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APR 2006 ALBERTA BIDDING CLUB
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Problem #:
1; Scoring: IMPS: Vul: Both; Dealer:
North
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♠KQ8
 A
 A10973
♣AQ84
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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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Pass
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3♠
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Pass
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?
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Doran Flock
4S Too good
to pass, not good enough to cue bid, diamonds too poor to bid, so hope 4S
makes.
BJ Trelford
4H Showing
a willingness to play any game. I will pass any minor or 4 spades. See Bryan’s answer re the
4♥ bid
Kiz Fung
4S
Preempts are meant to put on pressure and I am under pressure. I
know that partner may have a three card suit, and I'll probably pull if
doubled.
Duncan Smith
4H 4
hearts. Since I won't pass ,I'll make a bid that has a chance at arriving
somewhere playable (sp?). This is a terrible hand to bid. I have no idea
what to do , so Bob , although 4h may have the support of others , I think
it stinks. Please hide my answer. See Bryan’s answer re the
4♥ bid
Bryan Maksymetz
4S 4H
should guarantee a 4th spade. Slam prospects are not great - maybe
in D if pard has Axxx xxx Qxxxx x -
but I can't see how we get there.
Alex Fowlie
4D This is
a question of “what is the best game.”
While partner could be broke, you need to assume she has about 6 to
8 points over preempts. 4D shows
this type of hand – strong but with support for other suits as well (but
not 4 spades). Let partner make the
final decision.
Ken Penton
4H The
perils of preempts. Jack 5th could be enough for game so I must let partner
in on my holding
4♦ The 4 level should have special status.
Pre-emption to the 4 level is common so understandings are needed. At the 4
level you have no room, so a Q bid
should always signal 4 trump & a slam try in partners suit. I agree
with Mr. Fowlie in that a new suit should imply uncertainty where to
play a game. We are obviously strong for bidding again & showing a single
suited diamond hand at the 4 level makes little sense as we are passed 3NT.
Better to signal a grope for the best game when past the 3NT level.
VOTES : 4♠ (3) 4♥ (3) 4♦ (2)
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Problem #:
2; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
N/S; 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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Pass
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4♥
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?
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Doran Flock
5D Tempting
to bid 4S ... maybe I will get chance to bid 5S against 5H sacrifice ?? In the
meantime will bid my good suit. Also tempting to bid michaels, however ptnr
would play me for more than this collection.
BJ Trelford
DBL Will
play 4 spades or correct 5 clubs to 5 diamonds.
Kiz Fung
DBL Can't
really pass, so options are double/4NT/5D. Because I have diamonds, it is
more flexible to double because I could always pull 5C to 5D and partner
should get the message that I have 2 suits.
Duncan Smith
DBL
Compared to #1 , this is "baby". I like double for it's
flexibility , if nothing else.It allows for 4 hearts doubled , 4 spades , 5
diamonds . The only contract it may preclude (if & when partner passes)
is 4 hearts.
Bryan Maksymetz
DBL Too
much upside to pass. Hoping for a 4S bid from pard. If we bid 4S and it
goes DBL Pass Pass will we know what to do?
Alex Fowlie
5D Who
knows what is right here. Partner
didn’t act over 1H but that could be because he has 3 or 4 hearts and not
because he’s weak. My guess is that
we should try to play this hand.
I’m bidding 5D because it may make when 4S does too and it is less
likely to go for a number (it will be hard for opponents to double when my
diamonds are this good). Second
choice is double, hoping partner has 4 spades, but if he passed or bid 5C,
I wouldn’t be particularly happy.
Ken Penton
4S Risk is
high that I'm giving the opponents a big number-however he will fit one of
the suits-a double will determine if I bid again.
4♠ This was the popular answer in the
Bridge World. They treated this auction as a “pre-balance”. There were many
wise crack answers like “4♥
is a transfer to spades” . The most bizarre answer came from Zia who said
he is too strong to bid 4♠
so he bids 5♦ !! Doubling with 6-5
distro’s is risky as partner just might play you for “cards” and pass with
any excuse. Partner should pull 4♠X
on these auctions to 4NT to pick a minor with any excuse as partner is in
effect bidding your hand. I think rescue bids apply in these
auctions even undoubled rather than interpreted as a forward going gesture.
4♠ on that suit makes no
sense otherwise.
VOTES: 4♠
(2) DBL (4) 5♦ (2)
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Problem #:
3; 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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1♦
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1♠
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Pass
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2♣
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2♦
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?
