[luis]

Hi Everybody again, I hope you enjoyed your first day at this tourney. Your pd is the same exp pd that loves to take some "strange" decisions. You are playing a Fantoni-Nunes style system 1NT is 12-14, 1 level openings 14+ and 2 level openings 9-13. And the show today features the following hands:

#1: None vul. you have: Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
Pd opens a 12-14 NT in first position. Do you pass, invite or bid 3?

#2: Vul vrs Not you get: AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652
RHO opens 1♥, you decide to start with 2♥ michaels, LHO bids 3♥ and pd surprises you introducing 3♠ on hiw own. RHO bids 4♥ and now it's your turn. What do you bid now and why?

#3: Your a re vul and your opponents are not.
You have: KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
1♥ on your right,you pass, 2♥ on your left, pass pass to you. What do you bid?

#4: AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
They open 1♦ on your right and you bid 1♠ (agree?). 3♦ on your left and pd bids 4♦. LHO bids 5♦ what now?

[Poky]

#1: Invite with 2NT

#2: 5♣. If partner bids 5♦ i sign-off in 5♠. if partner bids 5♥ or 5♠ I bid 6♠.

#3: 2♠. This should be a good 4-carder or very bad 5-carder suit.

#4: 5♠. Enough for level-5, not enough for trying a slam.

[P_Marlowe]

1) 2NT
2) 5D, as an lead director
3) Double, hopefully we are playing
scrampling 2NT
4) vulnerability
green versus red: 5S
else pass

With kind regards
Marlowe

[pclayton]

#1. Its a guess, but an eight card fit in either minor can make 3N excellent. I don't think we are making 9 tricks on power. I might catch a 5 card spade suit too if I know Luis right, so I try 2♣.

#2. 5♣ too I guess, although I still might plow on to 6♠ over 5♦. Only death holding is ♣xxx, and its tough to gauge.

#3. 2♠ is usually a 4 bagger, so pard can pull with non-support.

#4. Whats the vul? Its a style issue, but I double with shape. 1♠ looks like it worked out and caught pard with a fit. I assume that RHO is bidding 5♦. We are in FP situation, so a direct 5♠ looks right. Yes, 5♦ x'd could be juicy if pard has a stack, but I'll express the general character of my hand, since I'm not sitting for the double anyway.

[Chamaco]

Quote

#1: None vul. you have: Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
Pd opens a 12-14 NT in first position. Do you pass, invite or bid 3?

This is a full opener to me A+A+K and a 5 card suit.
I bid 3NT

Quote

#2: Vul vrs Not you get: AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652
RHO opens 1♥, you decide to start with 2♥ michaels, LHO bids 3♥ and pd surprises you introducing 3♠ on hiw own. RHO bids 4♥ and now it's your turn. What do you bid now and why?

Would 5D be Voidwood ? If so I bid it.
If not, 6S.

Quote

#3: Your a re vul and your opponents are not.
You have: KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
1♥ on your right,you pass, 2♥ on your left, pass pass to you. What do you bid?

Double. If partner bids clubs (or signs off in 3C after 2NT Leb), tough luck, but at MP I do not think passing such hand will ever be a winner.

Quote

#4: AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
They open 1♦ on your right and you bid 1♠ (agree?).

Yes

Quote

3♦ on your left and pd bids 4♦. LHO bids 5♦ what now?

I gamble 6S. Opener is under my tenaces, my hand has become huge.
I just hope my pard does not bid 7, but he shuld not unles he has a bomb, because with an even better hand I'd have passed and pulled my pard's double.

[Gerben42]

#1: None vul. you have: Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
Pd opens a 12-14 NT in first position. Do you pass, invite or bid 3?

Invite.

#2: Vul vrs Not you get: AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652
RHO opens 1♥, you decide to start with 2♥ michaels, LHO bids 3♥ and pd surprises you introducing 3♠ on hiw own. RHO bids 4♥ and now it's your turn. What do you bid now and why?

5♣. Should be slam interest and this as second suit.

#3: Your a re vul and your opponents are not.
You have: KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
1♥ on your right,you pass, 2♥ on your left, pass pass to you. What do you bid?

2♠

#4: AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
They open 1♦ on your right and you bid 1♠ (agree?).

Wholeheartedly.

3♦ on your left and pd bids 4♦. LHO bids 5♦ what now?

5♠

[HeartA]

1. 2NT. A, A, K without intermediate cards, faces 12 hcp hand, is not good for 3NT (A, A, K good for suit).

2. 6S. even if pd doesn't have CQ, I can still expect him to have Jxx or xx of clubs. CA (if pd doesn't have it) is most likely in opener's hand.

3. dbl, and correct pd's 3C to 3D.

4. Agree with 1S, I might dbl though. I think I would pass 5D.

[mike777]

Thanks again for Diary2.

1) 2C-planning on invite sequence.
2) oops misread this one. I see p is bidding 3s not us sorry. I guess 5c and hope p can now bid 6s. If they bid 5d will bid 5h, over 5h by p will bid 5s.
3) 2S
4A) Agree with 1S
4B) Pass

[Fluffy]

1) 2 at MP, 3 at IMPs
2) 6♠, I liked the 5♣ bid, but too many suggested it already :-(, still hard to see many hands where we go down, and none were we reach 7 with confidence.
3) pass at IMPs, double at MP and let 3♣ play.
4) If we are vulnerable and they aren't forcing pass, otherwise 5♠.

