Problems from the Montreal World Championships

Today's Panelists: Barry Rigal, Bobby Bodenheimer, David Caprera, Chris Willenken, Dan Hugh-Jones, John Jones, Joel Wooldridge, Kent Hartman, Marshall Miles, Mike Shuster, David Weiss
  1. MPs, fav

     S:AK652 H:J1083 D:1097 C:9

    LHO CHO RHO You
    3C: 3D: Pass ?

    What's your plan? If you bid 3S:, partner bids 3NT. Then what?

    BARRY
    3S: then pass. No reason not to assume that 3NT will be OK—I do control hearts, the danger suit. Even if partner has only one club stop, he may be able to keep his RHO off lead while establishing diamonds. Facing a typical 1-3-6-3 hand there might easily be three top losers in 5D:.
    BOBBY
    I start with 3S: as well. After 3NT, I bid 4H: and pass partner's response.
    DAVIDC
    I do bid 3S: and pass 3NT.
    CHRIS
    3S:, then pull 3NT to 4D:. Partner would often have overcalled 3NT with solid diamonds and a club stopper or good diamonds and two club stoppers. It's pairs, so protect the plus.
    DAN
    3S:, then, over 3NT, 5D:
    JJ
    OK — I'll double for penalties and choose to score with the defense. Oh that's not what you meant? All right I'll anwser seriously:
    A) 3S: (forcing) is 100% especially considering it's matchpoints.
    B) I don't think 3NT is a favorite. If pard has solid diamonds and a club stop, or semi-solid diamonds with clubs double-stopped he might have bid 3NT the first time. Thus, I think it's time to get out of Dodge. Assuming that 4D: (forcing) followed by 5D: is stronger than jumping to 5D: (I think that's what most experts play), I'll choose 5D: so as not terribly to encourage 6D: from pard.
    JOEL
    3S:. Over 3NT, I'll bid 4D:.
    KENT
    Pass. Partner bid 3NT, I have two tricks and enough diamonds that he may run the suit. On the other hand, a heart out and a club back could be gruesome.
    MARSHALL
    Plan is to bid 4C: and pass almost anything partner bids.

    [If I bid 3S:,] bid 4D:. Since partner didn't overcall 3NT, he probably has a non-solid diamond suit and is gambling that you have a high honor to solidify it. Since I don't, I retreat to 4D: (not 4H:, forcing us too high if partner doesn't have hearts or if he plays me for five).

    MIKE
    Pass. While both 3S: and 4D: are reasonable, they overstate the hand. If you bid 3S: and partner continues 3NT you probably shouldn't pass. Partner couldn't bid 3NT last time and most of your playing strength comes from distribution. If you pull to 4D: is it forcing? Not obvious. The rule that a pull of 3NT to 4m is forcing if 3NT is known to be playable should apply, and from partner's perspective I think 3NT is known to be playable. Fortunately, 4C: is available to force, so we have more room and can afford to play 4D: as nonforcing and bid 4C: when holding  S:AKxxxx H:xx D:QJxx C:x. Unfortunately we'll still miss hearts opposite  S:xx H:KQxx D:AJ10xx C:Kx or the like.

    All that is well and good, but at MPs I'll protect the plus and pass. Whatever is right, some pairs will surely overreach or guess the wrong strain and go minus on our cards. If the hands don't fit well together, we will never recover from any positive action ( S:x H:xxxx D:AKQJx C:Kxx).

