Problems from the Reno Regional 1994: Answers

1. Matchpoints, unfavorable, you hold

    AJ10xxx x KJ10xx x

   LHO	CHO	RHO	YOU
   2	Pass	3	?

   ---

   Ed

   3

   JeffR

   3

   Dave

   Favorable, I would bid 4. Even, I would bid 4. At these colors, I am just going to bid 3. If partner has a couple of Aces and a couple of spades, he will raise. If he has a couple spades honors and some random other values, he will raise. I think it is just not good enough for 4 or 4.

   Walter

   4

   Sam

   At unfavorable, I think this is only worth a 3 call. Partner with  KQx xxx Ax Axxxx should have no trouble bidding slam. [Sam is the "incurable optimist." :) --Jeff]

   Lynn

   4 seems right on values, but I'd bid 3, hoping the auction will proceed P, 3NT, P, 4. Then I'd feel confident of reaching the right strain. The right level is basically a guess, I think.

   Rolf

   4 -- a bit too weak for the bid but it looks like pard only needs Kxx and Qx for 4.

   Jeff at the table

   3

   Winning Action

   4

   Votes

   3: 5, 4: 1, 4: 1

   Partner held  xxx xxx Qxx AQJx. I'd pass with his hand, too, though with regrets. +170 was a fine score. At Board-a-match.

2. Matchpoints, none vul, you hold

    xx x AJ7 KQ9xxxx

   YOU	LHO	CHO	RHO
   Pass?	Pass	2*	Pass
   ?

   Do you pass?
   * 2 = Flannery

   ---

   Opening:

   Ed

   Pass

   JeffR

   1

   Dave

   I would probably have opened 3, but then, I play reasonably sound preempts except for parting time (favorable, not in an even seat)

   Sam

   I like 3 as this sort of hand opening. We would need to play something like 2 or 2N as a random preempt in either minor, but that's legal on the mid chart now.

   Lynn

   probably 4

   Rolf

   What's wrong with 3 NV, 1st seat?

   Jeff at the table

   pass

   Winning action

   unclear

   Votes

   3: 3, Pass: 2, 4: 1

   Walter didn't say, but I know he'd open 3, too. [He claims, "no." --Jeff] I would open  x xx xxxx QJ10xxx 3 in this seat, so opening this hand 3 is shooting dice. (Maybe I shouldn't have admitted it? :)) Presumably, the rest of the folks open sounder preempts both white in first, or much wider ranged. This question is really one of style.

   Rebid:

   Ed

   3

   JeffR

   3

   Walter

   2N if asking for a stiff.

   over	3	pass
   	3	5 (if natural if not 4 then 5)
   	3	4 (I assume not forcing by a passed hand although not discussed)
   	3	5

   Lynn

   Now I would either bid 3 to play or bid 3NT, depending on whether I felt lucky and on my partner's tendencies. I lean toward 3, hoping that playing Flannery has allowed us to find out about our misfit and stop low, for a good score. Also, my agreement is that partner is allowed to raise 3 if he has an unusually good hand for clubs, so we could get to game anyway.

   Jeff at the table

   3 to play

   Winning Action

   3NT

   Partner had  Axxx Axxxx xx AJ. 3NT makes 4 and 5 makes 5 on a non- trump lead. I agree with Lynn's point that partner could raise, but I'd expect a stiff at least, so this hand doesn't qualify. The general consensus was "unlucky." 3+5 was worth an average score. At Board-a-Match. (1) and (2) were the first two boards of a session. Good start, eh?

   At matchpoints, it might have been reasonable for partner to bid 3NT with his hand, but I would be very hesitant to do so. My hand could be  xx x xxxx xxxxxx and 3NT would be very embarrassing. But, at matchpoints, maybe it's right to try for a win; if pard has that hand, you've lost the board anyway. In any case, because partner is a passed hand, there is an inference. For those sound preempters, it's that partner is probably too weak to open 3. For those weak preempters, it's that partner is too good (probably) so 3NT has more appeal.

3. IMPs, unfavorable,

   	KQxx Q10xx KJ KQx
   	J109xxx 9x Qx xxx

   Dummy	RHO	YOU	LHO
   1NT*	2+	2?	Pass
   Pass	3	Pass	Pass
   3	Dbl	All Pass

   * 15-17
   + and a minor
   ? do you?

   T1: A-J-low-x
   T2: 8-x-J-9
   T3: A-x-x-x
   T4: x-...

   Plan the play.

   ---

   East is pretty much given as having ten red cards, and he almost surely has both black aces. If so, we can guarantee eight tricks by crossing to the K, ruffing the last heart high and playing a trump. If East exits trump, he has a stiff A and we can drop it, or more fun, play a club to an honor and East is endplayed anyway. If he exits with a small club, the same situation eventuates.

   One need be careful to ruff that "losing" heart or East will win his singleton A and exit heart. You have to ruff and no endplay is available.

4. IMPs, none vul, you hold

    xx AKQ9 Kxx Axxx

   CHO	YOU
   1NT1	22
   2NT3	34
   3NT5	?

   ¹ 10-12
   ² shape asking
   ³ long clubs
   ⁴ relay
   ⁵ 2-2-4-5 or 2-2-3-6 (or just getting in the notrump rut :))
   

   ---

   Ed

   4 :)

   Dave

   5 and hope that partner does not have a spade stopper

   Walter

   Pass

   Sam

   Partner needs too much for a grand. I will rocket to 6. Even if we are off the ace king of spades, we may still make it on a non-spade lead. [Told you. --Jeff]

   Lynn

   5

   Rolf

   I ask for keycards. If I hear 3KC and have the means to explore J I'll do so heading for 6/7NT. If I hear only 2KC I'll settle for 5 except when I need swingy boards. [He ends up in 5. --Jeff]

   Jeff at the table

   5

   Winning Action

   5 or 4

   This is an interesting problem, I think. The slam bidders are bidding too much; this is not a great hand for slam purposes. Partner will need about five covers to make a slam, and you just don't play 10-12 notrumps for five covers. He could have them:  Ax xx QJx KJxxxx, but I wouldn't hold my breath. That's the basic problem with 5; it could easily just be short tricks. On the other hand, 3NT has an obvious flaw, too, and we can't stop short of game after this start. I think the general rule here applies: when you have a 2-2 fit and one hand is known to have a small doubleton, and there is a reasonable alternative, don't play 3NT. (That's why I don't check sometimes :))

   The fun choice is 4. I didn't think of it at the table, but the bad guys will not know to give you a ruff and sluff at trick three, so you rate to make the contract. At matchpoints, what a great score! At IMPs, the downside is that a 5-2 break will set you billions, so 5 seems better.

   Anyway, the other table stopped in 3NT. There was a defensive lapse, so we actually lost IMPs on the board, but good bidding sometimes has to be its own reward.