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DEC 2003 ALBERTA BIDDING CLUB
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Problem
#: 1; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
Both; Dealer: North
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North
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East
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South
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West
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Pass
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1NT
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Pass
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2 *
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2 
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3 
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?
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* Transfer
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This is hand from the
Bermuda Bowl involving Hammon & Wolff.
Wolff bid 3S and Hammon bid 4 and got doubled for +790 . 3Hx went for
200 at the other table . The moderator bids 4S since the opponents have
been kind enough to map out a void in hearts in partners hand. Not too many
vul 2 spade bids with a void in hearts will be in trouble when I have the
spade King , diamond Ace and club King . Panel ?
Stan Cabay
4S It seems like
partner is void in hearts. We can probably set 3H, but not enough to
compensate for our spade game (all partner needs is something like QJxxxxx,-,Qxx, QJx). A 4H cuebid may be
right since slam is on if partner holds AQxxxxx,-,Qxx,QJx, say, but it's
impossible to diagnose.
Doran Flock
4S Figures to make,
ptnr will like my hand.
Vince Nowlan
P Partner should have
QJ-7th and out. Only if playing with Osama
. Bob Hammon actually held QJxxxx - Kxx QJxx . Not a one bid and he did not
like opening 2S vul with weak spades & an outside void & a 2nd suit. +990 makes with a 3-2
spade break.
Pitbull Pat
Dbl Seems like West is
broke and partner has got us off to a good lead. Don't think we can make more than a partial.
Kiz Fung
Dbl Partner didn't bid
3 spades which suggest values and not just lots of spades. We are vul.
Tom Gandolfo
3S
Vince Lambert
Dbl East has competed with
a heart fit, while partner has about 10 HCP with a five card spade suit.
Therefore West is broke and I can expect to get 2 Hearts, a Diamond, and a
Club, with partner contributing a few more tricks. Since game our way is
uncertain at best, I am taking a sure 200, 500 or on a good day 800
Maurice&Susan
Dbl Partner may pull
but hopefully not....
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Problem
#: 2; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
NS; Dealer: East
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North
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East
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South
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West
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Pass
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1
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4
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4
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pass
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?
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Partner is under pressure in these auctions . Bidding
4S over 4H can be done on almost anything including an advance sacrifice
and I want to encourage partner to continue doing so . The best way to do
so is to pass and give partner lots of leeway. I realize there are many
hands that 6D could make but there are many hands where 4S is the last
makeable spot. Over to the panel …
Kiz Fung
P Call me a woos but
partner may be under pressure
Stan Cabay
P Partner may have
stretched to bid 4S. Bidding again may convert a likely plus into a minus.
"Well done, opponents".
Vince Nowlan
5D Pass is close; but
maybe partner has a hand which can bid 6D.
Pitbull Pat
5H I like my hand!
Tom Gandolfo
6D
Doran Flock
5H I don't know what
to bid. might make 4 might make 7. 4 is no longer a
possibility J
Vince Lambert
5H Partner was under
pressure for his bid, so I will give him a chance to get out. This bid
shows a heart control, and invites a spade slam. Original
pass gives him a chance to get out J
Maurice & Susan
5H A good hand for
spades.
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Problem
#: 3; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
EW; Dealer: North
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North
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East
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South
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West
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Pass
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3
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Dbl
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3NT
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4
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pass
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pass
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4NT
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pass
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5
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?
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Excellent hand . E/W are
having fun but they gave partner an opportunity to describe his hand
. He did not double 4NT ! He
should double with some semblance of defense so his 4H bid was based on distribution
rather then defensive values. This makes a 5H bid clear cut in my mind as
it might make and partners pass is a signal that he prefers a bid
rather then a double. Partner did bid game freely suggesting distributional
values but forcing passes are not on with this vulnerability. Lets
hear from the panel ..
Doran Flock
5H Am I saving or
bidding to make? either way I'm taking out insurance. Good point - it is IMPS ..
Tom Gandolfo
5H
Pitbull Pat
Dbl West was willing
to play 4NT so they must have at least Qxx of hearts..... we cannot play at the five level....
hopefully we have at least three tricks cashing....AK spades and ruff, or
AKA. Only four IMPS if they make
it and they will not be redoubling methinks....
Kiz Fung
Dbl If 5 Hearts makes,
then 5 Clubs is down. Looks like
lefty has the Qxx of hearts, in which case we are a long ways from 5
hearts.
Vince Nowlan
P Feel fixed, but have
some chance to beat this.
Vince Lambert
Dbl We settled in game
once and the five level belongs to the opponents. Partners pass should be forcing, so he has one or two clubs
at most, and I expect that west is fooling around. We may not get any heart tricks but I
expect two spades and one or two diamonds in that case.