    DAVIDW
    My plan is to bid 3S: (forcing), hoping for a raise to 4S:. Over partner's disappointing 3NT, I bid 4D:, which should be invitational since I have a 4C: cue available for a better hand. Admittedly, in this perhaps undiscussed auction, partner may not draw the same inference and be afraid to pass, so we may reach 5D: when it has little play.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    3S:, then passed 3NT. I am not proud of this action; I consider it a serious error.
    WINNING ACTION
    pass. Partner has  S:Jx H:AKxx D:KQxxx C:Kx.
    VOTES
    3S:?Votes
    Yes8
    No/Pass1
    No/4C:1

    What now?Votes
    Pass4
    4D:5
    4H:1
    5D:2

    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    As several pointed out, passing 3NT is either playing partner for a hand he cannot hold, solid diamonds and a club stop, or the willingness to accept a bad result for fear of a really horrible one. That's not winning matchpoints. Generally, it's right to invest a bad score in order to take a shot at a good one at matchpoints, because if you make things worse, you haven't lost much, but if you grab the brass ring, you've gained a lot. Particularly if you are trying to win the event.

    So what do you bid now? That's a much harder decision. On the way, we need to determine if 4D: is forcing or not. It is. The rule that "if 3NT is playable, 4 of a minor is forcing" applies here. You know 3NT isn't playable, but partner just bid it to make. Several panelists argued that 4D: isn't forcing because 4C: is available to force. Good argument, wrong result. Because 4C: is there, and 4D: is forcing, the right conclusion is that 4C: means something else, not the good diamond hands. It'd be nice this time, but life doesn't work that way. What should 4C: mean in that context? I usually play that if strain is still unknown, cue bids should be assumed to be choice of games, not extra values and control. I think that applies here. I'd bid 4C: with something like  S:AQxxxx H:Axxx D:Kx C:x, where I want him to choose between spades and diamonds, but I don't want to emphasize dimaonds as much as 4D: would. Is this theoretically best? Probably not, but it doesn't matter; you can't go making up system changes on the fly and we are not going to have this problem again this decade. 4D:, partner's 4H: is a cue bid, not a suit. The only way to get to hearts when it's right is to bid 4H:. Unfortunately, it's also the way to get to 4H: when it is terribly wrong. If 4C: were to include hearts as a possible strain, it'd be nice. Perhaps it ought to. I don't know if it does.

    I hate to say it, but the panel's discussion doesn't really help much. I'm as in the dark about what I should have done as I was when we started.

  2. MPs, none vul

     S:AKQ8 H:K102 D:Q543 C:94

    RHO You LHO CHO
    Pass1D: Pass2C: (not game forcing)
    2H: ?

    BARRY
    Pass. Will sit for a double, (card-showing here from partner penalty from me) raise spades, and bid 3NT over any other action.
    BOBBY
    I pass. If partner doubles, I sit and lead the S:K, continuing with the C:9 unless dummy has surprises.
    DAVIDC
    Not game forcing but certainly my pass is now forcing. I pass and bid 3NT if partner rebids 3C: or 3D:.
    CHRIS
    Pass. If partner reopens with a card showing double, I intend to sit. Double could work but is extremely dangerous.
    DAN
    Pass. I guess if pard doubles, I will lead a spade, planning on a club shift.
    JJ
    Pass, 2S: would imply more distribution than I have. If pard doubles (action) I convert it and lead the S:Q.
    JOEL
    Pass. If partner doubles, I'll lead a top spade honor.
    KENT
    Pass. I play 12-14 notrumps and won't have this problem. Partner will bid spades if he has them. Over 3C:, I'll shoot 3NT.
    MARSHALL
    It is close, but I think I would bid 2S: and, if partner's clubs are solid, he will bid 3H:. If I should pass, partner might not bid spades with  S:Jxxx H:xx D:x C:AKJxxx—or I might be forced to decide whether to bid spades or notrump pass next round over a 3C: rebid (or even a double by partner). I think our chances of game are too good to pass, and plan to pass partner's double.
    MIKE
    I'd've opened 1S:, although 1D: is OK. Pass and listen. If LHO raises and partner passes, I double. Otherwise I'm most interested in hearing partner's next call. [I'd've opened 1S: in 1st position, but not in 2nd. One of the benefits of 1S: is its preemptive value, which is lessened considerably in 2nd seat. --Jeff]
    DAVIDW
    The alternatives are 2S: and Pass. I prefer 2S:, which gets us to spades when we belong there, while the pass allows us to defend 2H:x. It seems remote that partner will be able to double I am closer to a double than he is likely to be. If 2S: fails to catch a raise, we will get to 3NT, which we probably would have done had RHO kept his mouth shut. One can attempt to read RHO's mind for example, he failed to open a weak-two because he had four spades but who really knows what vagaries of system or mood account for unexpected actions. By bidding 2S:, I may be missing the opportunity to take advantage of an error, but I should have a normal result.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    Double.
    WINNING ACTION
    double, lead's mostly irrelvant. Partner has  S:xxx H:x D:KJ10 C:AQ10xxx.
    VOTES
    ActionVotes
    Pass9
    2S:2
    Double1
    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    The panel pretty much said, "I have a weak notrump, and the way to show that here is to pass." That's the normal down-the-middle action. I'm convinced that one can do better.

