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FEB 2005 ALBERTA BIDDING CLUB
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Problem #:
1; Scoring: IMPS; Vul: None; 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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3♠
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Dbl
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Pass
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4♠
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Pass
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5♥
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Pass
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6♣
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Pass
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
P Nothing
to make me think 6nt is better and it's imps...
Duncan Smith
6D Feels like
a rookie error to bid anything other than pass, but I guess I'm a rookie at
heart. I really want to pass 6c, but am too wooosy to do so.
Ray Grace
6D When
in doubt bid. This bid has the advantage of being a suit and an ACE. Does
anyone have a specific agreement as to what a cue bid in this sequence
means?
Kiz Fung
7C Not to
be accused of being the only girl on the panel and therefore without balls.
If partner and I are on the same wavelength, partner has 7 or 8 solid clubs
and a spade void. Hopefully partner
also has the king of hearts or jack of diamonds?
Doran Flock
6D Maybe
I'm a chicken because it sure sounds like my partner has a good club suit
and 1st round control in spades ... however, if they do perhaps they will
be forced to bid 7C.
Doug & Lorna
6D Not
sure what partner is up to, but will cooperate by showing the Ace of
Diamonds.
Vince Nowlan
6D North
should have two suits for this auction.
Vince Lambert
6NT I definetely
have undescribed extras and we can probably make seven if partner has a
spade void or the ace. However he
has not promised that as yet. He
will have a good club suit but 6N gives us the option of making without
having to set up the entire club suit.
6♦ . I agree with Mr.
Nowlan. To borrow an expression from golf when there is “not much green to
work with” say at the 4 level or higher , Q bids by the doubler or
his partner should show a two suiter. Why ? because two suiters are
damn impossible to bid at high levels. If partner has a strong one
suiter , he should have to pick a level and just bid it. Having said all
that , I agree with Duncan Smith in that partner has made me “woosy” . Why
did he not just jump to 5NT if he had a strong two suiter in the minors ? I
am bidding 6♦ as insurance and forcing him to 7♣ if he does not have
diamonds. $%%#$%% L
VOTES : P (1) 6NT
(1) 7♣ (1)
6♦ (6)
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Problem #:
2; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
None; 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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2♦*
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3♣
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Pass
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
5H Asking
for diamond control. Trusting pard
to have good clubs. I have AKQJ10x of clubs
, is that not good ?
Duncan Smith
5H If
they don't cash 2 diamonds, slam is probably cold. 5h commands pard to pass
with no diamond control, bid 5nt with dK, bid 6D with A or(unlikely) void.
Ray Grace
3H
Followed by 4S looking for a D control. I notice that 2D is alerted
, I wonder what the alert is.
Kiz Fung
3D There
was a star beside 2D but no explanation so I am assuming a weak 2 diamond
opener.
Doran Flock
5H 5H
asks for second round diamond control. If partner bids 6D I will bid 6S,
trying to angle for 7nt. I can play 7C, 7H, or 7NT.
Doug & Lorna
5H
Partner will Pass with 2 fast Diamond losers, raise to 6 Hearts with
a stiff Diamond, bid 5 NT with Kx of Diamonds(which I would raise to 6 NT),
bid 7 Hearts with void or Diamond Ace.
Vince Nowlan
3H If
partner has 2nd round diamond control, 6C should be cold; if 1st round
control, possible 7. Since I can't ask for a diamond control in clubs, I'll
stall with 3 H; maybe partner has three hearts and can raise to 4H. Then 5H
will focus on diamond control.
Vince Lambert
3H I play
this as forcing, the real problem will come on the next round. A 3 diamond
cue bid here would cause confusion later in the auction when partner
expects a diamond control.
5♥ A jump to the 5 level is so silly in Bridge that it has a
meaning assigned to it. If the opponents have bid , it asks for a control
in their suit. Pass with no control , bid 6♥ with a stiff , bid 5NT with the king and bid 6 of their suit with
an Ace or void. An elegant solution to this problem as the majority of this
panel points out.
