Problems from the Reno Nationals

1. IMPs, not vul,

   	AQx x AK9x A1098x
   	98xx AQx Jx Kxxx

   After telling the opponents declarer's shape and number of aces, kings, and queens, and that he has 1-3 Jacks, you arrive in 6. Opening lead is the J. Plan the play.

2. IMPs, favorable, you hold

    Ax xx K109x QJ9xx

   LHO	CHO	RHO	You
   1	2*	3	?

   2 shows 4+ spades and 5+ diamonds, 7 or fewer AKQ losers.

3. IMPs, both vul, you hold

    AKQ1065 A1042 J 75

   Unbelievably, the auction goes:

   CHO	RHO	You	LHO
   1	1	Pass	Pass
   Dbl	Pass	Pass	Pass

   I think this is the best trump holding I've ever had on defense against a doubled contract.

   What do you lead?

4. IMPs, both vul, you hold

    KQJ109x x J AKJxx

   You	Partner
   1	2
   3	3
   4	5NT
   ?

   a) do you agree with your bidding so far?
   b) what's 5NT?
   c) what now?
   

5. IMPs, both vul, you hold

    KQ109xxx xx xx xx

   LHO	CHO	RHO	You
   1	Pass	1	?

6. IMPs, both vul, you hold

    xx xx AQ10xx J10xx

   CHO	RHO	You	LHO
   1	1	2	Pass
   2	3	Pass	4
   Pass	Pass	?

   a) do you agree with your bidding so far?
   b) what now?
   c) if you pass or double, what do you lead?

7. IMPs, vul, you hold

    Kxx AJ7xxx x 109x

   Partner	You
   1	1
   2	3
   4	?

8. IMPs, vul, you hold

    --- AJ7xxx x KQ108xx

   Partner	You
   1	2
   3	4
   4	?

   3 is old-fashioned standard, 16+ with a decent 6+ card suit.

   a) do you agree with 4?
   b) what now?

9. IMPs, unfavorable, you hold

    KQ9x x AKQ65 AJ9

   RHO opens 3. Over to you.

10. Matchpoints, you hold

     Kxx Qxx Qxxx A109

    Partner	You
    1	1NT (forcing)
    2	?

    You have the options to show a good 3-card limit raise (via 2) or a bad 3-card limit raise (3 direct); 2 would be artificial. Of course, you can do anything else as well.

11. Matchpoints, non vul

    	Q765 K10543 --- KJ72
    		K AQJ6 K1098 AQ98

    You	LHO	CHO	RHO
    1	3	5	5
    6	Pass	Pass	6
    Dbl	All Pass

    T1: 9-10-J-2
    Over to you.

12. Matchpoints, none vul

     KJ964 A9863 --- Q85

    Partner	You
    Pass	1
    2	2
    3	?

13. Matchpoints, unfavorable

     AQ1053 J87 J2 J106

    RHO opens 2NT (20-21). All Pass. Your lead.

14. Matchpoints, both, you hold

     AKQ KQ AJ10863 A3

    You	Partner
    	Pass
    2	2 (gf)
    2NT	3 (puppet to 3NT)
    3NT	4 (natural single suited slam try)
    4?	4
    4	5
    5NT	6NT
    ?

    a) do you bid 4?
    b) what's 5NT?
    c) what's 6NT?
    d) what now?

15. Matchpoints, none vul, you hold

     2 KQ963 1094 10762

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

    What's your lead?

16. Matchpoints, both vul

    	AQJ85 Q86 AKQ J5
    	109 K 98652 AK1063

    1-1NT; 3NT

    T1: 7-J-2-3
    T2: A-x-x-x
    T3: K-x-x-x
    Would you start this way?
    What now?

17. Matchpoints, E/W vul

    	K1083 K982 K64 63
    J42 1065 AQJ97 75		A65 A4 1032 AK842
    	Q97 QJ73 85 QJ109

    Declarer dealt and opened 1NT, raised to 3NT.

    T1: Q-5-3-A
    T2: 10-8-9-4
    T3: 2-5-Q-K
    T4: 6-4-9-7
    T5: J...making 3

    Signals: standard, Smith Echo by North, Rev. Smith by South, but not applicable on this hand, of course.

    Apportion the blame for letting them make a no-play game.