Some problems from the Long Beach Sectional 11/2000

Sorry for not mentioning the conditions. They were IMPs, short matches. I didn't think they mattered, but I simply forgot to mention them.

1. none vul, you deal yourself

    — 9 AKQ10xxxx Jxxx

   What action do you take?

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   ANDY

   3N gambling, if we are playing it. I know it's sick with such extreme shape, but I don't really expect to have an intelligent auction with this hand in any case. (I open 1, partner bids 1 of a major, and I ???) If not playing gambling 3N, choices seem to be 1, 5, or pass hoping to find a clue of what to do later. I could be convinced either way between 1 and 5, depending partly on form of scoring, which you neglected to give (how's that for a cop out?).

   BARRY

   5. no bid really describes the hand and a gambling 3NT should not be such extreme distribution. so I'll preempt CHO as the price of catching two other opponents.

   DAN

   5. This is the bid I make at IMP's or at MP's against good competition. Maximum pressure, 2 opponents to mess with and only one partner, the usual yada-yada. A much more interesting problem if it's random Regional MP's or something; I think I like opening 1 to see if I have a big fit there (if not, I'll hope to pass some forcing bid to expose my psyche, then guess the right level at which to bid diamonds, or not

   ED

   I think 5 is the long-term winner. It loses when a slower approach allows us to reach a biddable and makeable slam but makes the opponents guess what to do at the five-level where the consequences of a wrong guess can be very costly.

   JOANNA

   5

   KENT

   3NT. I play this shows a solid minor with no outside ace or king, so this is basically textbook.

   LYNN

   Who knows? I can't bid 3NT in my own methods, so I think I'd take a shot at 5. 1 could work beautifully, if the auction works out just right for you, but I've never had much luck with that kind of approach. Being at the table would help here.

   MIKE

   After careful consideration, I vote for 5. I'm probably going to have to bid 5 anyway, but by bidding it now, I will show partner a bunch of diamond tricks - if he has a strong hand, it may become much easier for us to get to slam. Obviously if he has  xxx AKxx xx AKxx we make 6 and he should probably bid it and if he has  AKxx AKxx xx xxx we make 4 and we will still be in 6, but them's the breaks.

   ROBB

   5. I don't think I am going to wait for the magic 3NT where they can't save. [Good point. If we make 3NT, they probably can bid at the 4-level anyway. --Jeff]

   ROLF

   Nobody knows anything. So I take my guess and bid 5.

   WALTER

   IMPS 5, MP 3NT

   BOBBY

   I wonder what the form of scoring is. In any event, I make the traditional bid of 5. It has the advantage that it's descriptive for partner, and makes it really hard for the opponents to find their major suit game or slam. Partner probably has  AKQxxxxx — Jx xxx and opps take the first three club tricks. Oh well.

   BINKLEY

   I'll open the dull, traditional 5. I can understand some arguing for 4 on the theory that the majors break badly for the opponents or that partner has a stack of them. Some people may screw around, but I've seen far too few of these sort of hands to try that myself.

   JEFF AT THE TABLE

   wasn't there. 3NT looked obvious until partner pointed out that he had 8410, at which point I shut up, but wondered why 5 didn't occur to him, as that also seemed obvious. He chose to bid 1, arguing that he had too much shape for 3NT. Therefore, he should bid more, not less, right? I didn't know how to say that nicely, so shutting up seemed prudent.

   VOTES

   5	12
   3NT	2

   WINNING ACTION

   5. The pressure bid works. LHO has a very good 2515 and RHO has a moderate 6421. Their last making spot is 5. It's real tough to get there after the opponents opened 5, and at one table, in fact, they reached 5, going down.

   JEFF UPON REFLECTION

   OK, this was obvious. I thought there'd be a fairly strong vote for 3NT and maybe someone for 1, but I guess not. It was not time to get creative.

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2. none vul, you hold

    9xxx 10xx AQ AKxx

   You	LHO	CHI	RHO
   1	1	Pass	2
   Pass	3	3NT	Pass
   ?

   a) What is that idiot doing?

