A B C D E F G H
procrastinator
oirg
SW 3N P 3H 3C 2C 3D 4S DJ
Klaymen
ST
BTDT 4N P 3D 2D P 3C 4S H2
NN
veni vidi vici 2S P 3H 3C P 3C 4S CK
Abstract Actuary 3C 4N 3H P 1N 3C 3S H2
Leading P 3H 3C 4S
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator
oirg 3H P 2N 2S 1N 3H 4S D6
SW 3N P 3H 3C 2C 3D 4S DJ
Klaymen 3H P 2N P 2C 3D 4S DJ
ST
BTDT 4N P 3D 2D P 3C 4S H2
NN
veni vidi vici 2S P 3H 3C P 3C 4S CK
Abstract Actuary 3C 4N 3H P 1N 3C 3S H2
Leading P 3H 3C 4S
A. 3 hearts. When I construct hands for partner, what I really want is for his honors to not be in diamonds. Hearts kind can provide a pitch, where as diamond donāt really help. No way to ask for that I can think of though.
B. 5 diamonds. I could have bid 4D (or 5D) last round with a huge hand with just diamonds, so I think should show this hand: big hand with primary diamonds, but spade tolerance.
C. 3 hearts.
D. 3 clubs. 2/1 is a tricky on these types of auctions when 2c may just be a fragment.
E. 1NT. A strong player once told me that matchpoints is a race to 1NT, so I will try to win the race.
F. 3 diamonds. Will pass 3NT, bid 4C over 3H, and wish I had made a different choice over pass.
G. 4 spades.
H. Club king.
Close: 5D shows diamonds and hearts (equal length or longer diamonds). If partner corrects to hearts and you correct to spades, heāll probably get the message, but he may pass 5D when you really belong in spades.
Thanks for disagreeing so strongly with the majority. You made me realize that I thought the opening bid had been 4C, and when I realized it was 3C and partner jumped, I am considering changing my vote. Probably to 5C.
Thatās a good description of matchpoints at neither vul, and maybe even fair at unequal vul. But itās not a good description at both vul.
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 3H 5D 3H 3C 1N 3D 4S CK
oirg 3H P 2N 2S 1N 3H 4S D6
SW 3N P 3H 3C 2C 3D 4S DJ
Klaymen 3H P 2N P 2C 3D 4S DJ
ST
BTDT 4N P 3D 2D P 3C 4S H2
NN
veni vidi vici 2S P 3H 3C P 3C 4S CK
Abstract Actuary 3C 4N 3H P 1N 3C 3S H2
Leading 3H P 3H 3C 1N 3C 4S
I decided to go with 3H on A, as I had said it was my close second choice. Iāve also decided to bid 5C on B now that I noticed partner had jumped. (I still think pass is reasonable, though, especially as partner may be pushing to bid game red at IMPs.)
I tried to think of a reason to change my vote on H to solve what to submit, but Iām sticking with the CK. If it matters, my second choice would be a small trump.
A B C D E F G H Total
procrastinator 3H 100 5D 60 3H 50 3C 100 1N 100 3D 100 4S 100 CK 80 690
oirg 3H 100 P 70 2N 100 2S 60 1N 100 3H 0 4S 100 D6 100 630
SW 3N 0 P 70 3H 50 3C 100 2C 80 3D 100 4S 100 SJ 60 560
Klaymen 3H 100 P 70 2N 100 P 20 2C 80 3D 100 4S 100 SJ 60 630
ST
BTDT 4N 60 P 70 3D 0 2D 70 P 70 3C 90 4S 100 H2 80 540
NN 3H 100 P 70 2N 100 3C 100 1N 100 3D 100 3S 0 CK 80 650
veni vidi vici 3H 100 5C 100 3H 50 3C 100 P 70 3C 90 4S 100 CK 80 690
4Sigma
Submitted 3H 100 P 70 3H 50 3C 100 1N 100 3D 100 4S 100 CK 80 700
3H 100 5C 100 2N 100 3C 100 1N 100 3D 100 4S 100 D6 100
2S 80 P 70 3H 50 2D 70 2C 80 3C 90 3S 0 CK 80
3C 70 5D 60 3D 0 2S 60 P 70 3H 0 H2 80
4N 60 4N 0 P 20 SJ 60
VVVās bids changed to his updated choices as he stated. My lead changed from DJ (which we donāt have) to SJ, which is what I had posted I wanted to lead. Klaymenās lead also changed from DJ (which we donāt have) to SJ, because I have no information besides what he typed. The SJ is the only J we have. Alternatively the D6 is the only diamond we have. Found and correctly posted by only oirg, it would have been worth 100 if it were Klaymenās intent.