VOTES : 5♥ (5) 3♦ (1) 3♥ (3)
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Problem #:
3; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
N/S; 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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2♦
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Pass
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2NT
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Pass
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
3D This is
for forcing unless you have a special understanding that it isn't. If it
isn't I would just bid 3nt.
Duncan Smith
3NT Seems
somewhat obvious. Ergo, I miss the point of this problem. In match points , partner might prefer bidding 2NT as a
practical bid with a club stopper instead of raising diamonds. K109x xx Kxxx AJ10
ergo I can construct a zillion other 2NT hands where 6♦ is cold ..
Ray Grace
3D Forcing
(I play all bids forcing over 2NT) and 3S if available.
Kiz Fung
3D Should
be forcing and very constructive. If partner gives a heart preference, I'll
bid 3 spades to suggest the doubleton honour.
Doran Flock
3D 3D is
easy for me as I play if you have a poor hand you must pass 2nt. I can play
4H, 5 or 6 D or 3nt.
Doug & Lorna
3NT Rebidding
the diamond suit would show a weaker 5/5 hand.
Vince Nowlan
3S
Choice of games, shows stiff club, so if partner bids 3NT, should be
fine.
Vince Lambert
3D As
Peter Jones says everything is forcing over 2N except when it isn't. With a weak 5-5 I would just pass and
hope for the best.
3♦ This is a match point vrs IMPS problem. In IMPS , all bids
after an invitational 2NT should be forcing as you do not try to improve
partials. In Matchpoints , a partial is as important as 7NT so improving
the partial is a must. I agree with the Deschners that 3♦ shows a weak 5-5 in
matchpoints or else you bid 3NT. I can bid 3♦ forcing in either game because I have a 3♣ relay bid
available with my partners. The 3♣ bid relays to 3♦ and I put the green card
on the table. Ergo ( I like that word thanx Duncan ! ) 3♦ directly is very strong
and if partner is interested we can attempt a slam.
VOTES: 3NT (2) 3♦ (6)
3♠ (1)
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Problem #:
4; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
Both; 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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2♣
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Pass
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2♥
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Pass
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4♣
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Pass
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5♣
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Pass
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5♦
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Pass
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
6C He's looking
for an ace and i don't have one. not bidding 6nt because he could have a
heart void.
Duncan Smith
5NT If this
doesn't show this spade holding(as opposed to gsf), I need a new partner.
Ray Grace
5NT No
Aces, for play if partner only has 2 Aces.
Kiz Fung
5NT I did
not cue bid over 4 clubs (a bid that demanded a cue from me) so I have
already shown this piece of garbage.
I'll now tell partner I have all the kings.
Doran Flock
5NT 5nt
denies a major suit ace but outside of that is forward going; club Q you
know. In this auction I am telling, not asking.
Doug & Lorna
6C
Wouldn't 3 Clubs be forcing? Why not use 4 Clubs as Key Card? Sounds
like partner is looking for a Grand. I have no Aces.
Vince Nowlan
5NT
Nothing to Q-bid, more encouraging than 6C. Club Queen is a big
card.
Vince Lambert
6C
Partner is making a grand slam try but if he had all the aces he
could have bid blackwood. If he has
a void, presumably in hearts, my hand is not especially helpful.
5NT . 5NT in Bridge
is a “depending on context” bid if there ever was one. It can mean the GSF
, pick a slam partner or a Q bid. In the context of this
particular auction , 5NT is a Q bid showing the spade king. 5 spades would
be the spade Ace so 5NT substitutes as a spade Q bid. No Duncan , you do
not need a new partner as 5NT does show this spade holding.
VOTES: 6♣ (3) 5NT
(6)
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Problem #:
5; Scoring: Matchpoints; Vul:
N/S ; 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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1♠
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3♦
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
4C Pass
could be right and then go for penalty in matchpoints but we're vul and we still
might have a spade game. or more on a good day.
Duncan Smith
4C Neg x
ridiculous. Preempts work. If we belong in 3nt, c'est la vie.
Ray Grace
Dbl 4C My
first inclination is to bid 4C. 3NT maybe the speed of the hand. 4S may be correct.
