Some Problems from D23 GNTs 2/98: Answers

This is the largest panel we've ever had. Welcome to all the new contributors.

Today's panelists are Andy Lewis, Barry Rigal, Bob Thomson, Bobby Bodenheimer, Chris Willenken, Curt Hastings, Dan Molochko, Ed Davis, Eric Sutherland, Jeff Blond, Mike Shuster, Robb Gordon, Roberto Scaramuzzi, Walter Hamilton, Web Ewell

All problems are at IMPs, short matches

both vulnerable, you hold
--- A84 AK865432 AK
RHO deals and passes. What's your plan?
ANDY
Open 2 and, if given the chance, jump in diamonds to show a solid suit.
BARRY
2 followed by 3.
Rigal's first law of bidding says that if you have a strong one-suiter which you can not accurately describe no matter what your partner responds, open it 2 even if that slightly overstates some aspect of your hand. In my opinion, this is well worth a 2 bid, and it may even play OK from partner's hand. I will rebid 3 of course, intending to rebid the suit though I could be persuaded to play somewhere else if partner insists.
BOB
Having played big club for so long I'm out of practice at strong 2 openings, but that's what I open with this hand. With rho out of the picture the chance of a dangerous preempt is reduced. With both red I'm less worried about the opponents finding a good sac at the slam level. I'm going to keep bidding diamonds until the sixth level. Who knows? Perhaps partner will bid hearts. Perhaps both opponents will jump in hearts. [Good thought. That'd be useful. Then again, how surprised would we be if one was psyching with spades? --Jeff]
BOBBY
This auction will not pass out if I open 1, so I do that. If we are lucky enough to have an uninterrupted auction and pard responds 1, then I'm going to reverse into 2. Pard can do a lot after that, but he can't pass and he stands a better chance of figuring out what my hand is after 1-1;2-3;5 (I think this is worst case). If pard responds 1, bid 3. [I agree with everything until 5/3. I'd jump in diamonds over 2NT or 2 or 3, but over 3, with Lebensohl available, I'd drive to slam. --Jeff]
CHRIS
2. Four reasons not to open at the one level (if that is an issue):
1. Partner might pass my opening bid holding Qxxxx xxx xx Jxx [But the opponents with three diamonds, eight spades, and 19 HCP probably won't. --Jeff]
2. Partner might pass a later forcing call if he responded on the above hand. If I can't comfortably set up a force in diamonds, opening at the one level is false economy. [The point about 2's actually saving room is good, but I don't have to worry about my partners' passing forcing bids. They promise not to do that again, or I won't play with them. --Jeff]
3. Partner will never believe that my hand is as good as it is, so he will never cooperate with any slam tries. I will have to content myself with extracting information from him through a series of torture bids. [This is the big question---how can we get partner to cooperate? --Jeff]
4. If LHO preempts in spades, partner will pass, and I will be forced to make the final decision without any help. If I open 2, partner will conventionally double a preempt with a terrible hand, and I'll content myself with 5; otherwise, I'll gamble a slam knowing that partner has a little something. [Yeah, and if he holds xxx QJ10x Q xxxxx? If I had to guess, I'd just bid 6. --Jeff].
CURT
I opened 2, which still feels right. I probably should have given up after 2-2; 3-3NT; 4-4; 5-5 but I knew I needed IMPs.
DAN
My plan is to open 6 and then double any competition.
Sure, if I open 2 and partner responds 2 we have an easy auction to 7. More likely, though, the opponents CRASH to a paying spade sacrifice, or much worse, partner ends up declaring a high diamond contract (this can easily cost a trick). I don't think the slow auction is going to tell me what I need to know anyway. Besides, the opponents are going to take a long time playing to all those diamonds - my plan saves time.
ERIC
1, then 3.
JEFFB
I'd give thanks to the bridge gods for dealing me such a lovely hand. Then, I'd reconsider when I realized how difficult it is to describe. I'd open 1 and await developments. My general plan is to jump shift into clubs to create a game force. I don't mind misleading partner because I can always correct to diamonds. For this reason, I would not reverse into hearts. Still, in the end I'll probably end up guessing; freak hands are like that.
MIKE
1. Then after 1 bid 3.
ROBB
I open 2 and grope. I don't know what my methods are here, but I hope that pard can cuebid hearts at some point. The vulnerability will hopefully keep the preemption from getting out of hand.
ROBERTO
Open 2, rebid 3; (I hate to do it with so few HCP, but this is a 2-loser hand, sort-of). If partner unexpectedly shows a positive in hearts, I have an easy 7 bid. [Good thought. --Jeff]
WALTER
Open 2. If you are lucky, partner will rebid 2 (or in your dreams 2) before the spade barrage starts. Your chances in 6 are better if partner can be declarer. (eg. Kxx Qxxx Qx xxxx on a major suit lead you are home free if the heart return isn't ruffed.) [Only Walter would think of this! --Jeff]
WEB
2, and jump to 4 setting trump.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
1, followed by 3
VOTES

