[pclayton]

All MPs

1.

Scoring: MP

---

Pass - Pass - Pass - 1♥;
Pass - 2♥ - Double - Pass;
2N - AP

Pard leads the ♥6, T, K, 7

Now what?


2. ♠QJT9 ♥AK732 ♦75 ♣74

1♥ - Double - 2N - Pass;
4♦ - Pass - ?


3. ♠KJ84 ♥96 ♦K63 ♣QJ42 (Opps vul)

1♦ - pass - pass - ?


4. ♠J6 ♥A95 ♦QJ ♣A87632

1♠ - pass - ?

(2♣ is GF; 3♣ is invitational.

[gwnn]

1. I'll think about this a little later on.
2. 4♥, partner doesn't have resplendent trumps but he knows that I have *something*.
3. looks like a textbook pass to me, would need another queen or so to bid 1nt with this shape. 1♠ is not bad bad either I suppose but I just don't like it.
4. 2♣, I've been down in game before.

[TimG]

1. Isn't this one of those positions where we're supposed to play the ♥A at trick one to keep declarer in the dark about the honor locations? Maybe the Ten in dummy (and the spots we see) makes this useless. Could partner have led the six from 9864? If so, couldn't declarer, with Q75, have the option of trying to block the suit by ducking if he guesses we have K96/AJ8432. What about 986? Or, has the six marked partner with 654 and declarer with Q987? Anyway, I've probably won the first trick with the Ace and realized too late that I've only managed to confuse partner. Wanting declarer to have to work for his heart trick and not wanting to break clubs or diamonds, I switch to a spade.

2. 4♥. If we have a slam, partner needs controls in every side suit and with that he may be able to infer we have good hearts -- we have to have something.

3. Pass. Seems just a tad light for 1NT to me.

4. I'm tempted to bid 1N..2N invitational, but that's probably something of a position and I'd end up GFing with 2♣.

[pclayton]

TimG, on Nov 16 2008, 08:01 PM, said:

1. Isn't this one of those positions where we're supposed to play the ♥A at trick one to keep declarer in the dark about the honor locations? Maybe the Ten in dummy (and the spots we see) makes this useless. Could partner have led the six from 9864?

I would expect the lead of the 4 from 9864.

Quote

If so, couldn't declarer, with Q75, have the option of trying to block the suit by ducking if he guesses we have K96/AJ8432.  What about 986?

I would expect the 9 from 986.

[maggieb]

1) spade
2) 4♥, slam rates to be on a losing finesse if partner can't bid again.
3) 1NT of course.
4) 2♣ of course.

[andrei]

1) small ♣
2) 4♥
3) 1♠
4) 3♣

[mikeh]

1. spade 7. Passive seems best at mps

2. 4♥: whatever 4♦ is, and I assume it is a good suit, I think I need at least one second round control outside of trumps in order for me to move.. important to do this in tempo, lest partner feel constrained by our hestitation (or the opps feel aggrieved)

3. 1N: pass is probably the correct book call... but the vulnerability is right.. down 1 is probably a good board. Would pass if red and would pass at imps... if LHO doubles 1N, I am going to wish I had passed

4. 2♣. An overbid, justified by the spade J. The alternative, 3♣, should deliver a better suit and less outside. Very close, and I may be letting my imp bias overly influence me.

[awm]

1. ♣4; I am not convinced that a spade is really that passive, as it could easily help declarer pick up the spade position.

2. 4♥; the trumps are nice but ♠QJT9 is waste paper on this auction.

3. 1♠; I like four-card major overcalls at NV.

4. 1NT; I have seen the garbage people open these days and this hand is not a GF. Bidding 3♣ should deliver a better suit than this, and might miss a 6-2 spade fit. I plan to rebid 2NT over two of a red suit or raise a 2♠ rebid.

[jdonn]

My only strong opinions.

3. PASS
4. ANYTHING BUT 3♣. And I strongly prefer 1NT to 2♣, it's really an empty looking hand.

[han]

1 is tough, probably a club.

2 I'd bid 4H.

3 I'd pass.

4 I'd bid 1NT, obviously.

[pclayton]

Thanks.

1. The winning return was a club (pard had 654 of hearts so good job staying off that suit, but declarer was AQx Q987, J87xx, Q). I led a spade back; declarer won in hand and advanced the ♦J; pard covered from K9x (ruh-roh), but declarer ducked (!?).

2. 5♥ is dangerously high (although thats what I bid). 4♥ looks more prudent. Pard had Ax QJxxx x AQJxx (I was expecting a diamond suit; he was splintering along the way to 4♥.

3. I passed. Dummy had ♥QTxxxx and an outside Q (Declarer Axx). If you balance, you defend a heart partial I think.

4. I bid the vile 3♣. It probably doesn't matter what you do - Dayou had a aceless 5=0=4=4 but KQJx of clubs and we got to 5♣. I'm not convinced about 1N - what are my various rebids - am I now bidding 3♣? 2♣ I can buy. I didn't like 3♣ but its a good depiction of my strength although my suit sucks.

[655321]

Alright, now that the answers are posted it is time to answer ?!?

1) I would play a club, believing that declarer is 3433 with Q987 hearts. Hoping for Q9 with partner, but no strong feelings about this.

2) 4♥

3) Pass

4) 2♣, really dislike 3♣.