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   ANDY

   Partner thought he had a trap pass of 1, but has now discovered that he had the KJTx in with his A. Alternatively, he has a weak but shapely hand with both minors, either very weak or with only 3 clubs, given the failure to bid 2 at his previous turn.

   BARRY

   It has to be minors.

   DAN

    xx x Kxxxxx xxxx.

   ED

   Partner has a weak hand with diamonds and clubs with probably two more diamonds than clubs. Some hands that would qualify are  x x JTxxxxxx Qxxx,  x — Jxxxxxx Jxxxx or  x x Kxxxxx xxxxx. Partner could also have 6-4 distribution although he would then have had sufficient high card strength to raise to 2 (if not playing inverted raises in competition [Are those playable??? --Jeff]), e.g.,  xx x Kxxxxx QJxx.

   JOANNA

   Assuming partner called correctly with 'pass' the first time, this must show a weak hand with 4 clubs and 6+diamonds.

   LYNN

   The idiot ought to hold something like  x x Kxxxxx Qxxxx or perhaps 7-4 in the minors. It isn't my style to pass over 1 with that kind of hand, but if he had a zero count the opponents would probably have bid a game.

   MIKE

   3NT is certainly an unusual bid to say the least. Partner does not have spades (no negative double) does not have hearts (no penalty double) does not have a good hand with a heart stopper (no previous NT bid)... so when you remove the impossible, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truth. I expect partner has a weak hand with the minors, at least 5-4, perhaps 6-4.

   ROBB

   Guess he has a zillion minor suit cards with no hand. Not sure why he didn't preempt in the first place unless he is 7-4 or something odd like that.

   ROLF

   Sounds totally reasonable to me. Pard is weak and holds 6+-4+ in and .

   WALTER

   Maybe CHI is 2164 (especially if 3 initially would not be a weak jump shift) My guess is  Kx x KJxxxx Qxxx

   BOBBY

   Clearly, partner mis-sorted his hand and only discovered his mistake on the second round of bidding. I guess the next best explanation is that partner made a penalty pass first round but lost his nerve after discovering the opponents had a fit.

   BINKLEY

   Could he be 6-5 in minors, say  x x Kxxxxx Jxxxx and unwilling to speak first round?

   JEFF AT THE TABLE

   It's obviously minors, but how many in each? The hand has to have enough playing strength to push to the four-level, yet didn't raise clubs immediately. With a preemptive club raise available and with a natural 2 raise available, partner can't have four clubs now, I think. That ought to mean he's 7-3 in the minors, as he'd bid (perhaps via a negative double) spades with 4 the first time. Moreover, I think he shouldn't have three very good spades, because he didn't bid 3 now. It seems to me that he's a good bet for 2173 shape. He might be 2164 with crummy clubs and OK diamonds, say  xx x KJ10xxx xxxx. If our diamonds were not so good, I'd think he has 6-4 more often, but we have the AQ. Anyway, he's something like that.

   Is anyone here going to figure out what that idiot was doing if he had bid 3? I might now, but wouldn't've a couple of weeks ago. Probably still wouldn't.

   ---

   b) What now?

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   ANDY

   Something like  x x Kxxxxxxx Qxx is enough to make game, but opposite  xx x Kxxxxx xxxx even 4 is too much (though better than defending the cold 3 of course). At IMPs, partner rates to have some values, and the upside of bidding game is big, so I will try 5. At MPs, partner is more likely to be competing psychotically for the partscore, so I'll bid only 4.

   BARRY

   I bid 4. Yes I can't visualize the shape but maybe 1-3-5-4 in abstract (tough with my holding 3 but who knows?)

   DAN

   4. 3 was a game try. My partner's not an idiot!

   ED

   It looks like the opponents have a game and we probably can make ten or eleven tricks with ten tricks more likely. It will usually be right to play in partner's long diamond suit so I would bid 4 and be willing for the auction to die there. If the opponents bid 4, I will bid 5 in case partner is 6-5.

