) make. 3NT was down.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
Pass. I thought that since 2NT would have been Good/Bad, partner didn't have to have three hearts to double. He thought double still showed three hearts and was giving me a choice of games.
CONSENSUS

Action Votes

Pass 3

4 7

4 2

5 1

JEFF UPON REFLECTION
I think partner's first double can't promise three hearts (what else do you do with 3244 and no spade stop?) but I think that the sequence double then 3NT pretty much does. Why didn't he bid 3NT (or Good/Bad 2NT then 3NT...what's the difference?) last time? Could he have Kx Kx AQJxx AJxx? If the sequence doesn't promise three hearts, then I like 4 now. If it does, then why bid 4? 4 scores more, and if you are going to be in 4, why tell the opponents about your hand?
IMPs, both vul, you hold
10xx A10x A10x J10xx

RHO LHO

1NT (12-14) 2NT (nat)

3NT Pass

What do you lead?

KENNETH
Fourth best club
LEN
Small spade
DAVIDG
10. Any heart could easily be right, though. Just random.
DAVIDC
Second highest spade. Don't try to blow a trick when it is obviously a close contract. Don't lead from aces. Lead a major. David Bird will agree.
MIKE
10. Is this safer than x? Unclear. [I think they are about the same. They blow a trick some of the time if partner has the queen or king, rarely otherwise. --Jeff]
DAVIDW
Small club. I have no conviction about this; any lead could be right. I am hoping that my tens justify passivity.
DAN
My fourth-best club.
BARRY
Middle spade or low club. Preference in that order.
BOBBY
With no clear idea, I lead a low club. Sometimes I might gamble and lead a low spade, but usually I will just lead a club.
KENT
Small club. Second choice is a small spade. 10 if right is for the Bulletin.
FRED
IMPs small club (certain at MP) but not happily at IMPs. A spade is a clear 2nd choice and is tempting. While others could win, it would be sheer guesswork and more likely to blow a trick.
ED
10. The only other considerations are a small spade or a small club. There is too great a chance that one of the opponents has four clubs for me to want to lead clubs. The 10 will probably work out badly if my RHO has four spades, but at least partner is likely to know my values are outside of spades and will defend accordingly.
JJ
J. I changed my mind three times on this one, also seriously considering the 10, the 10, and a x. I want to go neutral here, but it isn't obvious what my best neutral lead is. I also don't want partner using a club honor unnecessarily at Trick 1.
WINNING ACTION
anything but a club. Partner has a small singleton, and the club trick is declarer's ninth. Partner had xxx xxxx KQJxx x.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
Small club.
CONSENSUS

Suit Votes Card

8 Jack: 1 Low: 7

6 High: 3 Middle: 2 Low :1

JEFF UPON REFLECTION
I think a club is clear. The idea "I don't have a five-card suit, so let's lead partner's" does not apply when you hold two aces, since you only need three other tricks for a beat. I think a club is about as safe as a spade (I'd like a spade lead much more from 9xx), but doesn't have the upside of a club lead. If you catch KQxxx, 3NT is still probably making. If you catch KQx, 3NT is probably going down.
I can't see any difference between which spade to lead, assuming you have Smith available. I don't like the J. If partner has KQx or any other short honors, you block the suit, and three club tricks is one of the reasons to lead clubs.
IMPs, both white, you hold
xxx K10x KQ9x AKQ

CHO RHO You LHO

Pass Pass 1NT 3

Dbl Pass ?

Dbl was negative. 3 was undiscussed.

KENNETH
Pass
LEN
Pass
DAVIDG
3NT. Might pass vs. some players.
DAVIDC
Pass. Take the money. Partner is a passed hand and double doesn't promise the world. No assurance that 3NT is a make. On a good day I bring back 300 opposite a part score. On a really good day I bring back 800 opposite 430. If I don't beat them, this will keep partner from making that sort of double again.
MIKE
3NT. LHO, with topless clubs, probably has a twist. Or eight of them.
DAVIDW
3NT. I do like to take out those takeout doubles. I trust three club stoppers will be enough to make my game.
DAN
Pass
BARRY
3NT. I don�t know what to do. 3NT looks middle of the road.
BOBBY
Pass
KENT
Pass. If declarer has eight clubs and the AQ and catches a high spade in dummy (or the equivalent), rats.
FRED
Pass. Given more than half my hand is in their suit, take the money I hope as in order to show clubs at this vulnerability, opponents frequently take liberties.
ED
Pass. We will usually make 3NT but no guarantee. (Maybe the opponents lead spades and win five spade tricks or four spades and an ace.) We will probably beat 3x two or three tricks.
JJ
Pass. Only easy problem in the set. If this wasn't given as a problem, I would think pass was automatic.
WINNING ACTION
3NT. Partner has xxxx Axx A10xxx x, and those spots are key with diamonds 4-0. Since your AKQ get ruffed, you only beat 3 one trick, but there are nine in 3NT. The overcaller was KQ109 xx — J109xxxx.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
pass.
CONSENSUS

