District 8 Solvers Forum -- August 2013

   * (Semi-forcing notrump)

What is your call as South holding  AQJ53   Q5   AK   Q753 ?

We start with what I thought would be an easy problem, but there is some question about system here. What is double by us?  Some thought it was clear.

SPEAR: “Double. For takeout here, so hoping that works better than the alternatives.”

WALKER: “Double. This should show heart shortness and extra values.”

KAPLAN: “Double. Awful problem! Not sure if it is standard, but I play double as extras and takeout.”

So do I, but at least one panelist had some doubt about this.

KNIEST: “3H. Tempting to double if that shows shortness and extras.”

Others were also willing to force to game on this questionable 18-count.

MATHENY: “3C. Nothing looks better.”

And I am not sure your clubs could be much worse. Agreeing, but still forcing to game:

KESSLER: “3H. Good hand, how are your hearts?  I'd like better clubs to bid 3C.”

And finally, the middle road:

ENGEL: “2NT. I could easily have our second heart stopper.”

Personally, I like double. We have 18, but it is not the best, with a bad club suit, high honors in our short suit, and a dubious queen of hearts. Even if our hand was slightly better, bidding 3C or 3H takes up so much room, as expressed here:

SOKOL: “Double: I’ll show my values and give partner as much room as possible to act.”
 

What is your call as South holding  A72   A963   4   AKJ64 ?

There were lots of choices on this problem, all flawed one way or the other. I’ll start with the lone voter, who may be closest to the mark:

KAPLAN: “1NT. Showing my distribution!  It’s a pretty good hand, and move one heart to the diamonds and I’d be close to the target.”

At the other end of the spectrum, we have some who don’t want to rock the boat.

ENGEL: “Pass. They probably belong in 3D.”

MERRITT: “Pass. Partner didn’t make a call for a reason.”

What if that reason was because they had spades, as this optimist points out?

KNIEST: “DBL. Not perfect shape, but I want to get hearts into the auction … And, oh what a delight if partner is trapping.”

Only problem with double is what if partner starts bidding diamonds?

KESSLER: “2H. Get it off my chest. Whenever I double planning on correcting 2D to 2H, it goes 2S on my left and 3D by partner. And now things get a little dicey.”

Well if all these other choices are bad, what is left?  How about our long suit?

WALKER: “2C.  I’m embarrassed by this bid, but pass feels like a loser and 2H and DBL are off my chart.”

SPEAR: “2C. Don’t like any choice here, so I will guess to bid 2C.”

RABIDEAU: “2C. We can’t sell out at the one level.”

I have to agree, but none of these choices are very palatable.
 

3. IMPs, NS vulnerable

What is your call as South holding  AK2   AK4   J108543   5  ?

Another tough problem, but at least we only have a couple of possible strains. Unless we decide to invent a third one:

KNIEST: “1S. Hope I survive this bid and get to raise hearts.”

KESSLER: “1S. Not a good answer for a bidding quiz, but it is the most flexible bid available.”

I always have admiration for making this bid on tough hands. Unfortunately, I am 0 for lifetime on it working out, including playing some precarious 3-3 fits.

What about our own suit?  We do have six diamonds, after all.

PAULO: “2D. If partner’s hand is not too weak, he can make some constructive rebid.”

Or even ratchet it up a step.

MERRITT: “3D. I am afraid of 3H, even thought it often seems like the bid that should be made.”

What about 3H?  Closer on points, and we are just short a trump, after all.

MATHENY: “3H. I hate this problem very time it comes up.”

Red on imps, does 2H really do justice to this hand? As Karen points out, partner can see the colors too:

WALKER: “2H. Taking the low road with only three trumps and worthless diamonds. Partner knows we’re red at IMPs, too, and will bid again if he can find an excuse.”

SPEAR: “2H. Guessing to go low with 2H, hoping someone bids again.”

SOKOL: “2H. A trump shy of a splinter or jump to 3H. Diamonds not good enough for 3D.”

Like Larry, I hate this problem every time it comes up. I’d probably try 1S again, since, as my partners will tell you, I can be pretty stubborn. At least this time if partner passes, we are probably not missing a game to play a 3-3 fit.
 

