[luis]

Ok session II, called "The computer goes bananas", story plus quiz hope you like it.

Before the session we what was the difference between a 1s-1n forcing and the relay they said there wasn't so our 1s-1n relay is back. Then we asked if 1h-1s relay was allowed and they said it wasn't so I asked if it was against the regulations to change the meanings of 1s and 1nt over 1h as many pairs do, they say "oooops... you are right" so our full system is back after being "banned" for one round due to the use of relays with positive hands...
Dear TD: "Stop trying to hit me and hit me" (Matrix)

The computer was on steroids for this session, almost all the hands in the 3 10-board matches featured game swings, double games, voids and horrible breaks. We managed to play 3nt avoiding a 4h game in the 5-3 fit with hearts 5-0, good. Then pd decided to let them play 1s when the field was in 3s or 4s doubled for a number, bad. We bid 3nt and made it on a Squeeze plus a lucky club position plus a defensive error at trick one, very good. Pd missplaced a heart as a diamond so we didn't play 6h cold, very bad. We managed to avoid a hopeless 4s game but the opps doubled the 3s partscore and scored 300 on the typical 5-0 trump break, nobody doubled 4s so that was really bad.

In hand #1 I held KJTxxx, -, xx, KJxxx. Pd opened a weak 2h, RHO doubled and I bid 2s, now LHO bid 3d and pd insisted with 3h (!), RHO asked some questions and bid 3s (!) I passed and LHO rescued to 4d undoubled down 2. Field results varied from -1100 to +1400 :-) so 100 wasn't bad but we missed a chance (or they?) to score a swing.
Computerrrrrrrrrrr!

Problem 1. All Vul
KQJxx,T,KQ,AJ987
You open a strong club and it goes:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c x p 1h
1s 4h p p
?
1) What do you bid?

Problem 2. Not vul vrs Vul
x, AT9xx, xxxx, QTx
You Opp Pd Opp
1s 2h 2s
4h 4s p p
?
2) What do you bid?

Problem 3.
You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

Problem 4.
Your hand: QJ9, Ax, xx, AJxxx
You Opp Pd Opp
1d* 1h p p
2c 2h p 3d
p 4h p p
p
4a) Why does this happen to me? (1d was precision style)
Pd leads a low club and dummy tables:
Txxx, x, AQJTxxx, x
4b) You win the cA and now what is your plan on defense? Why?

Pufff it was a very hard session, we are now 11th with 12 pairs qualifying and the last session is to be played next Wed, our chances are slim, maybe you can do better in this quiz....

Thanks for participating.

[flytoox]

Quote

Problem 1. All Vul
KQJxx,T,KQ,AJ987
You open a strong club and it goes:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c x p 1h
1s 4h p p
?
1) What do you bid?

clear pass

Problem 2. Not vul vrs Vul
x, AT9xx, xxxx, QTx
You Opp Pd Opp
1s 2h 2s
4h 4s p p
?
2) What do you bid?

again, pass. Pd shows interest in def. If you want to bid 5h, do it in the first round.


Problem 3.
You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

pass, dont think there is much u can do if pd is in trouble. He didnt dbl 4h, so he has no s, he didnt bid 4N either, so he should has long c suit.

Problem 4.
Your hand: QJ9, Ax, xx, AJxxx
You Opp Pd Opp
1d* 1h p p
2c 2h p 3d
p 4h p p
p
4a) Why does this happen to me? (1d was precision style)
Pd leads a low club and dummy tables:
Txxx, x, AQJTxxx, x
4b) You win the cA and now what is your plan on defense? Why?

dont know. either hx or dx could be correct. i will lead a hx.

Pufff it was a very hard session, we are now 11th with 12 pairs qualifying and the last session is to be played next Wed, our chances are slim, maybe you can do better in this quiz....

Thanks for participating.

[inquiry]

Problem 1. All Vul
KQJxx,T,KQ,AJ987
You open a strong club and it goes:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c x p 1h
1s 4h p p
?
1) What do you bid?

Two questions. What would DBL of 4H by partner have show? Takeout? Some cards (say 6-8 pts)? And do you play dbl by you penalty or takeout or "cards" (after all you already showed cards). What I would like to do is DBL for takeout. Partner should take mild preference back to spades if possible, but with both minors... (ie not long either), he bids 4NT for me to pick. With one long minor and no spade fit, he bids it.

So, my choice is PASS if DBL is penalty, or DBL if it is takeoutish.


Problem 2. Not vul vrs Vul
x, AT9xx, xxxx, QTx
You Opp Pd Opp
1s 2h 2s
4h 4s p p
?
2) What do you bid?

The knee jerk response is to bid 5H given the vul, but you introduce a forcing pass into the auction if you do so, perhaps pushing them to slam. And with your hand, it is still possible you can go for quite a number in 5H's. What does the LAW say? Partner rates to have 5/6 hearts and they probably have an 9 card fit. So the total trumps are likely to be somewhere around 19. If they can make 4S, you are two in five hearts. If they can make 5H you are down three. -650 vs -500 or -620 versus -300 makes bidding look like a clear winner.