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Doran Flock
Dbl Double
implies you can stand ptnr to sit for it, which i can, however ptnr highly unlikely
to pass at this vul. If ptnr bids 2H i retreat to 2S, by not bidding this
directly ptnr knows if he can't stand it to go to 3C. Maybe he can finesse
a 2N call on a little bit in diamonds ??
BJ Trelford
2S This shows
8 to a bad 10 points. This is a bit of an under bid but my suit is bad.
Will bid game if partner make another bid.
Kiz Fung
2S Tough
problem. Any one of 3 or 4 bids could be right. Pass could be right, but at
imps there could easily be a vulnerable game.
Duncan Smith
Dbl DSIP.
Let's tell partner it's our hand. Doesn't show 100 honours in diamonds.
Bryan Maksymetz
Dbl With
any luck pard will bid 2H and we can bid 2S to show this hand. We have the
values for a 3S bid, but not the suit.
Alex Fowlie
2S This is
constructive when VUL the way Steve and I play – an immediate jump to 2S
would have shown 4 to 7 HCP. I’m
happy if partner bids again, whatever he may choose. My spades are too weak for 3S.
Ken Penton
3S A
slight overbid but tell partner you have a 6th spade.Vulnerable games at
imps are not to be missed.
Dbl Best
of both worlds. As Duncan says , it advertises your HCP’s and as Bryan says
the odds are you get to bid 2♠
over 2♥ anyway.
VOTES :
DBL ( 4 ) 2♠ ( 3 ) 3♠ (1)
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Problem #:
4; Scoring: IMPS; Vul:
N/S; Dealer: West
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♠ AKJ109
♥K10876
♦5
 Q7
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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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Pass
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2♠
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Pass
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?
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Doran Flock
P My hand is
interesting, however if ptnr can't limit raise it seems awfully speculative
to invite game.
BJ Trelford
3D Short
suit game try. At imps I will stretch to get to a game. Partner only needs
xxxxx x xxxx KJx for game to be possible so my hand is worth another bid.
Kiz Fung
2NT I would
like to make one try for game, so I opt for a Kokish game try. It may also
keep out the minor suit balancer.
Duncan Smith
3H Not so
much a misbid as an overbid. Shows ♥’s ??
Bryan Maksymetz
P 3C HSGT? 2S
might be too high.
Alex Fowlie
4S I’m VUL
at IMPs and this may make opposite as little as 4 spades, a stiff heart and
some club values (or a defensive error).
If I was playing short-suit game tries (as I do with some partners),
I might try 3D instead to get partner involved.
Ken Penton
3C If
partner can help here I want to be in game.If I had a way to see if he had
one heart I'd probably just bid the game.
Pass This
is why I do not like a jump raise to be pre-emptive . I like to play the
bid as a simple raise with 4 trump. Knowing partner has 4 trump makes game
a good possibility on this hand. With 3 trump , 2♠ may be too high. I like
the Bergen notion of a simple raise shows 3 trump under any circumstance.
Prevents game tries that drive the partial too high.
VOTES:
Pass (3) 2NT (1) 4♠ (1) 3♦ (1) 3♥ (1) 3♣ (1)
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Problem #:
5; Scoring: Matchpts ; Vul:
N/S ; 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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2♥
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Pass
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Pass
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?
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Doran Flock
Dbl Who
knows what they open weak 2's on these days ? Hope ptnr can sit, if they
bid a quiet 2S I suppose i will have to pass.
BJ Trelford
3D Nothing
else seems right.
Kiz Fung
2NT This is
matchpoints, so I have to gamble that lefty doesnt have a solid suit,
perhaps partner has a stopper. I don't like to double with this hand
because it distorts the shape
Duncan Smith
2NT 2nt without a heart stopper feels like the
least of evils. Don't you ever have an easy problem?
Bryan Maksymetz
3D Bidding
2NT if pard has a H stopper might work well.
Alex Fowlie
3D As a
true Canadian, I should bid 2NT.
“Who needs a stopper?” But
I’m not quite up to that, so 3D seems the only choice. I wouldn’t double with this shape
without a much better hand.
Ken Penton
Dbl This does not promise spades at this point but
rather decent values.Lebhansol helps us get to the right contract here.
2NT The
art of lying. You have a choice of lies as all bids fall thru the cracks.
Make the lie that has the best chance to get to game. You would have opened
1NT so given the nature of weak 2’s in today’s game & you are in the
balancing seat , bid partners heart stoppers for her. 3♦ does not show a flat 17
HCP & double is even worse. RHO might have re-pre-empted with hearts or
they may lead an off suit and you scamper home with 9 tricks.
VOTES: 2NT
(3) 3♦ (3) DBL (2)
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Problem #:
6; 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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1♠
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?