   JOANNA

   do we play weak jump shifts is comp? [No. --Jeff] if so, I would expect partner to make one with K 7th of D and 4 clubs, so I expect he has 3 major suit losers (with Kx and K he would have raised clubs the first time in some fashion.) If we are not playing WJS in comp, then I would still expect partner to raise clubs in some way the first time if he has only 2 cards in the majors. Assuming partner is 6-4 then which suit will play better? The defense will start by cashing their major suit winners, then tapping partner. That makes it look pretty clear to play in diamonds so

   I bid 4.

   KENT

   My first response was pass, but decided that he doesn't have heart length for a trap pass and if he is looking at an opener with AQ, he would have found a call on the previous round. I assume this shows at least 6-4 in the minors, maybe 7-4, since with 5+ clubs and a string of diamonds, I would have expected a club raise on the first round. I'll bid 4, as I may have trouble getting to his hand in clubs after heart-heart.

   LYNN

   Since he could have two spades (or even two hearts), I'll bid 5. If we can't make it, the odds are that it's a good save. 4NT might be better, but I'd rather reserve that for hands that are 3-4 or 3-3 in the minors. With 4-2, I'll take my own preference. (If I could arrange to play clubs from partner's side, 4NT would have greater appeal)

   I have a nervous feeling that he might have spades, but I don't think I can afford to allow for that. Anyway, I think it is such losing tactics to pass over 1 holding great spade length that I'm willing to punish partner for doing it. At worst, he'll have to play 5 (he knows I can't have very long clubs, and therefore should not pass 5 if he doesn't hold the suit himself).

   MIKE

   I seem to notice a lack of defense against 4. I just bid 4. 5 is possible, but almost surely down 1. I am prepared to bid 4NT if either opponent bids 4 (take THAT, partner!)

   ROBB

   I will bid 4NT and let him pick his poison.

   ROLF

   Here it's better to make the long trumps declarer. So I bid 4 and hope for the best.

   WALTER

   4N. Show partner you can share the joke

   BOBBY

   I like to play that in the absence of agreement strange bids are natural. So I assume pard thinks he can make 3NT. I have my bids, so I leave him there.

   BINKLEY

   5, hoping I have a clue.

   JEFF AT THE TABLE

   wasn't there, but I think 4 is right. Partner passed.

   VOTES

   4	6
   4	3
   4NT	2
   5	2
   Pass	1

   WINNING ACTION

   4 or 4NT. Partner was underbidding a little the first time with  AQx — J765432 QJx. Most would bid 2 immediately, but I decided to hang in the bushes and try to show more of my hand later. I chickened out and didn't bid 3, figuring that was recipe for disaster, but if partner held  KJ10x xxxx x AK10x, wouldn't that sequence get us to a great 4? Most of the time, it'd get me to some stupid contract (like 4 this time, as they railed 5-1), so I only bid 3NT. Partner passed. -150. 5 is making. If partner had chosen 4, I would have raised gently. (Sorry, no cue—it's another chance at disaster.)

   JEFF UPON REFLECTION

   This one was "partner got creative. Do you hang him?" Most of the panel got it right. As a group, however, they didn't seem very sure, so I think the 3 "master bid" would have been sure to blow up in my face. In reality, 3NT blew up in my face. Next time, I'll start with 2.

   Which is an interesting point. I like the delayed bid. The more they bid, the shorter partner is in hearts. If he doesn't hammer them (they have to bid 4 for his double to be business, right?), then it seems very safe for me to bid as high as the five-level. Starting with 2 will never let me show clubs or spades, so I like the slow route. And maybe I'll learn something that will tell me to shut up. (E.g. LHO bids 1NT, partner passes, and RHO bids 2.) In general, I'm not a big fan of the Al Roth "if I get through this round" plan, but it seemed like it had a lot going for it this time. No one agrees with me.

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3. both vul, you hold

    AKJ10 A9x Axx K8x

   Three passes to you.

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   ANDY

   1. The obvious choices are 1, 1 and 2N. I'm a big fan of opening 1 on good 4-baggers in 3rd and 4th chair, but only when I want to play in the suit. Here, the structure of the high cards in the side suits might suggest a suit contract, but that is more than made up for by the 4x3 shape. With a moysian fit (or even some 4-4 fits) we will usually be better off in NT. Also a 1 opening will often wrongside our NT contract. That leaves it between 1 and 2N. K&R likes the aces, and calls this 19.9, so many will judge it to be worth 2N. I don't think it's that spectacular, so I'll settle for the pedestrian 1 bid, planning to bid 2N at my next turn.