4. Matchpoints, both vulnerable

   * (Artificial raise: 4 hearts, 5-8 points)

What is your call as South holding  964   654   9654   752 ?

A lot fewer choices on this hand, compared to the first three problems. Do we give up and hope partner has them beat?

KESSLER: “Pass. Pass and pray. A zero is a zero, bring on the next board.”

KAPLAN: “Pass. Maybe we can beat it!”

Neither sound very hopeful, but pass may be our last chance at a plus, or our smallest minus. The rest do what partner usually wants, and take out.

PAULO: “3S. I must take out the double, and I choose the cheapest bid.”

While it may be the cheapest, it is sure to be an unpleasant hand to play.

SPEAR: “4D. 3S may get the most votes, but playing in diamonds may win the most tricks.”

SOKOL: “4D.  I hate making this bid. However, playing a black 4-3 fit can never be right when they will be able to force ruffs in the long trump hand.”

MATHENY: “4D. A 3S contract is one level lower, but the ‘long’ trump hand will be tapped out.”

I have to agree with 4D. While pass may be right, that is taking a huge shot.
 

* (Weak two-bid)

What is your call as South holding    4   A5   A10873   AK1083 ?

How do we show the minors here?  Is 3NT natural?  Most of our panel thought it was, with one outlier.

KESSLER: “3NT. Not unusual, to play. This is a prime example of matchpoints.”

KAPLAN: “3NT. Suits not good enough to explore; hope we have 9.”

RABIDEAU: “3NT. It wouldn’t take much from partner to score 7 tricks, and the auction suggests we’ll do better than that.”

SOKOL: “3NT. Has to be unusual for the minors.”

What if we don’t know what it is?  Jack was a little confused at first, but sent in a last second vote change.

SPEAR: “3NT. I wish 3NT was for the minors, but it is natural. If partner bids 4S and it gets doubled, we can test our redoubles out.”

And hopefully not go for -3400!  Well if 3NT is natural, how do we show our suits?

ENGEL: “4NT. I’d rather go down in 5 of the right minor than 4 of the wrong one.”

WALKER: “4NT. This may push us one (or three) levels too high, but at least we’ll find the right suit.”

At IMPs, I’d agree. At matchpoints, I’m with KESSLER. I’d rather be sick and hope it all worked out.
  

6. IMPs, NS vulnerable

What is your call as South holding   9   Q5   Q108643   K653 ?

One last problem and one last choice. How good is our hand?  One panelist thought we couldn’t have more.

KESSLER: “5D. Red at IMPs, I’m not giving partner a chance to pass 4D. I can’t have more and not bid 2D over 2C.”

Some took the middle road, leaving open the faint chance that we can backdoor hearts.

WALKER: “4D. Pushy since the club king is a dubious value, but I have a really strong 4 points in the other suits. Maybe the jump will induce partner to try 4H with five good ones.”

KNIEST: “4D. This could be a great playing hand. However, if partner is loaded only in the majors, he’ll bid 4H and I’ll subside.”

ENGEL: “4D. Several 14-counts with only 3 diamonds give me play for game, so I’ll give him a chance.”

SPEAR: “4D. Must show a sign of life here.”

Others were content with just bidding their 6-card suit. I can’t really see the reasoning, since we could have the same hand we had in problem 4.

SOKOL: “3D.  Not enough to pass or try 3NT.”

MATHENY: “3D. Finally, an underbid.”

And a big one, at that. Lastly, how about going after them?

RABIDEAU: “Pass. I’m still debating whether to go for spade ruffs or pump declarer in diamonds.”

I’d be busy looking up what 3C doubled and making with an overtrick is worth.

I like 4D, as the biggest upside to 4D is that we can still backdoor hearts. I’m a little surprised no one mentioned 4C, especially the 5D bidders. If we are going to force to game, shouldn’t we at least give ourselves a chance to play 4H in a chunky 5-2 fit, especially when the club king can slow down the tap?

Thanks to all who sent in answers and comments to this set. Topping all Solvers was Dan English with 560, followed closely by three who scored 550: Nigel Guthrie, Zoran Bohacek and Jim Diebel. All four are invited to join the panel for the October issue.

I hope you'll give the October problems a try (see below). Please submit your solutions by September 30 on the web form. 

     October moderator:    Jack Spear    jack5spear@gmail.com