    This is matchpoints. What's going to happen at other tables? Sometimes RHO will open 2H:. We will double, and over partner's 3C:, we'll bid 3NT. Partner won't play us for a double heart stop and he'll know we have spades. He'll probably get the decision right most of the time. At other tables, RHO won't be in the bidding at all. We'll probably reach 3NT and won't get a heart lead. We aren't beating those tables.

    All in all, where does that put us now? In a bad place. Not a REALLY bad place, but I'd judge we will average 25% of the matchpoints if we pass now. What will happen if we double 2H:? We'll either get a terrible score (if they make or we get less than our partscore or we get less than our game) or we'll get a great score (if they go for 500 or game goes down or we get 300 vs. a partscore). I have no idea which will happen. Could be anything. I'd guess off the top of my head that it's 50/50 that we'll get a top or a bottom. Which means that doubling is the percentage action if my guess is at all close.

    I'm pleased to have found the double at the table, and I'm still convinced that it is the right choice. Better still, it was.

    As a rule, I'm not fond of rolling the dice, but when we are in a hole, the odds shift dramatically towards the risky move.

  3. IMPs, vul unknown

     S:Ax H:AKx D:Q10xxxxx C:x

    You LHO CHO RHO
    1D: Pass1H: 1S:
    Dbl 2S: 3S: Pass
    4D: Pass4H: Pass
    ?

    a. Do you choose a support double on your second turn?
    b. Do you bid 4D: on your 3rd turn?
    c. What now?

    BARRY
    a: Depends on our agreement—yes intending to bid again.
    b: Yes OK by me intending to...
    c: bid 4S:. WTP? 5NT pick a slam is not far off either.
    BOBBY
    Support double seems good here. I interpret 3S: as asking if I had a spade stopper and 4D: as denying it. So it's close, but I probably would have bid 3NT on my 3rd turn. Now, I pass—we seem high enough for the likely 4-3 fit.
    DAVIDC
    I do double but I don't bid 4D:. I think that partner believes 3S: confirms we are playing in hearts. My hand is great for hearts but the thing I don't have is a diamond control. I would have bid 4C:. Now I have boxed myself but I am bidding on—4S:.
    CHRIS
    a. yes
    b. yes
    c. 4S:. Should partner have bid more with  S:xxx H:QJxxx D:AKx C:Ax? I could bid Blackwood, but there are possible strain issues for six, i.e.  S:xx H:Qxxxx D:AK C:KQxx, so I'll let partner do the Blackwooding if he's so inclined.
    DAN
    a: Yes
    b: No [what then? --Jeff]
    c: 4S:
    JJ
    a: No, but its close. Support doubles only absolutely deny 3 trumps when you pass, not necessarily when you select an alternate call, especially rebidding your suit. A 7 bagger is worth rebidding instead of showing the 3 card support. My hearts are very good though, so I can live w/ the double.

    b: Yes, 3S: doesn't force me to bid 3NT w/ a stopper. I have yet to describe my diamonds.

    c: What's pard doing? Is he searching for best game or making a slam try? What would 3C: by him have meant instead of 3S:? I'm guesing that if he was slamming he might have found a call other than 4H:. 3C: by him would be played by most as forcing since it's a free bid. Thus, I don't think he has long clubs. We might belong in 3NT, but given that we're past that point, I'll subside.