Action Votes Score

2...3 7 100

1...3 4 70

2...4 2 60

1...3 1 60

6 1 50

WINNING ACTION
none. Partner has AK109x Qx J J109xx. If you open 2, partner is going to help you drive to slam. If you open 2 and then jump in diamonds, partner will bid a grand, thinking that the J is an entry to the spades. If you open 1, then bid 3, partner did in fact drive to slam. If you open 1 and reverse into 2, partner will think the Q is golden. 6 (and 6NT likewise) isn't the worst slam I've bid recently, but it's not good.
Maybe Dan's bid might actually work. If partner passes, as I imagine he would, LHO has to find a lead. The layout is:

AK109x
Qx
J
J1098x

QJx
1097xx
10x
Qxx xxxxx
KJx
Q9
xxx

---
Axx
AKxxxxxx
AK

Seems like the right lead is a heart or a diamond (See MSC this month for why a diamond is supposed to be right.) But he might lead a spade....
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
The panel pretty much doesn't think they can get partner involved in the decision. I think the sequence 1...2...4/5 is about the only way to do that. I play that jumping into your first suit after a reverse (or strong jump shift---1-1NT; 3-3; 4) categorically denies interest in playing in the second suit, but asks for help there. That's exactly what we have---we want partner to be excited about red cards and ignore black cards. We'll not get him to discount his A, but I think this sequence is the best we can do, and is the best way to bid the hand. If partner passes 5, I'd be quite suprised to make an overtrick.
favorable, you hold
KJxxxx K10x AQJ x

CHO You

1 1

2 ?

ANDY
4
BARRY
4. This hand is really only worth one slam try in my book - I will give up happily enough over 4 though I admit partner could not be blamed for failing to realise that AQx QJxxx xxx Ax was good news.
BOB
3. I want partner to value the queen of hearts. If partner bids 4 my 4NT should now be Keycard in hearts, though I will return to spades when I set the contract of course. [I play that 4NT is keycard in spades, the higher of two agreed suits. That might not always be best, but it reduces the RKCB rule count, which is good. --Jeff]
BOBBY
3, followed by 4 if pard says 3 or 3. Blackwood if he bids 4.
CHRIS
4. My first instinct was to bid 3, which I play as forcing, but I can't afford to move if partner jumps to game. 4 shows an important feature of my hand, it's an unambiguous slam try, and it leaves partner room to bid 4 with good hearts and diamond worries, allowing me to Blackwood. Over a 4 cuebid, I would be worried about my weak major suits, so I would try once more with 4.
CURT
keycard
DAN
4 here works perfectly. Opener will cue bid if he has an opening bid outside of clubs (or the A) and I will then bid 6. The absolute worst I think I can buy is Axx AJxxx Kx xxx. If he signs off, I'm done.
ERIC
I'd bid 3 to start cue-bidding. Slam feels like a good prospect. I definitely want the lead coming up to my hand, though.
JEFFB
I'd show my stiff club. If partner bids game or reciprocates with a game try of his own, I'm going to slam. Without methods, I'd bid a normal 3 to see what he does. Still, I like the slam potential of this hand a lot. i won't give up easily and will almost surely push to at least the 5-level.
MIKE
Splintering here wouldn't be particularly useful to partner, since he will have no idea how good we are. I'm going to start with 3 and then bid diamonds next (If partner bids 4, I think I'll bid RKCB, since that is the only way to get the grand into the picture... and he'll know I have the K).
ROBB
3, preparing for a 6 ace rkc auction.
ROBERTO
4 (splinter, slam try) seems clear; I will give up if partner bids 4. If partner shows signs of life via 4 or 4 I'll Blackwood us into 5 or 6. 7 seems out of the question. (I guess I can make it if partner has the miracle Axxx AQxxx in the majors and A, but he may have bid 3 with that.)
WALTER
3. If partner raises to 4 I'm bidding slam if we aren't off 2 aces. [And even though you are, it turns out. --Jeff]
WEB
3. If partner has the perfect hand, we could be taking 6, 5, A, so one cuebid on the way to game is appropriate. I'll bid 4 over anything except Blackwood, so partner knows he needs everything else.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
keycard. I pushed because we needed a zillion IMPs to qualify. I was worried that we wouldn't find a thin slam vs., say, Axxx AQxxx xx xx. (No Flannery in this partnership.) That's a perfect subminimum.
VOTES