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Doran Flock
Dbl It
seems to me that double, 1nt or 2H could all work. I think double is less
risky. Would not disagree with any of the three bids.
BJ Trelford
1NT Tell partner my point count and that I am flat
with one bid. The heart suit is bad and I have support for both minors.
Kiz Fung
1NT Get the
point range and distribution of my hand off my chest immediately.
Duncan Smith
1NT I slightly prefer 1nt to double. I think so
little of a 2 heart bid that I would sooner pass.
Bryan Maksymetz
1NT Anytime
one can bid NT to show a balanced 15 to 18 is a great way to start a hand.
If the auction goes 2S P P will Dbl for takeout. I really like the European
1NT negative over 1S DBL P (0 to 7). 2 of a suit =7+ to 10.
Alex Fowlie
2H I'm VUL
at IMPs again, so I’ll take my best shot at game even though my hearts are
awful. If they double, I may have
enough side tricks to make 2H. Maybe
I’ll get to make a takeout double of 2S next which would about show this
hand.
Ken Penton
1NT The
same bid I'd make in any opening position.
1NT As the
panel says , when you have a chance to describe your hand in one bid , do
it. As Bryan says, it’s a great
starting point and simplifies auctions.
VOTES : 1NT (6) 2♥ (1) DBL (1)
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Problem #:
7; Scoring: Matchpts; Vul:
N/S; Dealer: North
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♠A765
J102
1043
♣A75
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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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2♦
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Pass
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3♣
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Pass
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?
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Doran Flock
3S Ptnr must
be very good to bid over 2D, my two aces are gold ... so i will invite
game. I originally bid 3hts, but on reflection think this should show
something in hearts. Ptnr is not necessarily looking for 3nt here, but if
he is my 3S bid will not confuse.
BJ Trelford
3S Too much
not to try for game. 3 spades is a cue bid. If partner has hearts stopped
we could have 9 tricks in nt. If partner has heart shortness then 5 of a
minor is reasonable.
Kiz Fung
3S I really like my hand. Let's try for 3NT or 5 of
a minor partner.
Duncan Smith
4C Whatever partner has in mind , I think this bid
will help her the most.
Bryan Maksymetz
3H Grope
for 3NT. Pard may have x Kx AQJxx KQJxx.
Alex Fowlie
4C Partner has shown a good 55 in the minors. Even though it’s matchpoints, I’m
raising. One of the majors will be
our downfall at 3NT.
Ken Penton
3H Let's see if we can play 3NT-if not partner will
read I've invitational values after I gave him a simple preference at 2D
3♥ 3♥ is an impossible bid with this auction. If you had heart
values & the cards to bid again , you would bid 3NT. 3♥ can only mean one thing .
You have a 4♣ bid but do not want to bypass 3NT. Your Aces can be
gold for 3NT & 9 tricks.
VOTES: 3♥
(3) 4♣ (2) 3♠ (3)
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Problem #:
8; Scoring: Matchpts; Vul:
E/W; 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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Pass
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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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6♥
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Pass
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Pass
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Pass
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* 0 or 1
control
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What
is your opening lead ?
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Doran Flock
H5 East
knows they are off two aces and bids slam opposite what could be a zero
count. I am not inclined to lead an Ace in front of this bidder, and hope
between dummy and ptnr that I will not have problems discarding.
BJ Trelford
SA Matchpoints. I can't afford to have one of my
aces disappear or the opening lead to get ruffed. This is the one most
likely to cash. Partner may have the king for the setting trick. This
allows me to take a look at dummy.
Kiz Fung
SA When leading blind, and with some knowledge that
declarer probably has a void somewhere, I would like to cash the ace that
is most likely to cash which is my short suit ace.
Duncan Smith
H5 A trump against a gigantic 2 suiter is seldom
wrong.
Bryan Maksymetz
H5 Aces not
likely to disappear - or to cash.
Alex Fowlie
SA It looks
like East is void in one of the pointed suits (spades or diamonds). Since a spade void is less likely, I’ll
try the A of spades and hope that seeing dummy and partner’s signal will
give me an idea of what to do next (if it isn’t already too late after
leading an unsupported Ace, as it often is).
Ken Penton
H5 I do not
want one of my aces trumped. Let him play the hand and if they are cashing
I'm optimistic I'll get a second chance. Appears east has taken bidding
lessons from Rick Tewari!
H5 In
Blackjack , the house has the edge . This is due in part because the player
must make the first play & may break. Why guess which Ace to cash as
advantage declarer ( the house) ?
As Duncan says , a trump is seldom wrong in these kind of auctions.
VOTES: SA (3) H5 (5)
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