Stan Cabay
P Since we're
favorable, partner's game bid does not create a force. East's pull to 5C
suggests a void in hearts, so 5C could make. But, maybe not (partner may
have a trick with as little as Jx in diamonds). So, I won't sacrifice in 5H
which could go for 500 and usurp partner's good 4H call. And, teammates
seldom appreciate huge phantom saves. My close second choice is
"double" since we might get an unexpected spade ruff, or a heart
or diamond trick, in addition to two spade tricks.
Maurice & Susan
P Forcing pass...gives
partner a chance to cue bid 5D. Slam still a possibility.
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Problem
#: 4; Scoring: Matchpoints;
Vul: Both; Dealer: West
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North
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East
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South
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West
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3
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3
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pass
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?
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Take away your diamond
King and you have 13 points for partner. Best to protect your diamond King
and bid 3NT . An interesting bid by you would be a “quantitative 4NT” . All
partnerships should be forced to Q bid to confirm a fit before
launching into Blackwood. A direct 4NT should be an Ace above a 3NT
bid & partner can make a move on that basis. Panel ?
Pitbull Pat
6NT Three spades by
partner shows a good hand and there must be some play for slam. However have to protect the king of
diamonds from the opening lead.
Matchpoints rewards NT.
Kiz Fung
4S Don't like my king
of diamonds Team mates at the opposite
end of the spectrum.
Stan Cabay
4NT an immediate 4N is quantitative;
4D followed by 4N is Blackwood. 4N will usually be safe even opposite a
light overcall (e.g., KQJxx,Kx,xxx,Axx)and 6N will usually make opposite a
sound one (e.g., KQJxxx,KJx,xx,Ax). Partner responds Blackwood if accepting
the invitation.
Vince Nowlan
4NT Heading for 6Nt if
off one key card. Hope West cashes A of D to rectify the count. A direct 4NT should not be
Blackwood without partnership agreement or you are Peter Jones J
Tom Gandolfo
3NT
Vince Lambert
3NT In 4 spades we
likely lose the first two diamonds and potentially some spade tricks with a
third round of diamonds. In 3 No even if the spades don’t run, the clubs
may come home and I will likely come home with 10 or 11 tricks to beat the
spade games. If they find a club lead to the ace and a diamond back, then I
will have egg on my face and some tough explaining to do. (This is always a
silly bid when it does not work.)
Doran Flock
3NT bid 3nt when it
seems reasonable. hopefully ptnr will bid 4s if we belong there.
Maurice & Susan
4C Keep the auction
open....hand is too good to simply bid game.
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Problem
#: 5; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
EW ; Dealer: South
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North
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East
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South
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West
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1
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pass
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3
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Dbl
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?
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A very underused bid
in Bridge is the redouble . This hand is not strong enough for one in my
opinion but there is an inference by failing to redouble . All bids other then
a redouble are not forward going and should be used to help out partner in
case the opponents bid . 4C is where you live and a lead director in
case they bid hearts . Partner is now better placed to make a decision .
Panel ?
Pitbull Pat
P Don't want to take
them off the hook by bidding before partner has a chance to double their
bid.They are vulnerable after all.
Kiz Fung
4C lead directing on
the way to 4 spades in case they bid.
Vince Nowlan
4D If Pard wants to
crack 4H, I prefer a diamond lead.
Tom Gandolfo
4C
Vince Lambert
4S This auction is very
confusing, I have been south all day but now I am north. Even though south is the dealer I get to
open. Oh well, I will do the best I can under unusual and unfamiliar
conditions. I don't really expect
the opponents to find a five heart sac at this vulnerability, and if they
do a trump or spade lead by partner will be fine. However, against four
hearts we may have difficulty coming to more than four tricks or even
three, so will let the opponents out of this one. Here is
a guy whose daughter says directions never confuse him , being confused
because he is north J
Doran Flock
XX I am stretching
due to good defense & wanting ptnr to double 4 hearts if they can. Will
bid 4S if 4 hts not doubled. P.S.
looks like north dealt. So the moderator is not
perfect L
Stan Cabay
XX I assume 3S is some
poorly defined limit raise. Even if it reserved for hands with four-card
support (with 1N forcing followed by a jump raise showing 3-card support),
the bid remains terribly space consuming. I think 2N serves much better to
show a limit raise (rather than the more common Jacoby forcing raise
convention) since the 3-level now becomes available for game/slam tries.
Some partnerships use 2C or 2D artificially to show invitational hands.
Having got that off my chest, this preamble is totally irrelevant here. The
problem is to get partner involved in determining whether to play in 4S or
to defend their 4-level contract. The xx sends exactly that message; I will
then pass if partner doubles 4H, and double any other contract.
Maurice & Susan
4S Game has a shot and
makes it more difficult for them to come in.
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Problem
#: 6; Scoring: Matchpoints;
Vul: NS; Dealer: East
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North
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East
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South
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West
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1
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pass
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4
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4NT
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5
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?