Action Votes Score

4 6 100

3 4 80

3 3 70

4NT 2 60

WINNING ACTION
4. Any plan that involves keycard is getting screwed for a strange reason. Partner has A10x QJ9xxx --- KJxx and will respond 6 to keycard. Oops.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
Flannery would be a big help on this hand, because partner rates to have three spades and a suitish hand. In that case, we'd definitely want to splinter 4. Without Flannery, partner should have four spades most of the time, and this hand is quite a bit bigger. Upon reflection, I think that without Flannery, I'd key card again. I can count 12 tricks vs. two key cards and some fillers. At worst, we'll probably be on a finesse. The actual result was a surprise and was unfortunate.
no one vul, you hold
AQJxx AJ8x xx KJ

You CHO

1 1NT (forcing)

2 2

?

ANDY
Pass. We might be making game, but we're non-vul, and have likely wrong-sided no trump, so i'll take my plus score.
BARRY
Pass; second choice no bid. At this vulnerability (it would be a little tougher if vulnerable) game can hardly be with the odds if partner has three spades. if he has 8-9 with two spades I still need him to have fitting cards and good intermediates for game to be decent I think.
BOB
2NT. If partner has a scattered 9-count with good spots in the minors I want to be in the notrump game.
BOBBY, ERIC, MIKE, ROBB, WEB
Pass.
CHRIS
Pass. I hope partner doesn't have the 10! [No, but the 97 is pulling double duty. --Jeff]
CURT
2NT
DAN
2NT. Seems right. A little pushy, maybe, but I'm not passing at IMPs. (My partner plays NT great.) [So do mine. --Jeff]
JEFFB
Pass. I'm not vulnerable, pard could be very weak here and it sounds like the hands don't fit very well. I see no reason to bid on.
ROBERTO
Close between pass and 2NT; I'd probably pass at this vul and IMPs.
WALTER
2N = 16-17 That is what I have.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
Pass
VOTES

Action Votes Score

Pass 10 100

2NT 4 50

WINNING ACTION
bid. Partner has xx 97 KQ10xx A1098. 3NT isn't cold, but it makes more often than not. Even 4 turns out to make despite a fairly poor lie of the cards. Barry and Mike think that partner's hand is clearly worth 2NT over 2. In fact, my opponent did that. K&R calls it 12.5, which is about right in a vacuum, but once partner bids both majors, that evaluation is way too high. It's about 10 even at that point, I think, maybe a little less. Partner is very unlikely to have a diamond fit.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
Pass. 3NT is not cold and partner has a supermax. Slow down auctions on misfits and you'll gain in the long run. I might bid 2NT red at IMPs. It's probably not right, but the lure of the red game would get me to bid. At matchpoints, it's a different and probably harder problem. 2NT scores better than 2. 2NT might get us to a making game. That's two ways for 2NT to win. There's only one at IMPs.
both vul, you hold
AQJ KJxxx Qx Axx

You CHO

1 2

?