    JOEL
    a. Yes; b. Yes; c. 4S: BTW, my interpretation of partner's 3S: followed by 4H: is completely different from he was intending. I thought this auction showed either shortness in spades, such that he couldn't risk a double because it might go all pass, or a heart slam try, or a diamond fit. When he returned to 4H:, he confirmed a heart slam try (since he would've raised diamonds with either short spades or a diamond fit). Why didn't partner double 2S: with those cards?
    KENT
    Would 2NT instead of 3S: by partner have been good-bad? [Doesn't seem like it to me, but I'm not certain. --Jeff]

    a: No. I bid 2D:. I have seven diamonds. The hearts can wait. Change one of the diamonds to a small black card, and I'd make the support double.

    b: No. I bid 3NT. I have a spade stop.

    c: Pass. I have an opening bid, I showed lots of diamonds and three hearts. Partner made a bid I can pass, and I don't like this hand enough to continue with 4S:.

    MARSHALL
    a. Yes
    b. Yes
    c. 4S:. I think partner has a slam interest, and AK of trumps are very valuable (not to mention my controls in the black suits).
    MIKE
    Support double is right (with the plan of further competing in diamonds). 3C: (and similarly 4C:) over 2S: would have been natural so partner hasn't denied the club ace. If we have slam, it hinges on partner's diamond holding, but with an appropriate hand, partner might have done more. I've made a positive move with 4D: and at first it appears that the hand doesn't really warrant another one. What does partner have? I have surprisingly strong hearts and the ace of the suit partner cuebid. I think he needs the club ace and a fitting diamond honor (assuming xxx in spades from the auction) and that to go with the trumps will tend to make the 5-level safe. I can afford 4S: here. If all partner is waiting on is good trumps he'll know to ask for it. I can see how someone might pass at the table without even considering making a move—it is because the cuebid ate so much room that this is so difficult.
    DAVIDW
    I agree with the support double and the 4D: call. Over 3S:, I was not sure of partner's intentions; perhaps he was hoping to hear 3NT because of a diamond fit. Now that we are locked into hearts, my hand may be good enough for slam. I will cue 4S:, planning to bid 5H: over 5C:, but 6H: over 5D:.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    I passed 4H:.
    WINNING ACTION
    get to 6D:. Partner has  S:xx H:QJxx D:AKx C:Kxxx.
    VOTES
    Double?Votes
    Yes9
    No2

    4D:?Votes
    Yes7
    No/3NT2
    No/4C:1
    No/?1

    ActionVotes
    4S:8
    Pass3

    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    The basic issue on the hand is, "why did partner bid 3S:?" There are a few possibilities:
    1. he wanted to try for 3NT
    2. he was making a slam try in hearts
    3. he didn't know what strain to play
    When he bids 4H: over 4D:, I thought he'd shown the hand that wanted to bid 3NT, but now cannot. That means I should pass 4H:. The panel thinks, however, that with hand type 1 above, partner would have doubled 2S:, not bid 3S:. Upon reflection, I agree. Therefore, he cannot have the first hand above and he was making a slam try in hearts. I certainly have a moose for hearts, so I should cue bid and more or less drive to slam. He didn't have that hand, of course, but my pass was what caused us to stop too low, even though it was made because I was in sync with partner!

  4. MPs, both vul

     S:1092 H:A10 D:8 C:AKJ10873

    CHO RHO You LHO
    PassPass1C: 4H:
    4S: 5H: ?

