September 2008 MSC

I guess this means that I've given up hope of being invited onto the panel.  I asked about 11 years ago and Rubens told me to win a national event first.  Still waiting on it.  

A: Imps, Favorable, KJT92, --, 2, KQ98642.  

You deal:

1C.  4 losers is a mandatory opening.  Once you decide to open, it seems pretty clear to open in the longest suit with a 2 card discrepancy.  No reason to believe there is a specific rush to preempt.

B:  Imps, None, KT52, QT76, J32, A6

(3S) X (P) ??

3NT.  This will usually make and be safer than 4H.  Pass would be more than just tempting vs. some LHOs, since a plus score is near-certain with 300 and 500 being the most likely results.  However, 3NT shows some values and partner is unlimited - should partner hold something akin to --, AKx, KQT9xx, KQxx, +300 will not amuse our teammates.  Not 4H, which neither shows values nor is any more likely to be the right game than 3NT.

C:  Imps, Unfavorable:  KJT, K7, AQT42, T92

1C - (1H) - 2D - (3H)

3S - (Pass) - ???

4C.   4S is tempting until you start constructing hands for partner.  If partner really has a 5-card spade suit, I'll hear about it.  AQxx, xx, x, KQJxxx and 4S will probably require the DK onside (after HA and a diamond switch), but 5C is pretty good.  

D:  MPs, None:  J86, 8, AT2, AT8654

1D - ??

2C.  BWS gives me an out in 3C.  Perhaps this is weak NT training coming through, but the alternatives are terrible:  1NT, an anti-positional underbid; 2D would bury the clubs forever (and could get us to a 6 card fit); 2NT is right on values, but doesn't that heart stopper scare you?

E:  MPs, ALL:  T8762, KT, AT8, J82

(1D) - 1H - (P) - ??

2H.  Anyone who bids 1S nf on this hand deserves themselves as a partner.  1NT would be ok, but why not raise hearts with two trump honors and a side ace.  Partner will not be disappointed.

F:  Imps, none:  K972, A83, T64, AQ3

1C - (1D) - 1S - (3D);

4D - (5D) - ??

6S.  6D is tempting, but does partner know that I know that he is void (and what if he isn't?).  NOT PASS.  In the real world, I'd worry that partner, who may have overextended himself, may have doubts as to whether he has created a force.  I'm having a very hard time constructing a hand for partner consistent with this auction - where I hold 3 key cards, RHO has a 1D overcall and partner can cuebid at the 4-level opposite a potential 5-count.  Partner is probably 4-3-0-6... maybe AQxx, KQx, --, Kxxxxx.  If partner has the SJ, we have a decent grand, but there is no way to find out.  Clubs will play just fine if partner has the HQ, but if that card is the HJ instead, we need to be in spades.  

G:  Imps, Unfavorable:  A, 3, AK62, AK96543

1C - (3S) - P - (P)

??

4D.  This shows longer clubs and a very strong hand.  This might even be best if partner has xxx, Kxxxxx, QTx, x - opposite that 5D might survive a bad club break.  

H: MPs, Unfavorable:  A, T987, KJT42, JT9

(2NT) - (3H)

(3S) - (3NT)

(Pass)

HT.  I'd lead a diamond at imps, but I don't want to risk blowing a trick at MPS.  The CJ would be a little less likely to help declarer, but clubs are also more likely to be declarers long suit, so I might as well try to set up a long suit trick for our side instead.

Problems C, F and H seemed hardest.