ANDY
2NT. This time we're vul. I just hope partner doesn't accept with 4.
BARRY
2NT - natural. Is this available - probably not. When I sensibly opened 1 it was with a view to inviting game I think. I cannot get close to underwriting 3NT, so the choice is between 3 and 2NT. Since some good hands with bad clubs might bid 3 over 2NT, I think I will go for the value bid and get partner to focus on high cards. If 2NT is not available 3 will have to do (it is anti lead-directional I suppose).
BOB
2NT natural. If partner bids 3 or 3NT I will pass. If he bids three of either minor I'll bid 4. [He gets to 4. --Jeff]
BOBBY
3 help suit.
CHRIS
3NT. I would have opened 1N. I'm certainly not staying out of a vulnerable game, and 3N is probably best if partner has a flat hand with scattered values. A simple choice of games. Partner should pull with a small doubleton or with concentrated values. [Would you pull with K10x 109x Jx K10xxx? --Jeff]
CURT
3 with this and continue with 3NT over 3 retry from partner.
DAN
2NT. This hand isn't going to make game in hearts, so I don't want partner to bid 4, so I'm not going to think about bidding 2 or 3m here. I'll pay off to Axxx and Kx. But 3NT is laydown opposite a lot of hands, so I have to try and get there.
ERIC
I'd try 3. I'm not jumping for joy about playing in game, but it's not inconceivable for partner to have the right hand -- but that hand will likely have club or diamond values. This gives him room to show either.
MIKE
7 losers, you're supposed to pass. In reality, you can't, since 3NT is going to offer such good play so often. If 2NT is natural, I bid that, otherwise 3NT.
JEFFB
I think I'd just blast 4 here. I'm almost certain I'm going to game, just as certain I'm not bidding slam and why should I tell the opponents what I have in my hand?
ROBB
2NT.
ROBERTO
Whatever the power/trump try is; If partner suggests NT, I'll play it there.
WALTER
Not a good hand for Nagy GTs. I'd bid 2. If partner accepts or , bid 3N. If 2N is a power GT I'd bid that.
WEB
4. Game is probably good enough Red at IMPS, and a game try is more likely to get them off to the right lead than to aid my decision. (I might try a lead-directing game try, if I knew which lead I wanted.)
JEFF
I wasn't at the table, but I'd bid 2NT. If playing my favorite methods, I'd bid 2, asking for the cheapest suit in which partner would accept a help-suit game try. In this case, he'd respond 3, and I'd bid 3NT and play it there happily.
WINNING ACTION
Get to 3NT. It's cold vs. Kx 108x A1097 J1098. I think any good bidding sequence should get to 3NT. 4 goes down.
VOTES
Hard to say, since methods are undefined. Most tried to get to notrump.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
Not really a problem. I think this hand is worth a game try and should veer into notrump. If we were barred from playing 3NT, I'd strongly consider passing. There's a story, which is why I posted this problem. At the table, I overcalled 1 on 10-sixth and a 6421 8-count (as a passed hand) and our opponents got to 3NT without any trouble. My opponent didn't overcall, and my teammates found that systemically, they could not play 3NT after this start and went down in 4. One teammate announced to the other, "if we shall continue to play these methods, you must open 1NT with this hand." I wouldn't; the hand's value depends too much on partner's fit for hearts, but I won't play their methods, either. On the ride home, a friend riding with us wanted to talk about the hand. He managed to make 4 (arrived via 1-2; 4) on three defensive errors and a criss-cross squeeze. I thought about it and wondered why he didn't get to 3NT, which would have been far less taxing. He answered, "3NT is for heroes." Sign me up for hero school.
both vul, you hold
AQ10987 A63 3 K105

CHO You

1 1

2 ?

ANDY
3.
BARRY
3. Not worth a splinter 4 bid since some "good" hands opposite such as KJxx Qxx Axx Axx [That's "good"???? 4333 with four points in diamonds is not in my book. --Jeff] make slam no-play. I need to find perfect cards opposite for slam to be sensible, and I intend to give up over almost anything but some 4 level new-suit action directly from partner or a 3/ bid that might be on its way to a cue-bid. Since I would not make a try after 1NT(12-14)-2-2-? I am hardly worth one now. [I would, and in Standard American, partner can easily have a better hand than a weak NT. --Jeff]
BOB
3. Again, I want partner to value the queen of clubs.
BOBBY
3
CHRIS
4. A similar theme to the earlier 6-3-3-1 slam try. I might get to a bad slam if partner does not have the club queen or jack, but 4 is too chicken. [You won't after 4, I predict. --Jeff]
CURT
Keycard.
DAN
4, then 5 over 4 or 4. This should get partner to value the Q as highly as the K he probably doesn't have if he signed off. (That is, he should think K + AQ is enough). I'll let him out at 5 if he wants.
ERIC
Slam time again. 3 should be forcing.
JEFFB
I'd bid 3. Obviously going to game here. If pard bids 3NT [He will. --Jeff], I bid 4. If he bids 4, I cue 4. If I can elicit a heart cue from him, I'm thinking serious slam here.
MIKE
3. Similar to the other problem. Will bid hearts next (or key card over 4, since 3 is initially a game try), still won't splinter (would splinter with say... KQxxx AQxx x Jxx) since my club card is so useful opposite AQxxx. [He ends up key carding. --Jeff]
ROBB
4. One try.
ROBERTO
Once again, the splinter (4) seems optimal.
WALTER
4 although 3 followed by 3 or 4 may be better.
WEB
4, splinter.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
4
VOTES

Action Votes: Score

4 6 100

3 4 80

3 3 70

4NT 1 40

WINNING ACTION
4. Partner has KJx Kx AQx J8xxx. Slam isn't hopeless, but it's below par and goes down. Unless you tell partner about your diamond shortness, he's not going to discourage you from bidding slam, but if you do, he's not going to like the six points in diamonds.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
4 won a game swing at the table and I still think it's clearly right. The main reason is that it flashes the *slam* signal. Partner might well have a hand good for game, but bad for slam. I want him to know my target below game.
none vul, you hold
K Q73 AQ KQJ10643
Pass, Pass, 2, ?
Partner has denied 10-12 balanced.

