I’d consider J65 K842 4 AQJ52 to be a clear 4C bid (assuming I would have opened such a hand). So I sure don’t think 4C with the actual hand is an overbid.
3S submitted
3S got 80, the lowest score given to any chosen call (Pass also got 80. 1 panelist for each of those, with 5 solvers for 3S and 4 for pass. 4C got 100, 8 panelists and 10 solvers. 5C got 90, 4 panelists and 5 solvers.
I’m certainly not passing 3NT, even though at matchpoints it could be best. Reasonable choices seem to be 4H and 5H. Leaning toward 5H.
I don’t like where we are. Feels very difficult to explore slam in hearts from here. 5H seems to be the only way to do it, so that would be my bid.
I really don’t see any reasonable call other than 5H. Even if 4N were Blackwood (it’s not), I’m more worried about being off the AK of clubs than being off two aces.
Well, actually there is one other reasonable call (though I think it’s a clear second choice): 6H. And say a little prayer.
Problem set: July 2024
Respondent: Steve White (D4)
Problem 1
Steve White: Five hearts. 4H is too chicken, so I’ll try 5H and hope he gets it right.
4H, chosen by 6 panelists and 9 solvers, got 100. Pass, 4NT and 5H, each chosen by 2 panelists got 90 (of those 5H had the most solvers, 6). Everything else chosen by at least one panelist or solver got 80 (none of those alternatives had 2 panelists, some had 0 panelists).
I just can’t see the case for 4H. I know I can be too aggressive at times, but this seems like way to passive. Especially when partner can pass 5H and we make a decent amount of the time.
A: I’m not positive. I don’t like that we have not given any indication of our extra spade strength. I just don’t know if there’s a great way to do that. I like the initial double. Is 3S in the second spot too weak?
B: Lean 4S. I guess double could be the right answer. But again doesn’t show the extra spade. But possibly partner has no major support, but still has shown opening strength, and our best scoring contract is setting diamonds by a few tricks doubled.
A No. If double showed both majors, it would be clear, but since it only promises one, I’d marginally prefer to start with 2S with this strong a hand, so partner knows something about my hand in case LHO raises right away.
B I think 4S now is clear. This can’t be a spade one-suiter (I would have bid differently), so 2-3 card support for clubs seems to be implied. (With spades and 4+ club support, I would have started with a fit jump.)
Problem set: August 2024
Respondent: Steve White (D4)
Problem 1A
Steve White: No (explain in comments). With many suits in play and extra strength, better to start with 2S and start describing.
Problem 1B
Steve White: Four spades. Should not be just spades (since strong, would have started 2 spades) or 5-5 majors (again would have started 2 spades since strong), so some club tolerance is likely. Even if I get forced, West almost certainly has only 3 diamonds.
No on A was worth 20, winning 12-5 among panelists, only 17-13 among panelists. Yes got 10. Moderator strongly thought Yes was better (primarily for leaving us better place had our LHO raised diamonds, as seemed likely at this vulnerability).
6C was the winner on B, worth 80 (with 7 panelists votes). 4S (4 panelist votes) and 5C (1, but the solver plurality with 12) was worth 70. Anything else chosen by at least one panelist or solver (Double, 4NT, 5D, 6NT) got 60.
On the weak side, but looks like 2C to me. If by chance he bids 2S, I’ll be happy to raise to 3. If he bids 2H, it’s worth a raise to 3. If I start with 2C and hear 2D, maybe we’ll be OK. Second choice, only reasonable alternative that I can see, is 2H (transfer) then pass.
Bridge World MSC almost never asks a question with only 2 reasonable - but distant - choices (especially when the next best 2 choices of plans would involve the same bids now. (2C, followed by 3H over 2D, game forcing 4H 5S; 2H, followed by 2NT) So if used, Bridge World would ask “what is your plan”, including follow-up auctions.
Wait. This is imps. So passing 1NT should be in the mix. It is the surest plus score. But I can’t believe the panelists will risk missing a vul game, especially when starting 2C should get us to the best denomination
2C. It’s laid out there so clearly. I’m sure the better players would be able to read in some additional nuance, but this seems like the obvious right answer in most cases.
Problem set: September 2024
Respondent: Steve White (D4)
Problem 1
Steve White: Two clubs. Vul at imps this must be the overwhelming favorite. It even caters to wild men who plan to bid 3H over 2D (not me), and to both those who would raise 2H to 3 (me, but it is a close choice) and those would would raise to 4. (and those who would raise 2S to 4 (most, I think, including me) and those who would just raise it to 3). The most reasonable alternative is pass, as our surest plus score, but the game bonus is too attractive to give up right away.
2C was unanimous among the panel, and otherwise only 2 solvers chose 2S and 1 chose pass (with, in the super generous D4MSC, both those getting 90)