Still, I told my story with my 4H bid... partner knows this is weak with bunchs of hearts (no fit jump, no cue-bid, no 2NT limit raise or better). So, I have told my story, so I pass. My fifth heart is not all that big of a surprise, and I really have told my story.


Problem 3.
You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

I pass. Like on problem 1, I assume a double by the 1C opener would have been takeout. But even if not, partner could have bid 4NT with a two suiter. I will not consider an SOS redbl....I expect Opp is doublin on short hearts and a few clubs. It probably will not be enough...


Problem 4.
Your hand: QJ9, Ax, xx, AJxxx
You Opp Pd Opp
1d* 1h p p
2c 2h p 3d
p 4h p p
p
4a) Why does this happen to me? (1d was precision style) Pd leads a low club and dummy tables: Txxx, x, AQJTxxx, x
4b) You win the cA and now what is your plan on defense? Why?

4a because you balance back in with such junk and help them determine how good they fit...

4b low heart, because it is cute... maintains trump control

[Codo]

Maybe next time you should put a 20 $ note in your cc while asking the TD if it is legal..

1. KQJxx,T,KQ,AJ987
You open a strong club and it goes:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c x p 1h
1s 4h p p
?
1) What do you bid?

Any ideas, what opps bidding showed?
I hope, that pd raised with any excuse to do so.
I hope, that pd had bid diamonds with a long one suiter, so I hope for a club fit and bid 5 Club. And I must confess, that I am more worried about 4 H making then anything else.

2. x, AT9xx, xxxx, QTx
You Opp Pd Opp
1s 2h 2s
4h 4s p p
?
2) What do you bid?

Surely I want to bid 5 heart. I had tried a lead directing 5 m, but I have no minor to show, so I think 5 Heart is clear cut.

3. You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

pass, not enough for XX.

4. Your hand: QJ9, Ax, xx, AJxxx
You Opp Pd Opp
1d* 1h p p
2c 2h p 3d
p 4h p p
p
4a) Why does this happen to me? (1d was precision style)

Maybe because of your system :-)) Sometimes it pays, sometimes you pay.

Pd leads a low club and dummy tables:
Txxx, x, AQJTxxx, x
4b) You win the cA and now what is your plan on defense? Why?

1. Q of spade to cash two easy spade tricks if pd has the ace.

2. Low Heart to kill dummy ruffs but remain in trump control

3. Low diamond to kill dummys suit if declarer has single King

Low heart seems to be best. I can ruff the 3. Diamond and still return to spades or clubs if neccesary. Of course this can fail, but feels like the safest line...

Kind Regards

Roland

[hrothgar]

1. It would be VERY useful to know what type of hands that partner's Pass over the double
denies. For example, over 1C - (X) I play that

1H+ = Game forcing positive
1D = 6-9 balanced
XX = 6-9 unbalanced
P = I'm broke

Either 5C or Pass could be correct.
I don't like to scramble for an eight card fit at the 5 level, so I pass.

2. Didn't I already decide to pass 4S this last round?
I know that we have a 10+ card Heart fit.
I strongly suspect that the opponents have a big Spade fit.


Bidding 4H and then rebidding 5H over 4S seems ridiculous
You giving the opponents all chances that they need to make the right decision
If you intended to sacrifice in 5H then you should have bid 5H to begin with

3. This one is interesting.
It "feels" like the doubler has a heart void. I have the strong feeling that this may be a hand where it is better for me to declare. With this said and one, I am still going to pass. Once again, I don't like the though of Scrambling for a fit at the 5 level with bad breaks all over the place. maybe my unexepcted strength will be worth something.

I am tempted by 5NT.

[the hog]

Problem 1
I am not making 4S if pd has the bust he has shown. They may make 4H, mbe not. I pass. Would have liked a bid to show a 2 suiter on the last round, but cest la vie.


Didn't I already decide to pass 4S this last round?
I know that we have a 10+ card Heart fit.
I strongly suspect that the opponents have a big Spade fit.


Bidding 4H and then rebidding 5H over 4S seems ridiculous
You giving the opponents all chances that they need to make the right decision
If you intended to sacrifice in 5H then you should have bid 5H to begin with

Totally agree with this. Nice to know Hrothgar and I are on the same wavelength.

Problem 3. Pass, not my worry. If pd has a playable 2 suiter then he has stuffed up the auction.

Problem 4. Wtp? Call the director because I only have 12 cards.
Seriously, if you have 6C as I suspect wouldn't it be nice to have an opening bid to show 6C though? I think I need to play a D here to try to kill dummy.

[lifemonster]

Quote

Problem 1. All Vul
KQJxx,T,KQ,AJ987
You open a strong club and it goes:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c x p 1h
1s 4h p p
?
1) What do you bid?