Barry and just about everyone else: 3NT. So shoot me. [Bang!]
Dan chose 5, figuring that there were hands on which 5 makes and 3NT goes down, and most of the time 3NT made, so did 5. He also was not expecting a diamond lead, knowing that he'd probably not lead a diamond on this auction. [Bad thing to divulge, Dan. We'll all be bidding 3NT without stoppers from now on --Jeff]
A couple bid 3 saying that if partner didn't bid, we weren't making anything. Could be right.

WINNING ACTION
Anything. Partner has Qxxx K10x xxx Axx.
both vul, you hold
KQ9xx x J109x J8x

CHO RHO You LHO

1 Pass 1 Dbl

XX! 2 2 4

All Pass

! support
What's your opening lead?

ANDY
K
BARRY
K. this might be wrong if I needed to lead trumps to stop spade ruffs in declarer's hand. But that is too deep for me. [Diamond ruffs don't seem too deep, do they? --Jeff] There is no obvious source of discards - this is as passive as it gets.
BOB
Bang down a high spade and take a look at dummy.
BOBBY
Trump.
CHRIS
Heart. They rate to pick up any holding that partner has even if I lead something else (if he has four trumps, they have no chance), and we have everything else locked up.
CURT
I may never get in again, so I'll try the J. I don't see where declarer will be able to pitch a spade since he has no 4th round winners...I hope.
DAN
J. The way LHO is bidding has me scared. I'm looking for 2 diamond ruffs and 2 black tricks. J is suit preference. If he's not ruffing on the go, I don't see us beating it. (Maybe A, 2 blacks, and one ruff will do.)
ERIC
x. Sounds like we've got everything else under control.
JEFFB
Lefty is short in spades and has diamonds. I'm not going to gain the lead often and if we are going to beat this hand, I expect I'll have to lead through those diamonds before declarer gets the clubs going. So, with a knowledge that I might lose a spade trick, I lead the pedestrian J.
MIKE
Upon reflection, a trump.
ROBB
Trump
ROBERTO, WALTER
[I sent them the wrong hand. I guess I'll call it an abstention. Sorry. --Jeff]
WEB
x. Looks like the only attacking lead - I'll get my slow diamond regardless.
JEFF
I wasn't at the table, but I don't see why partner didn't even consider a trump lead. LHO has shown a good two-suiter with hearts and diamonds; RHO has shown a clear preference for hearts. I have secondary diamond cards. A trump lead seems automatic unless I'm worried about black winners going away. Since partner bid clubs and I have spades, I don't see that's happening. Ergo, a trump lead is clear.
VOTES

Action Votes Score

x 6 100

K 3 70

J 3 60

x 1 40

(J is demoted somewhat because it's the opposite plan from the panel's choice of a trump.)
WINNING ACTION
trump lead. Partner has AQx and declarer does, in fact, need to ruff two diamonds in hand.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
Lead trump. Automatic.
unfavorable, you hold
Kx Kx AQ109xx Axx

RHO You LHO CHO

1 2 3 Pass

3NT Pass 4! All pass

! after considerable thought
What's your opening lead?

ANDY
A. Even with partner likely to have nothing, there's still something to be said for the underlead, but I'm a simple soul. Could be terribly wrong, but so could anything else.
BARRY
x. Another routine 13 unleadable cards. I might still be able to recover from this, while a spade or diamond lead looks fatal if wrong. Now you get to find out why my opening leads get written up (and it is not because they are good).
BOB
This is a truly lovely set of choices. I'm going to lead a low heart and hope the opponents don't have ten of them. Hopefully I thought of this while LHO was in the tank, 'cause I don't want to give away my own dilemma. [Good point. Most leads are going to tell declarer that you have a disaster lead problem. One inference away and he's found the K. --Jeff]
BOBBY
I suspect everyone is semi-balanced so it probably won't kill me to underlead an ace, so I lead a small club.
CHRIS
A. I may give partner a ruff and because nothing else looks safer.
CURT
I think I would try a low club (which is what Chernoff led at my table).
DAN
A. Seems like every card is wrong. If all I wanted to do was to get off the endplay I'd lead the small heart, but even if I get the K, I'll be endplayed then, so might as well hope partner is stiff in diamonds.
ERIC
x again. Sure it's cute, but it will probably work. Again, it sounds like we need to prevent diamond ruffs.
JEFFB
I don't want declarer to know that I have everything, so I think a low club is best. Who knows? Pard might somehow produce a queen, but even if he doesn't, declarer may be convinced that he has the A and somehow misplay the hand. I can't think of too many cases where this will lose a trick, and it it may gain. [I hope declarer doesn't think I don't have the A. He'll be sure I have the K, then. All in all, I think he's on the right track, but got it backwards. --Jeff]
MIKE
Even if the opponents don't have 10 hearts, a low heart may endplay you again. Best to lead the A and hope that LHO was thinking about leaving in 3NT with 4 hearts because of a doubleton diamond (6214 diamonds around the table).
ROBB
low spade [This guy is deadly on opening lead. Remind me to get his partner on lead when I can! --Jeff]
ROBERTO
Yuck; Sounds like RHO has K and LHO a singleton or doubleton, so A is out. How about A to see dummy, then decide whether to continue or not.
WALTER
x. I doubt partner has a queen, but this may not give away a trick.
WEB
I lead a blue suit - anything else pitches a trick. Actually, the red suits look more likely to lose, so the choice is close between K and A. I'll lead the A.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
A, following the same reasoning as Mike. Partner is broke, so the only thing we can hope for is that he can contribute a ruff. It's pretty clear that we are going to be endplayed sooner or later.
VOTES