    BARRY
    Ugh! Need to know my weak-two style. I assume sound so partner might have [poor] club fit (spades and diamonds?). I'll bid 5S: not so worried about both games making but certainly worried that one might.
    BOBBY
    It seems likely that entries to my hand will be a problem, so I will take my plus score and double.
    DAVIDC
    I don't believe my pass is forcing here. This could be a two way game swing so I am not doubling (although it could also be our last plus and it is matchpoints). I know partner didn't open 2S: but that becomes a question of style. I am going to raise to 5S:. Could be wrong.
    CHRIS
    Double. Partner is a passed hand, and he likely has five spades (or six bad ones) and a decent hand. I might beat them even if the club ace doesn't cash. Occasionally, this will be a huge disaster when pard has  S:KQxxx H:x D:Kx C:Qxxxx and everything makes, but double will be best far more often than not.
    DAN
    Double.
    JJ
    It would be nice to know pard's weak two bid style at all vul. Could he still have  S:KQJxx H:x D:xxxx C:Qxx? A 4S: bid on a 5 card suit w/ shortness in my suit doesn't have any safety. Thus, I believe that passed hand free bids at high levels imply a fit for the opening bid suit. With that type of construction, it's reasonable to believe that 5H: and 5S: both might have a shot at making. Pard can't have solid spades and the D:A, so 6C: is down at least 1, but 5S: could make although handling may be an issue. I'll bid 5S: and hope that somebody can make 11 tricks in a major.
    JOEL
    Pass. I'll lead the D:8 when partner doubles. Hopefully the hand isn't along the lines of C:A cashing, and we can establish a 2nd round spade winner or they play 2 high spades, and discard their club loser.
    KENT
    Double, lead C:K.
    MARSHALL
    5S:. If I hadn't opened in 3rd position I'd make a forcing pass. As it is, I don't think a pass would be forcing.
    MIKE
    It's between X and pass... we rate to be able to beat this most of the time and in a good field, many will sacrafice, so X it is.
    DAVIDW
    The opponents have forced me to make a difficult guess. A pass by me would not be forcing, and even if it were, I am better placed to make the decision than partner is. Although I was reasonably optimistic when partner bid 4S:, he needs just the right cards for us to take 11 tricks, whereas virtually anything (except possibly a massive club fit) in his hand will defeat them. So I double. (I'm not on lead)
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    Double.
    WINNING ACTION
    double. Partner has  S:Qxxxx H:— D:KQJxxx C:Qx. If you pass, he may (and would have) bid 6D:, which produces -1100 in 6S:x.
    VOTES
    ActionVotes
    5S:4
    Double6
    Pass1
    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    I guess it really does depend on one's weak two bid style. Why did partner pass the last time and come in with 4S: later? That just depends. With some partners, that's because he's too good for 2S:; with others, because he has a flaw, perhaps four small hearts or lousy spades.

    I didn't know why partner didn't open 2S: at the table, and I don't know that we can tell much after the fact, either. I guess this is just a gruesome guess.

    Oh...pass is not forcing. A passed hand does not create a force on a 3rd hand opener until opener shows extra values. Sorry.

  5. MPs, both vul

     S:KQJ H:AQ9843 D:Q3 C:A4

    RHO You LHO CHO
    2C:* Dbl 2S: Pass
    3C: ?

    2C: was natural, precisionish. 2S: was not forcing. Do you double the first time? What now?