Our consensus 700 is the best result, with procrastinator and VVV only 10 back. It took 710 to make the monthly honor roll. 55 people did.
A: 2D. Meant as an additional preempt, I suppose. Also considered Pass.
B: 4S. It must be for takeout, right? But did not have opening strength. Iām a little confused, but he must have at least 4 of each major and 10+ HCP. 4S should be making given likely cross trump opportunities in hearts and clubs and likely fit in diamonds in side suit.
C: 4C? Need a little help with conventions here. Definitely exploring slam. Given the void in hearts, blackwood not exactly as helpful. Would 3C or 4C be a cue bid? Would 4H be a splinter? Trouble with cueing the club ace, though, is hard to find out about both diamonds and hearts. If partner has both, would it go 4C (CA) - 4D (DA) - 5D (DK) - 5H (HA) - 5N (All keys, ask for kings) - (if 6C, then 7S, if no club K, then 6S)?
D: 2NT? No spade fit. Partial heart stopper. Strength in other two suits. Invite to 3NT.
E: Double. Has to be, right? 1S does not show enough strength. Double with intent to rebid spades?
F: c2. Tough one. I donāt like any of the options. Too strong for pass. Too strong for 1NT and no clear diamond stopper (which may be fine). Would think double to 1NT shows more strength than 1NT, but also might promise a diamond stopper.
G: Double. Seems clear. Roughly perfect shape for it? 2NT possibly the only other consideration, but not with a partial stop.
H: Club Jack. Considered Heart Queen, but that feels like it could give away a trick to a split King and Ace in opponents hands. Diamonds doesnāt seem necessary. You should have a spade trick in any case, and likely not two. Club 4 or diamond 2 also seem reasonable.
A. 2S. With 5 cards in the highest-ranking suit Iāll introduce it, especially since putting my LHO on lead protects the club K from trick 1 attack. At the table I might well bid 2D, support with support.
B. 3D. Looking for the most likely plus since partner did not open. Yes, I could be missing a vol game, but partner may not have 4 spades.
C. 3S. Since weāre in a game force, Iāll give him the opportunity to cue bid.
D. P. Strongly tempted by 2N, since 10xxx will usually be a stopper. But it may not be, and even if we have 1 stop that might not be enough.
E. 1N. Pretty good description
F. B (1N). Pretty good description
G. Double
H. Diamond 2. Will it be unanimous? We want to convince declarer that a safety play in trumps in not safe.
A 1N. I have all three of their suits stopped. The trouble with introducing spades is they probably wonāt be trump (RHO promised at least four in each major), and so this is the way to protect that CK from the opening lead. I might raise diamonds at IMPs, but I want to be in NT at matchpoints.
B 4S Vul at IMPs. This is probably not a double-dummy favorite, but it may be hard to defend, and there is no way to invite. Passed hands tend to have perfect shape here.
C 3S Confirm spades and beg for cues. Should be a unanimous panel, as no other bid seems to accomplish anything.
D 2S Hoping to defend 3HX. Making a negative double with only 7 cards in the unbids feels wrong. Pass feels wrong because if I am afraid they make 2H, 2S by us is probably an improvement.
E 1N. I usually donāt ignore a five-card major, but I have a nice heart tripleton, double stopper, no preference for a spades lead.
F c2. Right on values, and I donāt mind NT as much after RHO fails to rebid the diamonds.
G Dbl. As with problem Cā¦this is obvious, and what else is there?
H HJ? (or D2?). D2 has the advantages Steve mentioned, but it might pick up partnerās queen. HJ will hopefully fool all but the best opponents. It may also help me to know who has the HK. OTOH, if paretner has the HK, I may now need to hope he also has the H10.
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator
oirg
SW 1S 3D 3S P 1NB (1N) Dbl D2
Klaymen 2C 3D 3S Dbl 1NB (1N) Dbl CJ
ST
BTDT
NN
veni vidi vici 1N 4S 3S 2S 1NX; 1N) Dbl HJ
Abstract Actuary 2D 4S 4C 2N DblX; 1N) Dbl CJ
Leading 3S 1N Dbl