Action Votes Score

x 5 100

x 1 90

A 4 90

A 3 70

x 2 60

I gave the spade a high score because it was more or less the same idea as underleading the club, only (in my opinion) the right choice if one wants to go that route...indeed, if one follows the stated reasoning of the club underleaders, the small spade stands out.
WINNING ACTION
none in theory, but the low spade might do it in practice. Declarer is going to strip and flip you, but if he thinks you have three or four spades, he'll be concerned about guessing your shape and might take his eye off the ball, letting you ruff in a little early.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
I'm still not sure what to lead, but this is a fascinating lead problem. Votes for almost every card were made. I really like Bob's comment---it's important that when we have a disaster lead, we don't dither about it. We don't want to blow a trick on lead, then compound it by letting declarer know where all the cards are. I also think this is a fine time for a falsecard. Partner has nothing, so won't be misled, and declarer is going to have to do some cardplacing (we are endplayed at T1 and expect to get endplayed again) so it's a fine time to start misleading him. Upon reflection, the small spade appeals a lot. It'd be wonderful to get to ruff with a heart while having another to get out. 2nd best choice is the A. At least it has a way to win. The plurality A underleaders' confidence in their choice was approximately, "I don't know what to do; this probably won't blow too many tricks."
unfavorable

QJ105
J974
J86
73

8
AQ862
75
AKQJ6

You LHO CHO RHO

1 Dbl 3! Pass

4 Pass 4 All pass

Opening lead is the 9, 3, 10, ...
Over to you.
ANDY
a small trump from hand.
BARRY
I will lead the ace of hearts and then play clubs from the top hoping that Lefty has 4 and 3.
BOB
That club lead is truly diabolical. What distribution fits both the auction and the play to trick one? I'm going to try the old trick of winning the queen of clubs, cashing the ace and leading the jack. If lho has doubleton king of hearts he may fall asleep for a crucial trick.
BOBBY
[Exit with spade at T2, then...] I guess my best play is for stiff K and I cash the ace. [This play leaves the option for the defense to hand you a dummy entry for the heart finesse and a story. --Jeff]
CHRIS
A. Hard to imagine that LHO has a doubleton heart since he likely has a ten count outside of hearts (no lead from an AK combination). I'll pay off to Axxx xx AQxx xxx. RHO might have bid with Kxxx Kx Kxxx xxx. Axxx K AQxx xxxx opposite Kxxx xxx Kxxx xx seems more likely, especially considering trick one.
CURT
I tried the sneaky play of LHO to have Axxx T AQxxxx 9x and got burned.
DAN
Yuk. I'm playing West for 5 clubs, and AK (he's trying to give ruffs, saving his entries.) Win the club and lead Q to East's ace. He leads a spade to West, gets a club ruff, and leads another spade (whoever has the A has to think I have it...)
Oh yeah, I have a confident smile on my face all the while.
ERIC
Why a club lead? He probably has Axxx x AQxx 9xxx. This is consistent with the T. This is not enough for a TO double. [I'd make one. Particularly if it were 1NT. --Jeff] Bang down the A and pray.
JEFFB
I'd try a little subterfuge. I tend to work these things out pretty quickly at the table, so I'd win the K and play a low heart in tempo. If I can slip by the K, I'll play a heart to the ace and hope I can pitch diamonds on my clubs before lefty ruffs in. If LHO wins the trick immediately, he may not cash out correctly. If I've just walked into two ruffs and gone down 3 for no reason, I'll apologize profusely to partner, and buy myself a case of 24.
MIKE
I guess there are two choices. Play for 3-3 clubs with the K onside doubleton or with stiff ten on the left... or play for the stiff K. LHO heard me bid 4 and led one anyway, which makes me think hes got 5 of them. Stiff K is a live possiblilty and 3-3 clubs is remote, and even if its there, you aren't home yet. Bang down the A.
ROBB
I'm an ace-banger. Looks like LHO can't have more than A, AQ... I've been fooled before. [Don't get fooled again! --The Who]
ROBERTO
There are three plays:
1. the legit chance: clubs 3-3 and Kx or Kxx (no T) onside; this seems unlikely especially since it requires RHO to have falsecarded.
2. the semi-legit chance: play A and another. makes if stiff K or (more likely) if they miscash in the pointies.
3. the total swindle: low heart to the J. makes if righty ducks Kx (or maybe Kxx) or if they miscash.
I guess it depends on the opponents: Against novices, go with 2 (they are unlikely to duck K; against experts go with 1 or 3 depending on how tricky they are and how tricky you are. My personal preference is 3. Nice hand.
WALTER
Win the Ace and play a low heart. I play LHO to have A or K, the AQ, and the K. I hope LHO will either duck (I'll play A then run clubs) or will not cash out in the right order.
WEB
Yuck. At least they're in the same contract at the other table. Given the T, I don't think 3-3 clubs with the K onside doubleton, or tripleton w/o the ten is going to be there. I'm going to win and play A, heart, playing for down one unless the HK drops. (I don't think deception has much chance - LHO will find a diamond looking at dummy.)
JEFF AT THE TABLE
tried to ruff a club in the exact order that Bob did, with the exact same vigorish in mind.
VOTES

