I posted the problem without my thoughts. There aren’t any system notes, AFAIK, but since partner is passed hand I expect 2D is non forcing. In that case, 3D seems automatic at imps. Matchpoints is much tougher, since hearts scores more per trick. But partner may express tolerance for hearts if he chooses to go on.
Why didn’t partner open 2D? Suit too weak? If so, that increases the chances that 2H by me is right now.
As noted, I may well change this answer before the deadline (Fri, Sept 20). Be sure to let me know if you think I should change it. Pass is looking more tempting at both forms of scoring.
Interesting. At imps, especially if vul, 4S would look right. But at matchpoints? We should want over 50% to bid game. Since partner did not respond 1H, there’s an excellent chance he has at least 5 spades. So 2S is too conservative. 4S is over 50% (on what we know now), but I doubt we would make 4S more than 50% of the time that partner would pass 3S. So leaning to 3S (over though 4S will make some of the time partner passes 3S).
Curious what the system notes would say for 2S, 3S, 4S, 3C and DBL. Assuming DBL would show 3 card support, while 3C is a cue bid and shows stronger support, while also giving us more room to flesh it out.
So my instinct was 3C. 2S is too weak so 3C gives us room.
I expect Dbl would show exactly 3 card support, 2S, 3S and 4S all show 4 (or even 4+) card support, cue bid would not promise support (perhaps a very strong diamond 1-suiter). I could be wrong.
ETA: if 3C includes support, I think it could be only 3 cards.
Interesting. If that is the case, then I would lean toward 3S.
3S was the winner, with 5 of 14 panelists and 10 of 29 solvers. 3H, 4H (both splinters of some sort) and 4S scored 90.
My initial thoughts: Yes, agree with 2S, since both the heart J and club Q are in shortish suits and may be wasted, and 2S is reasonably preemptive. Certainly wouldn’t object if partner chose to open 1S.
Now I’m much to good for just 3S, so I think 3C.
I don’t know. I think I would have opened 1S, and not sure where I would go from here. Would have to read the system notes. Don’t feel like I have a feature. 3NT may promise too much in the form of partial stoppers, so maybe I would jump to 4S at the table if I didn’t have any system notes to rely on. Or I would have chickened out and said 3S. Interested to see the conversation.
I think most people would expect 3NT to show running spades, probably AKQJxx nothing outside or at least AKQ10xx likely nothing outside but possibly a jack.
(and for my 3C, partner will expect more than Qx, but I think it’s the best available.) So bad that I wish I had opened 1S, but since we couldn’t know partner would bid 2NT I still slightly prefer the 2S opening.
In that case, I’d be tempted to bid 3NT. My spades may not quite fit that bill, but my supplemental value is likely to make up for that in the form of an additional trick or two for us, and/or a way to get back to my last spades.
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Scoring reflects that 3S had a majority of the panelists and solvers, but moderator thought 3C was better.
A toughie, complicated by the matchpoint conditions. At least at imps, we could just play hearts, with some danger of a spade ruff (which shouldn’t stop a game but might be fatal in slam). Leaning toward 4C.
4C seems clear to me. Shows the strength, support and shortness.
Submitted 4C. Too late to be quoted in the writeup, but I think it will still count for the yearly contest.
Problem A
Steve White: Four clubs. Oops. Forgot about this until today. (Also haven’t submitted my Bridge World MSC, but still have until midnight). This should be a clear slam try, and I don’t see any better slam try.
Can you guess what happened there?
Intending 4C as my very late entry for the January contest, but the February problem was already posted, and since my intended 4C was still best, I submitted it without noticing. Fortunately moderator noticed and told me I hadn’t answered January (but that I still had a very brief window) so I told him I intended 4C for January.
I’m allowed to change for February, but don’t expect that I will.
So for January, with 4H as the winner, presumably those folks didn’t think we were strong enough for 4C?
