District 8 Solvers Forum -- from the June, 2000, issue of the District 8 Advocate

1. Matchpoints, both vulnerable

What is your call as South holding:  S-QJ8653 H-Q65 D-Void C-AK106 ?

Action	Score	Votes	% Solvers
2D	100	9	50
3D	70	1	14
4D	70	2	11
4H	60	0	6
Others	50	1	11

2D was an easy bid for those wanting a good score, but was it the right bid?  I think so, especially at matchpoints where strain is so important. An exhaustive analysis by:

MARSHALL: “2D. Looks like a slam. If partner has the diamond ace, hearts would be better. No need to jump, no room anyway, to show the void. Let’s not overlook spades as a trump suit – one that wouldn’t need the diamond ace opposite, but would need at least a doubleton honor. Trot out the 4^th suit as there are too many unknowns from this side of the table.”

FEILER:  “2D. This is the easy bid; the problems come on the next round. If partner shows an extra card in one of his suits, we’ll play in it. If he shows extra values or denies a diamond stopper, I’ll raise hearts and then jump to 6C. If he shows a minimum with a diamond stopper, I’ll  just raise hearts.”

MILLER:  "2D. Let’s see what partner says. We know at least 9 of his cards and he’s probably 1-5-3-4, since we haven’t heard  diamond preempts."

Then we have a group who thinks telling is more useful than asking.

POPKIN:  “4D. 2D is forcing and 3D is a splinter, so 4D is perfect as a void splinter. Partner can Blackwood knowing my ace is not in  diamonds.”

KESSLER:  “3D. This should be a splinter. If you have a weak hand with diamonds, you pass, bid 2H, or bid 2S.”

WALKER:  “4D. The right contract here will depend on partner’s evaluation of his hand, so I think you have to forego the ‘asking’ 2D and tell him something about your hand.”

In BWS, it takes a double jump in the fourth suit to show a splinter unless it’s a reverse, so Nancy and Mark are on thin ice, but may survive. The final word from our special guest:

PALOOKA: “3S. Tell partner where I live and show that 6^th spade!”
 

2. IMPs, both vulnerable

What is your call as South holding:  S-9765432    H-Q3    D-5   C-Q64 ?
 

Action	Score	Votes	% Solvers
4S	100	8	42
3S	70	3	22
1S	60	1	25
2S	50	1	3
Pass	40	0	6

There’s an old saying that 4S ends all auctions. Well, sometimes. Here it may lead to 5D doubled, and then we’ll see if you have the discipline to sit.

FEILER: “4S. The par contract here might be 5D by the opponents. Since they haven’t arrived there yet, I’ll try to make it more difficult.”

POPKIN:  “4S. Too close to not bid game at imps. Sure hope partner has some aces.”

BURGENER:  “4S. This has a chance to make and at least the opponents will have to guess.”

MYERS:  “4S. I’ll try to preempt them. Hope this isn’t too expensive.”

The rest of our panel tried different levels of spades. 2S, of course, wasn’t an option, as that shows some high-cards — something you are woefully short in. Walking his dog:

SPEAR: “1S. This is a theoretical 4S bid, but under expected strength, so I try not to unduly excite pard. He may be off-shape. Or else lots of diamond bidding is about to start.”

Everyone else decided to clear things up with a well-defined preempt:

WARD:  “3S. Shows what I have, and when I bid 4S next turn (assuming I even get the chance), partner will know I have a joke.”

WALKER: “3S. The double jump shows a preempt and that level seems about right at this vulnerability. If partner has enough to make 4S, he’ll bid it. It’s more likely that the opponents will just double 4S and beat us 500 when all they have coming is –100 in 5D.”

3S seems right on values, but you have that 7^th spade, which is a certain trick, and the “Law” is working in your favor to bid 4. Besides, I like playing with a partner who bids 4 here. No free rides for the opponents. Unless, of course, you’re playing against:

PALOOKA:  “Pass. You expect me to bid, vulnerable, with a 4 count?”

3. Board-a-match, none vulnerable

  * (forcing NT)

What is your call as South holding:   S-Q6    H-K104   D-K82   C-Q10754 ?
 

Action	Score	Votes	% Solvers
3C	100	5	36
2NT	90	4	47
3NT	70	1	8
2S	60	2	3
Other	50	1	6

I raised 3NT in the scoring because it was forward going (very!) and in sympathy with the majority. The lone 3NT bidder was WARD, and he invests in tech stocks. On the other end of the spectrum are the 2S bidders, who are holding T-bills forever.

SPEAR: “2S. Hoping for a high-scoring partial with a slight underbid at BAM.  I’d bid 2NT at IMPs,  3C at rubber. Good problem with different answers at different forms of the game.”