Action Votes Score

A 7 100

Low heart 6 90

Ruff a club 2 60

WINNING ACTION
A. LHO is Axxx K AQxx 98xx. Several complained about partner's 3 bid. What can you do? Partners do strange things sometimes. It doesn't matter this time; you are going to be playing 4 no matter what partner does.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
As Roberto said, there are three lines. I think the A is the best. It has some vig because LHO might be 3334. But it's close. This is about the only sort of play problem that can be MSC scored, because there are three clear and distinct lines, and none can be shown to be right.
IMPs, both vul, you hold
Kx Qx KQ109x AKxx
Pass-Pass-3-?

ANDY
4. My first thought was 3N, but even if they can't run hearts, there's no guarantee of 9 tricks. 5 will make a lot of the time when 3N does, and there's less chance of down 4 this way.
BARRY
3NT. There are only five players in the world who know why this bid is right (and I am not one of them).
BOB
I would bid 3NT every day of the week at matchpoints, but here I think we're too likely to go down four and lose a bundle of imps. I overcall 4.
BOBBY
Double
CHRIS
Pass. No remotely intelligent bid possible.
CURT
It's close to bidding 3NT but I'll accept the fix and pass.
DAN
4. Ugly. 3NT is right out at IMPs. Won't double, and won't pass. Nothing left but 4.
ED
Pass.
ERIC
I try 3NT with confidence.
JEFFB
Tough one. I should probably pass, but it's not in my blood. I'd take the leap and bid 4. I would then pass almost anything partner bid (except 4 and 4NT) and see what havoc I'd caused.
MIKE
Ugly hand. Choice between 3NT and 4. Double may work this time, but will damage the partnership. 3NT needs the diamond ace in addition to heart help, so I'll bid 4.
ROBB
pass. got me.
JEFF AT THE TABLE
Pass.
VOTES

Action Pass Score

Pass 5 100

4 5 90

3NT 2 50

Dbl 1 20

Many thought about 3NT; most rejected it firmly. (I chose pass as the top score because the bidders were far less confident than the passers. Double was vilified so got demoted. Many more said that 3NT was out of the question than that it was a good option, so I don't think that the 8-5 vote in favor of not passing should break the tie. There was about a 8-5 vote expressly against 3NT, too, so the parallelism makes me go with the pass. Besides, I think it's right! )
WINNING ACTION
anything but 3NT. Partner is AJxx K Jxxx Qxxx. If you pass in tempo (after your skip bid hesitation), partner will double back in and you can bid 4NT, getting to a making game. If you bid 4, partner will raise or cue to the same effect. 3NT, however, will end the auction, and doesn't make.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
Pass seems right. 3NT at matchpoints seems reasonable, too---the upside is so good at MPs. The downside is that we get a zero, but any action could lead to a zero. At IMPs, -500 undoubled is really bad. I bet at matchpoints the votes would be quite different. Then the passers would be looking for +200 vs. a partscore after rejecting 3NT; 4 might not be selected by anyone. It's a better problem at IMPs.
IMPs, none vul, you hold
10743 xx Jxx AQ108

CHO RHO You LHO

1 Pass 1 Pass

1NT! Pass Pass Dbl

Pass Pass ?