   BARRY

   1. No reason to get brilliant—1 or 2NT might work but this hand might play better from partner's side!

   DAN

   1, of course. You're trying to get me to open 2NT with a 19-count again, aren't you? [I can't put anything by Dan! --Jeff] I don't play Drury, so 1 works well; I can raise partner's natural responses, and when she responds 1NT it actually means something. If I'm saddled (albatrossed?) with Drury (or worse, Double Drury) then I guess 2NT might even be right, but I sure hate it with 4=3=3=3 shape and overwhelmingly suited texture.

   ED

   1. This is a tradeoff between opening 1 and 2NT. 1 gives us the room to bid more accurately as well as possibly stay lower but it allows the opponents to get a bid in and also hear our bidding which should help them on the opening lead. 2NT is slightly short on values but it could be the tactical winner. Since this hand would probably be a good dummy for any kind of distributional hand partner might have, I prefer to start with 1.

   JOANNA

   2NT. Playing 20-21 I don't even consider this a stretch because of the spade ten with 3 higher honors and controls in all the suits. Granted the 4333 is a negative but doesn't override the plusses. Besides, it might be very important to get our heart game played from the right side here.

   KENT

   I'll open 2NT and accept any suit slam invitation.

   LYNN

   My 2NT range in this position is roughly 21-22, so I'm not inclined to do that. Anyway, none of the best reasons to shade a 2NT opening (to reach a good slam based on controls and fit, to preempt the opponents, to ensure getting to game on a hand with good trick-taking potential) applies here. If partner weren't a passed hand, I might open 2NT because of my good controls. Here I'd open 1, partly to be able to play spades from partner's side in some cases. I could be persuaded that 1 is a better bid, hoping for the continuation 1NT-3NT. I really don't think there is much to choose among the three reasonable actions.

   MIKE

   This hand could play VERY well in a 4-3 spade fit. At the risk of wrong-siding 3NT, I open 1 and over partners 1NT, bid 2NT. [I think 2NT goes up to about an average-minus 19-count, and I think this is at least a "pretty good" 19, so I think I'd try 3NT (or 3 if 3NT shows long spades). But others have different ranges. --Jeff] 2nd choice is opening 2NT, 3rd 1.

   ROBB

   1. Am I supposed to do something clever?

   ROLF

   I don't have enough tricks for 3NT, so I simply bid 1.

   WALTER

   1. You are 4333.

   BOBBY

   Possible bids are 2NT, 1, and I suppose 1. I don't see any reason to bid 1 though. I'm very close to opening this 2NT—I like my values but not my shape. So I'll open 1.

   BINKLEY

   1, normal opening. Why not? If I should have done something else, that's just bad luck.

   JEFF AT THE TABLE

   1. Partner raised to 2, I bid 3NT, and he passed. 3NT wasn't hopeless, but failed a trick when most of the cards were offside.

   VOTES

   1	9
   1	3
   2NT	2

   WINNING ACTION

   none. Partner has  xxxx KJ Qxx Jxxx. The best game is 3NT from partner's side, but I don't see a way to get there. 4 is hopeless; spades are Q98x offside. Stopping short of a vul game at IMPs with 26 HCP isn't an option.

   JEFF UPON REFLECTION

   This is another "do you get creative?" I did, and I shall again. I think 1 has so much going for it that it's a clear choice. Notrump should be played from partner's side. If partner has Qxx and any doubleton, we probably want to be in spades. The only likely loss as I see it is that 1 could get us to spades from my side, which is also inferior. But it'll help get us to the right strain a lot and get to the right side when we are playing notrump nearly always.

   I think Dan is mistaken about Drury in this case. Playing Drury means that partner will bid 1NT more often than he would otherwise. That's good—my goal was to get him to bid 1NT so that I could raise. My style is to raise to 3NT as I have more than a poor 19, but some could raise to 2NT showing a great 18 or any 19. Doesn't matter this time.

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