KESSLER:  “3C. Partner knows you have more than a minimum and can still bid a red suit to try for 3NT. If we bid 2NT and partner has a weak hand, it is not clear he will remove to 3C.”

PALOOKA:  “3C. My partner will kill me if I don’t raise with  5 trumps.”

I really don’t understand 3C. You’re passing the buck to partner, who will expect a different  hand – more distribution, and probably short spades. If he passes 3C, you’re in the lowest-scoring contract. The real clincher here is that this is board-a-match scoring, which punishes you severely for even a 10-point score discrepancy.

WALKER: “2NT. Typical BAM hog bid. 3C is a sure loser at this form of scoring and would be my 4th choice.”

If you’re playing a good team, you can bet that the guy holding your cards at the other table won’t be settling for +110. Many bridge sins have been committed in the name of B-A-M scoring, but I don’t think 2NT here is one of them. You’re looking at red-suit stoppers and your hand is right on strength. Your 5 clubs may run, and you have a pair of 10s and a pusher in partner’s first suit. I always bid 2NT on these hands; they’re usually claimers after the opponents take 6 tricks.

4. Matchpoints, none vulnerable

What is your call as South holding:     S-A2   H-KJ753   D-97  C-AK97 ?
 

Action	Score	Votes	% Solvers
2H	100	7	25
3D	80	1	5
2S	80	3	16
3NT	70	0	20
3S	60	1	0
2NT	60	1	24
3C	50	0	11

The panel and solvers were all over the place on this one. Only one panelist seemed happy about his choice:

FEILER:  “3D. Raising the 4^th suit shows exactly this hand: no diamond stopper, no extra length to bid. The alternative interpretation, bidding out shape, doesn’t make much sense.”

Kent thinks this “artificial raise” is perfect, and it certainly would be if your partner is clued in. Without a discussion, though, all of my partners would expect diamond length — and therefore short spades — for an immediate raise. So if we haven’t yet educated our partner on this handy agreement, what are the alternatives?

KESSLER:  “2H. No clear bid. 2NT shows a diamond card, 2H shows a 6^th heart, and 2S shows a 3^rd spade. So, I’m going to give partner the room to bid 2S if he has a 6^th spade.”

MYERS:  “2H. I have to bid something over a 4^th suit forcing bid.”

MARSHALL:  “2H. This either shows 6 hearts or denies 5 clubs or a diamond stopper. 2S would show 3 spades and a stiff diamond.”

I think 2H is the easiest rebid here. After a 2-over-1 response, a rebid of your major does not promise an extra heart. It does, however, deny a third spade and a diamond stopper, so at least you’re giving partner an accurate picture of what you don’t have. Some  decided that if they had to lie, they’d try to be dummy:

POPKIN:  “3S. Partner’s 2D didn’t  necessarily show diamonds, so 2NT is out. I’m  too strong to preference to 2S, so I’m forced to jump. I don’t like it much, but that’s why this hand was given as a problem; it’s a problem.”

SPEAR:  “2S. Awaiting developments. I like 3D to show this hand in my regular partnerships – no diamond stop and no other bid available.”

Another vote for the 3D agreement. The trouble with 2S  is that your partner’s primary interest might be your spade length as he prepares for the subsequent auction. If you bid spades now, you’ll never talk him out of thinking you have 3-card support.

I think 2H is clearly the least of evils. The auction is still low, and you may have a chance to show honor-doubleton  at your next turn, or partner may rebid spades and you can raise. The other problem  is those extra values. You’d rebid 2H, 2S or 2NT on a 12-count, so you’d like to show that extra king. When in doubt, though, I’d rather conceal a few points than lie about trump length. Some hands are just awkward, and there’s only so much you can show. Unless you’re Joe, who felt this was not a problem:

PALOOKA: “3NT. I’ll steal the dummy here.”

5. IMPs, NS vulnerable

What is your call as South holding:   S-94   H-J72   D-A104   C-AQ1086 ?
 

Action	Score	Votes	% Solvers
3NT	100	6	11
4C	80	4	36
Pass	70	3	33
4D	60	0	6
DBL	50	0	14

Here’s a real bidding dilemma, with maybe a tempo problem as well. I hope they leave the stop card out there a long time. After a two-week huddle, some panelists decided to go quietly:

MYERS: “Pass. I’ve been preempted, so see what partner has to offer.”

SPEAR:  “Pass. I’d make the same bid with a 3^rd spade. Without the 3^rd spade, I expect a unanimous vote.”

Not even close to unanimous. Partner is probably short in hearts, and if he reopens with a double, what then? The majority of the panel didn’t like their alternatives after that auction, so they decided to bid something now.

BURGENER:  “4C. I’m not very happy, and that explains why white vs. red preempts were invented.”

MILLER:  “4C. I’m sure glad this isn’t matchpoints, since I’ve zoomed by the notrump game. I expect one of the minor suits to be there.”

