A. 3D.
B. 2N. Yuck, but no attractive alternative either
C. 2C. To be followed by a diamond raise. Somewhat tempted by an immediate 2H cue bid.
D. Double? So many possibilities, so little certainty. Some temptation to pass and see what he does, but if 2S was only forcing to 3C could he pass? I wouldn’t like that result. 3S sounds nonforcing hence not reasonable. 4S is likely a reasonable contract. Maybe we should bid it, but he might expect 4 trumps. 3H possible, but doesn’t that suggest 5+ clubs. So for now, I’m thinking double followed by 4S.
E. 5C. Surely best if it weren’t watchpoints, and might be best at watchpoints.
F. 2NT. We have a heart stopper from our side, and if partner has Qxx even better.
G. Pass. Once I thought of it, this seems clear cut. We’re very likely to be able to show both majors next, and even if I were going to just bid hearts now, how many?
H. Club Q. I’m not going to lead the club A. Among the Q,J,10, leading the Q gives declarer the most hope of partner having the A is a short holding.
A) 2 spades. Plan to bid clubs next, and hearts third if possible. Hopefully taking this sequence when 3d was available will have inference of strong spades.
B) 2 clubs.
C) 2 hearts. Pulling 2nt to 3d.
D) 4 spades.
E) 5 clubs.
F) 3 diamonds.
G) 1 heart. Who knows.
H) heart 8. Maybe I have been playing against the robots too much.
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 2S 2C 2H 4S 5C 3D 1H H8
oirg 3D Dbl 2H Dbl 4C 3D P CA
SW 3D 2N 2H Dbl 5C 2N P CQ
ST 3D P 2C 3H 4C 3D 1S CA
BTDT 3C 2C 2C 4S P 2N 2H CA
NN
veni vidi vici
Leading 3D 2H 3D CA
With only today and tomorrow left, we know have a leader on 4 questions.
Quick guesses on July 31. May change my mind on 1 or 2 after reading other replies.
A 4D I hate Exclusion, but since it’s part of BWS and since this is the 1-in-a-million perfect hand for it.
B 3C If I am not going to pass (and it’s close) this is by far the best description. The other alternative is 2C, which is basically hoping someone else keeps the auction open…but that gives them a chance to find hearts. Not 2N, after which we may be in a 6-0 heart fit. I don’t have enough playing strength to just blast 3N (which partner should let sit almost no matter his hand).
C 2H. This was a limit raise without the interference, and that’s still what it is.
D 4D or 5S. 5S has a more direct message but may be a slight overbid.
E 5C. If partner weren’t a passed hand I’d bid more strongly. but it will be difficult to bid slam confidently here.
F 3D. It’s either double (followed by correct clubs to diamonds) or just bidding 3D. I think I’ll take the high road as the honor-placement is really good here.
G 1S. Ekrens, obviously. Oh, wait, that’s not BWS? Well, then, 1S. I prefer to start with my longer suit, usually, but here with only 8 points I think it’s more important to bid the higher-ranking suit that I want led.
H CA Before declarer pitches his club(s) on dummy’s hearts.
Public service announcement from Bridge World Standard 2017: " the default interpretation of a bid one level above a splinter (e.g., one spade - five diamonds) is Exclusion Key-Card Blackwood. " This is followed by an exception that does not apply on problem A.
A) 3D. Splinter. Lots to show, but if pard can cuebid 3H, I’ve got a 4S picture bid.
B) 2C. For now. Despite the big hand, I just can’t find a double.
C) 2D. I wish I had a 3C fit showing jump.
D) Double. See footnote.
E) 4S. Better than 5C, I think. But I won’t know what to do when partner bids 5C next.
F) Dbl. Tempted to show spade support, but I’m in between a limit raise and a single raise.
G) 3H. My longer suit.
H) S4. No idea.
I’m guessing 3C will score poorly on B so even though I’d bid it at the table, I’m changing my vote to 2C.
Also, on D I’ll bid 4D. Given the existence of a takeout double and the fact that this is above 3N, this must be support. The hand is too good for 4S, not quite good enough for 5S, and I hate doubling with support because LHO may bid in front of partner.
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 2S 2C 2H 4S 5C 3D 1H H8
oirg 3D Dbl 2H Dbl 4C 3D P CA
SW 3D 2N 2H Dbl 5C 2N P CQ
ST 3D P 2C 3H 4C 3D 1S CA
BTDT 3C 2C 2C 4S P 2N 2H CA
NN 3D 2C 2D Dbl 4S Dbl 3H S4
veni vidi vici 4D 2C 2H 4D 5C 3D 1S CA
Submitted 3D 2C 2H Dbl 5C 3D 1S CA
Gee, thanks. 5 of 7 wanted to bid, so I’ll bid. More preferred hearts, but not even 2 agreed on how many. If we bid spades, we’re certainly bidding 1, and are unlikely to be too badly screwed for the next round.
4H might get the top score, though I doubt it. If you had opened 4H, I would have had more excuse for choosing pass, as the only call with 2 votes. My guess is that pass will score well. Quite possibly not 100, but there is no number of hearts I feel is confident of outscoring pass, nor am I confident 1S will outscore it.
A. 3D
B. 4S, expecting unanimous. And it was unanimous until I voted
C. 3N. Spade holding abysmal, but other choices worse
D. 2S
E. 2H
F. 2N. No stopper, but balanced hand, no 3 spades no 5 diamonds
G. 3S
H. S10 (even though before seeing BTDT’s votes I was going to lead the DJ. :bananas:
A. 3 diamonds. May be missing something, seems like textbook 3D bid, especially with those pointed spots.
B. 4 spades, seems really clear again…
C. Double. Yuck. Second choice pass. Don’t like 3NT.
D. Double, good problem.
E. 3 hearts. A bit temped by 2C (especially as 3NT might be best game), but feel like it either shows, or at least implies, spade support.
F. 2NT. Yuck, really impossible problem. I kind of want to pass.
G. 2NT. Tough one.
H. Jack of diamonds. Diamond 7 second choice.
Should I have stuck with my original inclination of the diamond J? Probably not. Declarer just might hold K10x with partner holding the Q (or do we think that declarer would surely have asked about the diamond Q?
It is possible to construct hands where the spade 10 is fatal if declarer plays double dummy, showing you in with the club ace to lead into his spade 10-8, Even if he could make the contract that way, his odds are likely better if he leads toward his club ace.