Action Votes

Pass 10

3NT 4

JEFF UPON REFLECTION
My reasoning was that partner was a passed hand, so game isn't likely to be cold, especially with half my values having no combining value. But upon reflection, I'm a bidder, for Mike's reason: with a jack-high suit, overcaller probably has a twist, so my chances of getting 300 aren't too great. On the other hand, bad breaks might defeat 3NT. In fact, all of those issues were relevant, but partner's 10 had us covered.
Against a known madman, passing is easy. I suppose it also matters what methods they are using. If DONT, where they could get to 2, it's more attractive to bid; against Hamilton, say, where playing 2 is not an option, it is more attractive to pass.
IMPs, both vul, you hold
K AKx AKQ10xxxxx —

LHO CHO RHO You

1 Pass Pass ?

KENNETH
5 as a self splinter
LEN
6. 3 might tell you something useful, but I'm not sure what.
DAVIDG
6. Can't imagine anything else.
DAVIDC
6. Bidding what I think I can make. I would bet that 1 won't pass out but double could, and I don't think I like that. I considered 3 followed by 4 but I can't see how I will learn much. (Nor do I have any agreement as to what that sequence means. It would be nice to say, "GF, diamonds as trump, please cuebid," and perhaps it should be that but I could end up in 4, so let's not do that.)
MIKE
Double. I don't like double with shortness in spades, but there has to be an upper limit to bidding a suit. I have a 2-loser hand. Second choice: 6. In fact, that might well be my next call, but meanwhile partner might show strength.
DAVIDW
6. No scientific auction will help me with this decision. I hope partner will be clever enough to hold the little something I need. The deal might even belong to the opponents.
DAN
6
BARRY
3. Not sure where I'm going yet. Something forcing looks like a good start.
BOBBY
1. The danger of its going all pass at this point is small in my experience, and it allows me to follow with 5 regardless of what pard bids, which gives partner a better idea of my hand than opening 5.
KENT
This was to see if I'd answer all bidding questions with pass, right? 5. Should have play. Should double jumps below game in the balancing seat be forcing: close to the equivalent of this hand minus a major suit king? If LHO bids 5 over 5, I have no idea what I'll do after two passes.
FRED
6 because five is being a wuss (as opposed to hero), and they must have a fit which is good. This could win in so many ways...or lose a game swing, of course.
ED
1. Maybe they will bid 2, and I can then bid 6 and aggravate them by making it. Then they won't compete any more for the rest of the match. [Poor Ed. At the other table, my counterpart bid only 1. Ed bid a normal 2, which was severely punished. --Jeff]
JJ
6. I think 3 followed by 6 is a little stronger, and 3 followed by 5 a little weaker. This seems about right. The clown holding this hand at the other table tried 1. 1 would be tough to beat!
WINNING ACTION
probably just about anything. Even my counterpart's choice of 1 worked out. My teammate saved him by bidding 2. Talk about punishment... pass, pass, 6 making. Ouch. Double might not work out, but probably will. Partner would have to make a pretty speculative pass with two 4-card majors to bury us.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
6. I bought 10xxx Qxxx — KJ87x. RHO had the hearts and LHO the aces, so the limit was 12 tricks.
CONSENSUS

Action Votes

Double 1

1 2

3 1

5 1

5 1

6 8

JEFF UPON REFLECTION
OK, 6 was obvious and easy. But it's a fun problem. This is my third 9-card suit lifetime. All three were in diamonds.
I don't know the difference between starting with 3 (which must be forcing) and just blasting 6. There is not a lot of literature about bidding huge hands unsuitable for a double in balancing seat.
IMPs, both white, you hold
AKx AKx 98xx K10x

You CHO

1NT 2

2 2NT

?