    BARRY
    Yes and bid 3H: now. OK a marginal overbid but I did not know when I doubled that it would be LHO bidding, not partner. Can't afford to sell out now (though I am tempted).
    BOBBY
    I think double the first time is reasonable. I'm going to continue and bid 3H: (what I think I can make).
    DAVIDC
    I actually think I would have bid a timid 2H:. Was 2S: forcing? [No. I even noted that! --Jeff] I guess if I doubled it was because I was prepared to bid 3H:. It looks like the opponents' methods have put me in a position disadvantaged to the field. If the field gets to hearts, I probably need to as well. If partner has H:Kxx or better and out, for example.
    CHRIS
    I would probably have settled for 2H:. This is a really junky hand, and the 2C: opening bid often brings bad breaks. Having doubled, you must follow through and bid 3H:.
    DAN
    I think so, but it's super close.
    JJ
    NO, 2H: is much better. I have a 5-loser hand (it will be more if I play it w/o a dummy entry) and need a heart fit plus an outside trick to make game. If I bid 2H: and he has the hand to make game, I'll probably hear from him. Given that I doubled, it's consistent to bid 3H: now. However, 3H: is more likely to go for a number than to make game. You didn't say what 2S: was [did so! --Jeff], but I'll assume nonforcing constructive (which is what I play when using a forcing club system), and there's not much left for pard if both opps have reasonable calls. I'm more likely to catch  S:xxxx H:x D:KJxx C:xxxx than I am to catch  S:xxxx H:KJxx D:xxxx C:x or some hand than makes game, and it could be worse than either of my examples. Pard didn't bid; spades might be getting ruffed. Bidding might work, but the percentages are signficantly against bidding here. Discretion being the greater part of valor, put me down for pass! I'll lead the S:K.
    JOEL
    I would've bid 2H: the first time. I will bid 3H: on this round instead.
    KENT
    No. I bid 2H:. If partner isn't raising, I'm not going anywhere with this.

    I'm passing on the auction. This is still a live auction, though with my hand, I don't expect LHO to take another call immediately.

    MARSHALL
    Yes [to double]. 3H:. If partner rebids 3S: I'll raise to 4S:. He doesn't have to bid and I'll gamble that he doesn't have  S:109xxxx H:x D:xxx C:xxx.
    MIKE
    X is OK. No strong preference vs that and 2H:. I bid 3H: here. Seems to me this was 1400 territory.
    DAVIDW
    I would not have doubled, strongly preferring 2H:. Now I surrender and pass, but I really hate my previous action. Had I bid 2H: originally, I would have passed if the auction continued the same way, but doubled if RHO instead raised clubs. Now, I'm really wrong if partner has a bad hand with a heart fit, but I have no way to judge whether that is the case.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    3H:.
    WINNING ACTION
    Pass. Partner has  S:xxxx H:— D:J987x C:xxxx. Bidding produces -1400.
    VOTES
    Dbl?Votes
    Yes5
    No/2H:6

    Now?Votes
    3H:7
    Pass3

    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    I admit that it's close between 2H: and double the first time, but I don't buy the argument that if partner passes we haven't missed a game. Those 2C: openers don't promise the stars and we have 18 HCP. Many random 8 counts are going to bring home 3NT or 4H:, and partner's not going to be bidding a lot with those unless he has a heart fit. And sometimes not even then. Is he supposed to raise 2H: with  S:xxx H:KJx D:Kxx C:xxxx? The real reason to bid 2H: is that it might go 4C:, pass, pass, ugh. Or even a sly 3C: with the majors nutted.

    Of course we have to bid 3H: the second time around, and the 1400 is just unlucky. This wasn't so much a problem as a complaint. The first decision would have made a better problem.

  6. MP both vul

     S:KJ6 H:Q7543 D:75 C:AQ2

    CHO RHO You LHO
    1H: 2NT 3C:* 5D:
    5H: 6D: ?

    3C: was a limit raise or better in hearts.

    BARRY
    Ridiculous methods of course but no matter. (3D: limit raise makes so much more sense.) Double. Not enough aces and too much in clubs. Partner could have produced a FP if we could make 6H:. [No, he couldn't. His pass would not have been forcing. A limit raise does not create a force. --Jeff]
    BOBBY
    This auction is forcing. To bid 6H: here is to bid partner's hand for him. The options, then, are between pass and double. I think my hand is better suited to defend 6D: than play 6H:, so I double.
    DAVIDC
    (Incidentally, I am convinced that 3D: is better used as the raise and 3C: is forcing in the 4th suit. Else, what does opener rebid over 3D:, showing spades, with something like  S:Qx H:KJxxx D:AQxx C:xx?) [How about 3S:? 3D: doesn't show S:Jxxxx or thereabouts, so Qx should be adequate, and we have room to branch out below game. --Jeff]

    Double. That seemed easy. Harder is what to lead. Glad that is partner's problem. Had it been my lead, I would have led S:J (well maybe).