Pass. Is 2H cuebid Michaels?

Problem 2. Not vul vrs Vul
x, AT9xx, xxxx, QTx
You Opp Pd Opp
1s 2h 2s
4h 4s p p
?
2) What do you bid?

5H. The vulnerability is tempting so...

Problem 3.
You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

Pass. Why is that I am asked what I should do with rountine decision hands?

Problem 4.
Your hand: QJ9, Ax, xx, AJxxx
You Opp Pd Opp
1d* 1h p p
2c 2h p 3d
p 4h p p
p
4a) Why does this happen to me? (1d was precision style)
Pd leads a low club and dummy tables:
Txxx, x, AQJTxxx, x
4b) You win the cA and now what is your plan on defense? Why?

Q of spades. We need some quick tricks. Stopping club ruffs loses the timing and declarer may not even need any club ruffs.

[luis]

Well time for the solutions!

Problem 1. All Vul
KQJxx,T,KQ,AJ987
You open a strong club and it goes:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c x p 1h
1s 4h p p
?
1) What do you bid?

I passed because I was afraid of running out of trumps in 4s on a heart lead losing the control for a typical -800. But it turned out that they made 4h and 4s was on (pd has xxx of spades, 2 hearts and KQ of clubs). Maybe pd should have bid 4s, who knows? If you bid 4s kudos!

Problem 2. Not vul vrs Vul
x, AT9xx, xxxx, QTx
You Opp Pd Opp
1s 2h 2s
4h 4s p p
?
2) What do you bid?

I bid 5h and I think it is terrible, but I couldn't resist the invulnerable temptation to defend..... Down 2 doubled when 4s was not making.....

Problem 3.
You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

I rescued to 5d making that! 5c was going down 1. Pd hand: KJT,-,AQxx,AQJxxx

Problem 4.
Your hand: QJ9, Ax, xx, AJxxx
You Opp Pd Opp
1d* 1h p p
2c 2h p 3d
p 4h p p
p

Txxx, x, AQJTxxx, x
4b) You win the cA and now what is your plan on defense? Why?

I played a spade and declarer took the Ace, ruffed the cK in dummy and discarded a spade on the dA, making 4.....
I really don't know about this hand, imagine you return a trump, declarer takes that and plays a trump again claiming on the diamonds, how do you feel? Knowing that the diamond finsesse was on or declarer has the dK I thought it was mandatory to attack spades.... Oh well.....

Today's is the last session of the qualifying phase, we are 11th with 12 pairs to qualify (!). I've been told the TD and other villains are planning a move to ban our system even when it is legal under the current regulations.. I wonder what they are up to....

[Free]

Discrimination I guess...

[hrothgar]

Problem 3.
You have: Q9xx, 9xxx, KTxx, x
The auction:
You Opp Pd Opp
1c* p
1d* 4h 5c Dbl
?
1c was strong and 1d negative.
3) What do you do?

I rescued to 5d making that! 5c was going down 1. Pd hand: KJT,-,AQxx,AQJxxx

5C seems far too unilateral with partner's hand.
I prefer either double or 4NT.

[inquiry]

Hi Luis,

Problem #1 and #3 suggest to me that you might want to revisit your auctions after these high level interferences. Let me ask you something. Is DBL by the 1C opener penalty the way you play? It looks like it must be.

On problem 1, you were torn between bidding 4S and run into an ackward force, or pass. But maybe the hand even belongs in 5C. On hand 3, would you consider "rescue" your partner if the next hand had not DBLed? Probably not (I still think rescue is wrong, but that is because your partner has the wrong hand for a 5CLUB bid).

As I said on #1, I would have DBLed 4H as long as the double is not for penalty, and it should not be IMHO. Partner with CLUB KQ and three spades, gladly bids 4S.

On hand #3, with your partner's hand, I don't blindly bid 5C, I DBL again. Who knows, you may have a heart stack, but that is not the issue. The issue is it gives you a chance pick the correct strain. If you bid 4S, with his hand, I would now bid 5C. This shows a great club suit and shorter Diamond suit. With equal you he would bid 4NT over 4H. With longer Diamonds, he would bid 4NT over 4S.

I have found that STAYING flexible, through the use of takeout doubles (by both partners) is the best way to deal with the type of barrage bidding you face opening strong 1C. If you wait for the penalty double hands to double, they will be stealing you blind and forcing YOU to guess on the great majority of the hands. And if dbl is takeout, your partner (either strong or weak hand) can alway pass the takeout double when he wants to penalize the opponents. At least give it some thought. This strategy has worked very well for me.

Ben

[the hog]

As I stated in my original post, I agree with Ben and Richard on problem 3. 5D is a total shot in the dark that deserves to go for a zip code. Why on earth did your partner not X or bid 4NT. To pull 5C X to 5D on a 4 card suit headed by the K is unbelievable.
Incidentally I think you were playing weak opponents in that round. Why on earth would they X 5C when they have you where they want you?