I really want to bid 3H My second inclination is to bid 3H and correct to
4S but 3H I will correct to 4S and apologise to partner if he does not get
the joke in time.I have compromised
with Double. Pass puts too much pressure on partner who had 5332 shape. We
may hit the bonus 12 count with 5341 shape that passes 3Dx. No makeable
game and 3D is getting hit by a train.
Kiz Fung
4C A cute
tool for established partnerships is that after this sequence, 4NT by
partner is to play and 4D (their suit) is key card for clubs.
Doran Flock
4C Sure I
would love to double and have ptnr bid 3nt ... but if they do, have we just
missed 7? Or more likely, partner will bid hearts or spades. While my
diamonds are unappealing, my clubs are excellent and I'm not prepared to
prejudge this hand yet, matchpoints or no.
Doug & Lorna
4C The
other person who lives in this house would "take HIS chances" and
bid 3 NT. Must be a male macho thing . See below.
Vince Nowlan
3NT I don't
want to risk partner passing 3D with a minimum and diamond value(s).
Tougher problem at IMPs.
Vince Lambert
4C With 3
diamonds I expect at most two in partners hand and am willing to move
towards a game or slam in clubs or perhaps even spades. Although 3N might be the right spot it
would be just a guess and even at matchpoints you sometimes have to give up
on it.
Dbl Marty Bergen writes that he is sick and
tired of getting pre-empted out of his rightful 3NT contracts. Accordingly he
has modified his negative doubles at the 3 level to include these kind of
hands. His partners must bid 3NT with a stopper in the opponents
pre-empt suit as the first reflex action. If no stopper , just bid
naturally and 4 of a minor by the doubler
just brings you back to square one. He calls them THRUMP
doubles . ( click on this link for his write up )
VOTES: 3NT (1)
4♣ (6) Dbl (2)
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Problem #:
6; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
None; 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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1♠
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
P Call me a
wimp but this hand looks like we could get into trouble unless i start
slow. If pard rebids his hearts I will raise. If you pass first and pard doubles four spades I have no
problem but if you bid something first and he doubles he might just expect
a trick or two from you.
Duncan Smith
2H A
mediocre solution to a very difficult problem. I don't think there is an
auction pending that I will enjoy. With your spade void
you know what RHO is bidding …
Ray Grace
2C This is a 5 loser hand opposite a 1 heart bid. I
am playing the had in C or maybe in Hearts if partner raises clubs. Without
a Club raise it is too easy to lose the C suit. This is an interesting
hand, slam is more likley to make than game. Partner rates to be 3541 or
4540.Some people may be able Double and then bid C to show this hand.
Kiz Fung
2H The next
bid on my right is probably 4 spades. If partner doubles, I will sit for
it. If partner passes, I am bidding 5 clubs
Doran Flock
2H I seriously
thought about 5C but as bid wasn't available settled for 2H with plan to
introduce clubs later (or not). Will hear from leftie if they have spades,
if partner has them 2H is high enough.
Doug & Lorna
2C Am very
happy I am now sitting east and don't have to bid with that north player.
Can now bid more naturally.
Vince Nowlan
2C Pass
is an option, but too many of the possible auctions will be at the 4-level
at my next turn.BTW why am East? thought I was sitting South! Musical chairs for
directional challenged panelists ..
Vince Lambert
2H This
hand is not nearly as good as it looks unless partner has extra
strength. I would be much more
aggressive with a fourth heart. I
expect that we will hear some number of spades from west next. I can back in with clubs later and
hopefully get the message across.
3♣ Wow an entire panel of splinter
fanatics ! The Bridge World did a survey of experts for Bridge World
Standard 2001 and the majority said they preferred a jump in competition to
show a weak jump shift . I personally do not like splinters in
competition as it prevents me from bidding my long suits or it overstates
my 2/1 values. If a 2/1 shows 6 HCP , what do you do with a real 2/1
? I also feel that splintering
gives away too much info to the opponents. Anyway 3♣ describes my
hand in one fell swoop and over the expected 4♠ bid by the opponents and
a pass by partner , I will force the issue with a 4NT bid. This tells
partner I have heart tolerance and I really want to bid again. Partner ,
knowing my hand , might solve the problem for me though and place the
contract in 6♣ J.