    CHRIS
    Bad methods. There should be a way to describe a balanced minimum forcing heart raise directly over 2NT (I prefer to use 3NT) in order to set up a force. [I like that idea. Definitely worthwhile. But I'd call 3NT any forcing raise which doesn't fit into other bids, and leave 3C: as the limit raise. --Jeff] Here, I would make a penalty double. Pass is nonforcing, and might induce partner to save with a hand like  S:QTxx H:AKJxxxx D:x C:x, which is the last thing that I want holding C:AQx. 6H: is a wild shot. My heart queen rates to be a wasted value in light of partner's 5H: bid, and I have no ruffing value- essentially, I hold the equivalent of a 3-4-3-3 ten count.

    At teams, there would be some argument for bidding—we might make, and the opponents might save in seven diamonds. Here, the fluke make is less valuable, and the opponents are much less likely to save at pairs.

    DAN
    6H:
    JJ
    Assuming this is a forcing pass situation for this partnership (I think it should be, but I think far more situations should be played as forcing than what most people do), I will pass and pull to allow pard to bid the grand w/  S:AQxx H:AKxxxx D:— C:xxx. (I'm willing to be in the grand on the club finesse through the bidder). If it's not a clear forcing pass for the partnership, I'll bid 6H:.
    JOEL
    Pass. Partner is very likely to be short in diamonds on this auction (the immediate 5H: bid). I'll let partner decide if we should play 6H: or not. I'll lead the S:6 if partner doubles.
    KENT
    Double. I have two small diamonds.
    MARSHALL
    I'll bid 6H:. I think partner's 5H: bid was based on a void in diamonds or a singleton with extra values.
    MIKE
    6H:. Its my turn, isn't it?
    DAVIDW
    The definition of "limit raise or better" leaves me in an awkward position, because the forcing pass I would like to issue here would not be forcing. So I'm guessing that the opponents have at least 10 diamonds for their vulnerable dive with no high cards, and try 6H:. I expect partner to need the club finesse, but it will succeed.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    Double.
    WINNING ACTION
    Bid. Partner has  S:xxx H:AKJ10xxx D:x C:KJ. He'll never lead a club and when he didn't, 6D: rolled.
    VOTES
    ActionVotes
    Pass2
    Double5
    6H:4
    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    Of course pass isn't forcing. Partner has competed to 5H:, not bid it on power. He might be saving; we have no idea what his offense to defense ratio is. A limit raise does not create a force, so those who are thinking we are in a force are forgetting that partner doesn't know we have a game-forcing response. In any case, this fits the rule "when no one has any idea who can make what, passes are not forcing."

    Does that mean our methods are poor? While several think so, only Chris' objection appeals to me. 3C: showing hearts and 3D: showing spades is fine. There's a bid between each to punt when needed. But the ambiguity of the heart raise is costly—I agree that there should be a clear limit raise so that we can play forcing passes on our game forcing hands. Since every other bid is accounted for, and 3NT isn't needed in a natural sense, Chris' suggestion seems quite logical to me.

    Is there a good reason to get this decision right? I don't see it. And the panel hasn't found it. Seems to me that double is the normal action; it's just unlucky that they make.

  7. MP unfav

     S:KJ85 H:AQ8 D:3 C:AK942

    CHO RHO You LHO
    PassPass1C: 2NT
    3S: 5D: ?