WARD: “4C. Impossible, yet at matchpoints,  3NT would be easy.”

4C might hit paydirt if partner is real short in hearts. Even a negative double could work, but if partner jumps to 4S, you’ll have to guess which minor to save yourself in. Still, I’m not sure why 3NT is so difficult at IMPs, where the premium for bidding a red game is even greater than at matchpoints. Six panelists had no trouble bidding the most likely game:

FEILER:  “3NT. Chances are good that we have a heart stopper and, if not, there’s also the distinct possibility of  suit blockage. This is imps and 3NT looks like the most likely game.”

WALKER:  “3NT. At this vulnerability, East won’t have a solid suit. The last time I did this, opening leader had stiff king and preempter had AQxxxxx and no entries, and that’s a likely layout here. Vul at IMPs, you just can’t pass this hand; your choices are all bad if partner reopens with a double."

Lots of good things can happen if you bid 3NT. Partner could have stopper help — Qx,  or stiff  queen. Even if he doesn’t, there’s an excellent chance hearts will block and you can isolate RHO’s hand (assuming he doesn’t run 7 tricks before you get in!). Once you get the lead, clubs or diamonds may run for nine tricks, or partner’s spades may  be good enough to keep RHO out.

6. IMPs,none vulnerable

What is your call as South holding:  S-985   H-87542   D-62   C-973 ?
 

Action	Score	Votes	% Solvers
3H	100	9	75
Pass	70	4	25

Are you running from fright or do you really think partner, who has made a narrowly descriptive bid already, is trying to define it some more?  I like Solver Virginia Cates response:

CATES: “PASS !   All natural 2NT doubles are penalty!”

No doubt in her mind! Nor in mine. If we can’t double them when they step in it, what game are we playing?

SPEAR:  “Diamond 6. Oh wait, first I have to pass. Sure, I can visualize hands where 3H is the winning action, but I don’t see how pard can intend his double as takeout or optional.”

MILLER:  “Pass. I know it’s IMPs, but partner can’t double without another reason than his flat 20, and you do have three clubs. I hope partner has something like KQJ  Ax  AKxx  QJxx. Optimistic, but that looks like down 3 to me.”

Right. I could be 4333 and a zero count with no place to go, and partner has said he’s ready for that. The panel majority, though, was convinced he was ready for something else:

POPKIN:  “3H. This is a good question. If you play ‘system on’ over interference over our notrumps, is it still on with a delayed reopening double?  Oh my!  I smell disaster. I play that double as takeout; I wish I knew how I play 3H – transfer or not?”

MYERS: “3H. At least I have a ruffing value to offer.”

That’s called a tap when you’re playing the hand. If you  defend, it’s a ruff.

BURGENER: “3H. Partner’s bid was for takeout. Does he see 6 tricks on defense in front of the bidder?  No one-trick doubles at imps, please.”

WALKER:  “3H. Since a double under the bidder would be takeout if partner had opened 1NT, I think this one is, too — doubleton club (maybe a singleton) and a maximum. Partner is willing to defend, but he’s showing a good dummy for any other suit. If he has a doubleton, the LAW says they’re too high and we probably have +100 coming. That ‘probably” is too big a risk at IMPs, however.”

It’s amazing how many people commented that the Law argued against bidding, but that they just couldn’t stand to pass. That “close” decision just cost them a 1000-point swing, as the real hand was:

FEILER:  “Pass. Can this be a takeout double? No, because partner would be risking a lethal misunderstanding by doubling with short clubs. Can partner have 6 defensive tricks?  Easily. His hand was S-Axx H-KJ  D-AKxx  C-AJ10x  In real life, the player with the South hand bid 3H and was doubled by West, who held AQ109x of hearts and a club void. This turned +500 into –500.”

And that’s a lot of IMPs. If partner truly is short in clubs with a max, then here comes my diamond lead. Wouldn’t he have something like AK, AK, AK on the side if he’s broke in clubs?  Go for the gusto;  when they jump into your 2NT auctions, you should be thinking penalty first. My old rubber-bridge partner never gets these hands wrong:

PALOOKA:  “Pass. Are you kidding?  Partner’s on his own.”

Thanks to all who sent in answers for this set. Congratulations to Bill Rotter of Granite City IL, who scored an impressive 580 and is invited to join the August panel. And thanks to this issue’s guest panelist, District 8 President John Burgener, who tied for the second-highest score.

I hope you’ll all try the new problems for August. You can find notes on our bidding system, Bridge World Standard, at
www.bridgeworld.com/bws/bwsmainpage.html .  Send your answers as soon as possible (by June 24, please) to:

How the Panel Voted   (Panel/Staff Average:  518)

Solvers Honor Roll   (Solvers’ Average:  454)