VOTES: 2♣ (3) P (1) 2♥ (4) 3♣ (1)
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Problem #:
7; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
N/S; 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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1♥
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3♣
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?
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Tom Gandolfo
4H It's not
a pre-emp. I think I have enough to make 4h. Four clubs should show a stiff
so not bidding that.
Duncan Smith
4C Pard. We
have at least a heart game. Best I can do. Close between this ? overbid,
& 3 hearts. That’s the problem with this hand. One bid is an overbid the
other an underbid.
Ray Grace
3S This is forcing and I pass 3NT. Bid H over 4C or
D and pass 4S.
Kiz Fung
3S My
second choice is 4 hearts. I want to tell partner where I live in case they
decide to sacrifice in 5 clubs. Good logic ..
Doran Flock
4H Thought
about doubling, but will make slight underbid of 4 hts. Don't want partner
raising spades with Kx or Jx.
Doug & Lorna
4C Shows
game values with heart support.
Vince Nowlan
4C 3S
might endplay partner into raising with a doubleton. 3H isn't enough; 4H
shows more hearts. Over 4C, partner can show interest in more than game
with a 4D (last train) bid. This should keep us from getting too high.
Vince Lambert
4C I will
show my heart support with strong game interest as opposed to a direct jump
to 4 hearts that I would choose if slightly weaker. If partner moves I will
be happy to cooperate.
4♥ A good rule in Bridge is that you do not pre-empt over a
pre-empt . As Tom & Doran point out ,
a 4♥ bid is to make . It is also an “anticipatory” bid as LHO
might bid 5♣ and my bid turns on forcing passes for partner. I think
4♣ or 3♠ overstates my values in an auction that could take off. 3♥ is a gross underbid so 4♥ seems to be about right.
VOTES : 4♥ (3) 4♣ (4)
3♠ (2)
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Problem #:
8; Scoring: Matchpoints; Vul:
Both; 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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2♥
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3♣
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Pass
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3♠
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Pass
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3NT
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Pass
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Pass
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Pass
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?
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What
is your opening lead ?
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Tom Gandolfo
HA Pard must
have something over there besides the heart Q. We are vul..
Duncan Smith
S8 This is
what I would lead if it were really my lead. Suspect that partner will lead
a heart. Diamond would be 2nd choice if it were actually my lead.
Ray Grace
HA It is
not my lead but if I was to lead out of turn (legally) assuming that
declarer faced his hand I would try the HA and then the HJ. I fixed the confusion eventually …
Kiz Fung
HJ Partner
is vul so rates to have an entry outside of the heart suit. Hopefully, I am
not giving declarer the 9th trick.
Doran Flock
S8 Really
tough problem. Is a heart lead their 9th trick? do we need to knock out
heart stopper? Will I block heart suit if I lead Ace, or small? Declarer
could easily have 9 tricks in minors so I'll try spade and hope that ptnr
gets in and declarer can't read heart suit if they have K3d.(would partner
bid 2H vul with Q high no J, heart suit? I'm gambling a bit that West has
Q3d. I won't be happy if they have Qx!)
Doug & Lorna
HA Since West bid 3NT, partner must not have both K
and Q of hearts, but should have an entry somewhere else. If I lead a
different suit, pard may not know to switch to hearts when s/he's in.
Vince Nowlan
HA We're
not beating 3NT if partner doesn't have an outside entry. I lead the A
rather than the J because I don't expect to be on lead again. Jack lead
could give partner a problem when if he does get in, since he may play me
for some other card. BTW now I'm North! can I shift seats this easily at
other forms of Bridge?
Vince Lambert
HA If West
has a heart stopper then partner has an entry. The opponents may have stretched to game and if so we must
beat it. I expect the club suit to
come in quickly for 4 or five tricks so hopefully partner has a pointed
suit entry once the hearts are set up.
HA Can not say it any better than the
directionally challenged panelist Vince Nowlan.
VOTES : HJ (1) S8 (2)
HA (6)
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