1NT = 13-16 HCP

ANDY
2. We could be going +180 (or 280, 380...) in 1N-x, but we could also be going down a couple. I'll settle for my plus score at imps.
BARRY
2. conscience and common sense make cowards of us all. Partner would not run on this sequence except with a singleton spade. And even Qx or Kx of spades is not enough to stop the suit setting up against us.
BOB
I think LHO has better spades than I do (not so tough) and I think we're going down in 1NT. I'm pulling to 2 which I expect to make, hopefully doubled.
BOBBY
Pass
CHRIS
2. Not crazy about playing 1N on a spade lead. Jeff Meckstroth told me never to play 1N doubled at IMPS unless you're positive that it's right.
CURT
Abstain [knows the hand].
DAN
2. I don't know who can make what in NT, but I think the normal range of our tricks is 3 to 8. Not very good odds, so I'm going to try to reduce the number of IMP's we're playing for on this hand.
ED
I would have redoubled with your partner's hand. Yes, I'd've bid 2. [Also knew the hand.]
ERIC
Pass. I like my stuff. Bring it on.
JEFFB
Mama didn't raise a chicken. I'd pass. Worst case scenario in my mind is that we go minus 300. If that's the case, they make 2 of a red suit and we really don't lose much.i think the chance of 180, even 280 are pretty good here, and I like the demoralizing aspect of it. 2 is for wimps. They would have to take away my Canadian passport before I bid it.
MIKE
Pass. Does redouble show doubt? [No. It shows confidence. This isn't game, so a natural redouble has a lot to gain. --Jeff] Even if they take the first 5 (6?) spades, they haven't beaten this yet (we may even have a spade stopper!) I'm not running. An overtrick is more likely than a second undertrick... and they are making 2 (if I bid 2). [If an overtrick is more likely than down two, we are supposed to redouble, no? --Jeff]
ROBB
2. Who needs this?
JEFF AT THE TABLE
2.
VOTES

Action Votes Score

2 9 100

Pass 4 70

WINNING ACTION
Redouble or pass. Redouble leads to +760 if they stick it out, which is unlikely, according to Ed (who was RHO). When I ran to 2, Ed doubled 2. Running led to -100 when partner uncharacteristically misjudged the play. It should have been -200; I think redoubling 2 was clearcut, but I wimped out and failed. If they run, we'll get about 300, assuming we find a double, which is far from obvious. Ed and Barry each think that partner should have redoubled 1NT with Qxx and Jxx and a 14-count.
JEFF UPON REFLECTION
2. I'm not as convinced that partner should redouble, but it'd've solved our problems, or maybe started other ones? I am convinced that I should have redoubled 2. I have a very nasty surprise for Ed. An overtrick is vastly more likely than down 2. I'd figure we'd make 2 about 95% of the time. They have a probable misfit, so doubling them should be profitable.

Scores

	1	2	3	5	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Ave	#
Ed	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	100	100	200	100	2
Chris	100	100	100	100	100	90	100	100	100	890	99	9
Robb	100	80	100	100	100	90	100	100	100	870	97	9
Roberto	100	100	100	100	---	70	90	---	---	560	93	6
Barry	100	100	100	80	70	100	100	50	100	800	89	9
Mike	70	80	100	80	100	90	100	80	90	790	88	9
JeffG	70	60	100	100	100	90	60	100	100	780	87	9
Walter	100	80	50	100	---	100	90	---	---	520	87	6
Andy	60	100	100	70	70	70	90	90	100	750	83	9
JeffB	70	100	100	70	60	100	90	90	70	750	83	9
Dan	50	100	50	100	60	90	90	90	100	730	81	9
Eric	70	70	100	80	100	60	100	50	70	700	78	9
Bob	100	80	50	80	70	60	60	90	100	690	77	9
Bobby	60	70	100	70	100	100	100	20	70	690	77	9
Web	60	70	100	100	40	70	100	---	---	540	77	7
Curt	100	60	50	40	60	100	90	100	---	600	75	8

Nice going, Chris! Robb isn't far behind---well done!

I am amazed that my score is near average. I would have figured that since I picked boards on which my choices usually didn't work out, my score would be very low, since it'd be hard to do worse than I did. Wonders never cease.

Jeff Goldsmith, jeff@tintin.jpl.nasa.gov, Feb. 18, 1998

	AK109x Qx J J1098x
QJx 1097xx 10x Qxx		xxxxx KJx Q9 xxx
	--- Axx AKxxxxxx AK

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

Action	Votes	Score
2...3	7	100
1...3	4	70
2...4	2	60
1...3	1	60
6	1	50

Action	Votes	Score
4	6	100
3	4	80
3	3	70
4NT	2	60

You	CHO
1	1NT (forcing)
2	2
?

Action	Votes	Score
Pass	10	100
2NT	4	50