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What is 4NT ? I double with 3 suits as it is a
defensive hand as well as takeout . 4NT is any two suits not just the minors
. Partner could hold hearts but it does not matter . I think a double
of 5D should tell partner you have some stuff and it should help in his
decision. A 5H bid is a bit presumptuous so let partner be captain of this
auction with a double. Views from the panel ..
Pitbull Pat
Dbl Show partner we
are alive without committing us to the six level
Kiz Fung
Dbl Just in case east
is throwing in a lead directing bid, I want partner to know that I have
values in diamonds.
Vince Nowlan
5H
Tom Gandolfo
Dbl
Vince Lambert
5H Partners bid is
takeout for three suits and the five diamond is lead directing to help west
on defence or a sacrifice. We may
lose a diamond, diamond ruff and a spade on the go, but if that is the
case, we may not be able to beat 5 spades. I think
4NT for 3 suits is old fashioned – a 3 suiter is a defensive hand described
by a double .
Stan Cabay
5NT If 4N is takeout
for 3 suits (standard treatment, I think), how is a 2-suiter announced? I
prefer a double to show a defensive hand (including a 3-suiter) and 4N to
show any 2-suiter. 5N tailors to both agreements by requesting partner to
pick a suit. If partner thinks we have a shot at a contract at the 5-level,
then with my values we should have a shot at the 6-level. Since partner now
becomes declarer, East's lead directing 5D is neutralized.
Doran Flock
Dbl once again I'm not
sure where we are going. Ptnr bid for minors at 5 level so I'm trying to
show some stuff. Both the minor kings look great for ptnr.
Maurice & Susan
5H Hope to find a good
sack? Against 6 I lead a low club.
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Problem
#: 7; Scoring: Matchpoints;
Vul: none; Dealer: South
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North
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East
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South
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West
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1
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Pass
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1
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Pass
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3
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3*
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Dbl **
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4
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* Insufficient Bid - Director !
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** Infraction condoned
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O.K. we have a wiley
partner condoning a bid . There must be a method in his madness . He is either
looking for a huge set or conserving room for Q bidding . He knows what he
is doing so I pass to get out of his way .
Some opinions from the panel ..
Pitbull Pat
4D Might as well get a
cue bid in below game level
Kiz Fung
P Waiting for a double
from partner. He let the opponents in for a reason.
Vince Nowlan
P No reason to
interfere with pard's plan. Good way of putting it ..
Maurice & Susan
4D Partner shows extra
by condoning the insufficient bid and conserving room.
Stan Cabay
P Not many
partnerships have agreements here. Partner has condoned 3H because doing
otherwise would allow the opponents to escape the hook by giving West the
opportunity to change 3H to "pass" (barring East, of course).
That is, partner wants to defend, perhaps with something like
AJxx,xxxx,x,KQTx, which is fine with me. I intend to pass partner's double
of 4C, and lead a club.
Tom Gandolfo
4D
Vince Lambert
4NT Partner has good
hearts and slam interest, or he might have condoned the bid and just bid 4
Hearts to keep east out. If we are not off two aces slam should be
easy. Blackwood will provide the
answer.
Doran Flock
P Ptnr sounds like they
know what to do. I expect 4C to be doubled.
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Problem
#: 8; Scoring: Matchpoints;
Vul: EW; Dealer: West
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North
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East
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South
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West
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1
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2
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3
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4
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pass
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pass
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5
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Dbl
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pass
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pass
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pass
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If partner has
something in clubs and the spade Ace , a trump lead will murder this hand .
He gets in with a club and another trump and the spade Ace for another
trump . With good heart spots over there 800 to 1100 is possible. O.K. what
if partner has nothing in clubs and no Ace of spades . There is a 100
honours 5 long in clubs and the Ace doubleton of spades to knock out. With
a stiff heart also and all the heart spots for them, 5Dx can make if you do not get your
spade before losing it on the clubs . I lead a spade and if partner
has a club card and the spade Ace a trump will come back and we only get it
for 500. Panel ?
Pitbull Pat
D9 Double and lead
trumps was taught to me by the moderator of this panel about 35 years ago
and has stood me in good stead since then. I am not THAT old …
Kiz Fung
D9
Stan Cabay
D9 East is likely 6-5
in the reds with spade shortage. It would be sweet to see partner overruff
dummy when declarer ruffs a heart, to lead yet another diamond.
Vince Nowlan
CA I expect to give
pard club ruff(s) if I'm still on lead at trick two.
Tom Gandolfo
S10
Vince Lambert
D9 West is short in
hearts, while east has one or two clubs so this will eliminate some ruffs.
I hope that I can win the first heart and get partner in with a spade for
another diamond.
Doran Flock
S10 Heart is out, diamond
doesn't look right, Club A might work ... I think I'll lead ptnr's suit!
Maurice & Susan
D9 Trump leads seem
correct when we have control of all suits. Hopefully partner will get in
with a spade to lead a second trump.
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