    BARRY
    5H:. Does this suggest a diamond void or does it suggest two small? I can't help it; I think I would pass then bid 5H: with a void and pass and respect partner's double with two diamonds. But I'm improvising here. Was 3S: forcing—we need to know! [No. Partner is a passed hand, but 3D: would have been forcing with spades in any case. --Jeff] If not I've bid a lot—but partner could have  S:AQxxxx H:xx D:xx C:QJx after all.
    BOBBY
    Although my action here depends largely on what my partnership agreements regarding 3S: are, this seems like a perfect fit for partner even with a competetive hand. The slam has to have a great deal of play, so I bid it: 6S:.
    DAVIDC
    2NT was reds (not minors)? I think I have just enough to try for slam by bidding 5H:. (When you lead as poorly as I do, you don't double very often.)
    CHRIS
    6S:. I don't see any intelligent way to invite seven since I don't believe that pass is forcing. RHO is a passed hand, but so is partner; LHO could (on some other deal) have the best hand at the table. It would be stupid to be forced to double him when he is about to raise to six. So, I bid what I think I can make.
    DAN
    5S:
    JJ
    Hey, again a passed hand takes a fit implying free bid (see problem 4 — I know that you thought my short term memory wouldn't let me remember the 2 hands together if you put one last). [Nope. Different hands. --Jeff] Hearts could be a problem, but still I would have used Blackwood if RHO hadn't denied me that, and 6S: now looks pretty reasonable.
    JOEL
    5S:. We might make slam, but I'd rather try to take a plus here. If I were sure pass was forcing, I'd do that, but I don't think it is (partner didn't cue bid, and I'm 3rd seat). If pass was forcing (they're nv vs. vul, and the passed hand bid 5D:), I'd pull partner's double to 5H:. Or, if partner instead bid 5S:, I'd raise.
    KENT
    5S:. Opposite a passed hand, I'm not looking for slam.
    MARSHALL
    5H:. He can probably infer my singleton diamond from the bidding but heart control is probably crucial. [You must play more reliable opponents than I. I've stopped trying to infer partner's shortness from the opponents' aggressive bidding. Particularly at high-level matchpoints. It just doesn't work. --Jeff]
    MIKE
    I can't think of any way to know what I'm doing en route to 7S:. Given partner's passed hand status—and failure to bid 3H: within that framework I'm going to just give up on the grand. The possibility of getting there wrongly when partner holds 10xx or worse in clubs is too great ( S:Axxxxxx H:xx D:A C:10xx for example). I'll keep it simple and bid 6S:. This might not make.
    DAVIDW
    Another difficult guess; no forcing pass is available. This time the matchpoint angle comes into play. I anticipate 300 from 5D:, which will not be a great score unless our heroes at the other tables also are wearing their diving suits. Still, going down in 5S: will be worse, and I do expect the heart king to be unfavorably located for us. So my choice is to double, settling for what I can get. I lead a high club.
    JEFF AT THE TABLE
    5S:
    WINNING ACTION
    bid a slam. Partner has  S:AQxxx H:K D:Qxx C:Jxxx. Next best: double them and get 800.
    VOTES
    ActionVotes
    Double1
    5H:3
    5S:3
    6S:4
    JEFF UPON REFLECTION
    It didn't occur to me to try for slam opposite a passed hand; most of my partnerships open pretty light. The actual hand, however, I can understand; I think it's a pass, not an opening. It is a super max fit for my hand, which is why we are making so many tricks. Since 1/3 of the panel made no slam move, and 1/3 blasted into slam, presumably the 1/3 who made a slam try with 5H: (an artificial slam try, not specifically a heart control) seem to have the right judgment. For spades. On the other hand, perhaps that means the double is right. It has lots of ways to win: they go for 800, 5S: goes down, or we get to six and go down. It loses if we make 6S: and can bid it, or they only go for 500 and we can stop in 5S:. Since the losses are parlays and the wins are mostly different cases, it looks to me as if double is the percentage action.

This was an extremely difficult set of bidding problems. Perhaps one reason is that of the 43 available calls prior to our problems, pass was only chosen 12 times, and five of those occurred before any bidding started! They bid 'em up in them there world championships.

The matchpoint angle, however, suggested the winning (or good enough) actions much of the time. The solo argument for double on hand 2 is roughly the same as the solo argument for double on hand 7. Each would have worked, and each, I'm convinced, is accurate reasoning.

Jeff Goldsmith, jeff@gg.caltech.edu, Nov. 5, 2002