KENNETH
3
LEN
4
DAVIDG
4. 3NT could be right, but not bidding it with this, could make 6 and go down in 3NT. 2 art inv over 2 then 3 showing max + three hearts will let partner make a more informed decision.
DAVIDC
4. Does this sequence promise "balanced"? [No. --Jeff] What is 1NT-2-2-2? [Something stupid. --Jeff] Assuming your answer is, "2 is something else," and this is my only invite, I won't gamble on 3NT which could be really wrong (give partner Qxx QJxxx x QJxx for example) and bid 4 which has play. To those bidding three of a black suit, I hope you play there (or get raised if spades).
MIKE
3. I'll try to be scientific and get partner to help choose between NT and hearts. If I had to choose now, I'd choose hearts.
DAVIDW
3. With a maximum, I am of course accepting the invitation. While 3NT is a temptation with my distribution, I am worried that partner could have a hand with shortness in a minor (picture Jxx QJxxx KJxx x or Qxx QJxxx x QJxx). My call will allow some degree of investigation, and might have the ancillary benefit of inhibiting a club lead.
I state unequivocally that 3 does not show a club one-suiter with no interest in hearts; if I really felt that strongly about avoiding a heart contract, I could have bid 3 over the transfer. ( AQ xx Kxx AQJxxx; yes, I would have opened 1NT with that.)
DAN
3NT. It's pretty close, though. I'd put it at about 55/45. Those prime cards will work beautifully in spades and when pard shows up with shortness instead of the hoped-for diamond values, I am going to look silly. Marshall would have bid 3NT [Marshall would have bid 3NT if his red suits were reversed, too. --Jeff]
BARRY
4. how boring!
BOBBY
I think aces and kings outweigh flatness, so 4.
KENT
4. I have become a simple soul on these auctions. Play in the major with three or more. (Pass—I have seven losers—is a thought.)
FRED
4 not because I am oblivious to 3NT making (while 4 fails), but because it can lose so badly in the post-mortem. My hand is controls and although I expect hearts to run, I will look really silly if CHO has a singleton diamond or the hearts do not run. Although CHO is ostensibly balanced, he may be 5422/5413 with invitational values and despite my lack of ruffing values that does not preclude his having one. I prefer to "mastermind" only when all the pre-conditions are set. I think it is part of partnership bridge! I would be more tempted by 3NT were my cards slower. (Yes, I know the counter-arguments about 9 tricks.) If it was MP, the choice would be much harder and more likely influenced by the state of the game pushing me to 3NT.
ED
I'll guess 3NT instead of 4.
JJ
4. What's the sound a cow makes? "Moo (I assume everyone knows the Howie Wolff story). What's the sound a rooster makes? "cockadoodledoo". What's the sound a cat makes? "meow". What's the sound a goat makes? "......" why that would be the sound of me putting the 3NT bid on the table. I'll let Jeff finish describing the debacle.
WINNING ACTION
4. 4 is a (very lucky) make. 3NT is bad vs. partner's stiff A, and duly went down. [I'm not showing partner's whole hand, because I overbid by a fair bit. --Jeff]
JEFF AT THE TABLE
Wasn't there. Partner actually chose 3NT, so let's call that a vote. I thought it close at the table, though a little less so now.
CONSENSUS

Action Votes

3 3

3NT 3

4 9

JEFF UPON REFLECTION
With some partners, I play "ASBAF," which stands for "all strange bids are forcing." Playing that, I like 3. But these days, folks open 1NT on all sorts of random crap, and it seems more useful to play 3 is just to play on the theory that 2NT should be forcing on a six-card suit. It might also get us to 3NT for the right reason if responder happens to have a fitting club honor. So without discussion, I think bidding 3 is too dangerous. As between 4 and 3NT, I like 4. If partner had jumped to 3NT, then I'd pick the 9-trick game, because partner is known to be balanced. When he rebids 2NT, he can easily be unbalanced, so I prefer the safety of a trump suit.

Jeff Goldsmith, July 18, 2015

LHO	CHO	RHO	You
2	Dbl	4	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	?

CHO	RHO	You	LHO
1	1	Dbl	2
Dbl	Pass	3	Pass
3NT	Pass	?

RHO	LHO
1NT (12-14)	2NT (nat)
3NT	Pass

CHO	RHO	You	LHO
Pass	Pass	1NT	3
Dbl	Pass	?