[joker_gib]

#1: 2 aces and a five cards suit. If there are 2 NT, there are 3NT so better go for it !

#2: 5♣ : Q of ♣ is enough for slam so it's clear to make a move.

#3: Dbl and will bid ♦ on ♣

#4: Agree with 1♠. I'll pass 5♦ and leave it to partner (I'm minimum and partner is probably able to see that I'm short in ♦, ok not void but ...)

By the way what is vulnerability in this last one ?

[whereagles]

1. A confident 3NT. If pard is the sort of person who likes to steal a point frequently, I would consider an invitation.

2. For some strange reason I cannot understand, my feeling says I should bid a straight 4S here and I'm going to follow my instincts.

3. Double and convert 3C to 3D.

4. Tough.. I'm going to pass and see if pard can double this. Not too confident to leave him the decision, but I'm not going to engage on a unilateral action with this hand of moth-eaten suits

[hrothgar]

luis, on Apr 18 2005, 05:08 PM, said:

>#1: None vul. you have: Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
>Pd opens a 12-14 NT in first position. Do you pass, invite
>or bid 3?

I don't like range based invitational sequences. Its most likely that this hand is going to produce either 7 tricks or 9 tricks. The result will depend on issues like fitting honors and open suits, NOT whether partner has 12 or 14 HCP. I see a lot of merit to either pass or a direct 3NT. 3NT puts enormous pressure on the opponents. I like it when the opponents never know whether they are defending a "routine" +1 or if there are 8 IMPs at play.

In contrast, pass has a lot to be said for it. Odds are that we're sititng on a combined 23 count. Admittily having the points split evenly between the two hands gives some some extra playing strength (12 v 11 is better than 20 v 3). Still, the game is marginal at best.

I wouldn't fault either pass or 3NT. I lean slightly towards pass. Give me some Diamond intermediaries or change the vulnerability to red and I'd bid 3N.

>#2: Vul vrs Not you get: AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652
>RHO opens 1♥, you decide to start with 2♥ michaels,
>LHO bids 3♥ and pd surprises you introducing 3♠ on hiw
>own. RHO bids 4♥ and now it's your turn. What do you bid
>now and why?

I bid 5♦. My main worry about the Slam is that we have 2 quick club losers with nowhere to park them. Partner's Spade bid bid was wonderful to hear, but it wrongsided the contract.

>#3: Your a re vul and your opponents are not.
>You have: KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
>1♥ on your right,you pass, 2♥ on your left, pass pass to you.
>What do you bid?

I double. (Please note, I would have bid 1S or 1NT with this hand in in direct seat)

>#4: AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
>They open 1♦ on your right and you bid 1♠ (agree?).
>3♦ on your left and pd bids 4♦. LHO bids 5♦ what now?

I am playable in 3 suits
I have weak Spades
I have Diabond shortage
I only have enough stgrength for 1 bid

I prefer a light takeout double to a 1♠ overcall

I'm passing 5♦. 5DX could easily be out best option.

[inquiry]

1) 3NT... 5 controls and a 5 card suit. If they can beat it with a good lead, maybe they will not find it.

2) 5♣ - slam try (since went past 4♠, showing second suit so partner can evaluate his hand. We have agreed spades are trumps, but partner may think this is looking for diamond control. Of course, if he is lacking Ace or King of diamonds, surely he has club honors... and even a doubleton club is probably enough.

3) Pass. Parnter had chance for OBAR bid, I have the wrong number of hearts, and the vulnerability is all wrong. Let's fight at imps on another hand. At MP or board a match, I will dbl here, however.

4) I agree with 1♠, but we are in a sticky place now. If we pass, and then pull partners double we are suggest a lot more than we have, on the other hand, we have two defensive tricks and they are at the five level. Knowing the vul might help (but probably not). I guess I would double as a warning not to bid on, but I am not overjoyed with this choice.

Ben

[mr1303]

1. I'll try 3NT. THe chances of landing in 2NT are remote.
2. 5C. Showing my second suit and a good hand
3. Automatic take-out double. I'll bid 3D over 3C.
4. Yes, 1S looks right. I'll make a forcing pass over 5D, and pass partner's double.

[luis]

Ok now let's see what happened at the table.

On #1 where you had Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
If you invite pd rejects. If you bid game pd makes it on a quite nice endplay for +400. Pd held: Kxx, Jxx, AJ9x, Kxx
Congratulations to the players that bid game.

Hand #2 where you got AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652 was the most interesting hand. First of all you can see that 6♠ is almost cold unless something terrible happens and if pd has the club ace you may win 7, however that is slightly unlikely because opener rates to have the club ace more than pd. The interesting problem that nobody considered is if they will double 6♠, defend to 7♥ or just let you play 6♠ without doubling or defending. The bid I really like is 6♥ inviting 7 if pd is looking at the club ace and faking a heart void, now they will probably double based on the diamond ace and the club ace and you will probably win 6♠ doubled. Once you show a heart void if somebody doubles the other player should respect the dbl.
What happened at the table? I just bid 6♠ and LHO took 1ms to bid 7♥, I said "yikes" to myself and collected just 800. So I guess that if you bid 6♥ you score +1560 otherwise +800.

On #3 where you had KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
If you reopen you are booked for at least 500, at the table pd bid 2♠, it was doubled and he rescued himself to 3♦ again doubled for 500. If you pass they win 2♥ and nothing happens. If you bid you lose. I'm surprised for the many players that decided to reopen this hand, red vs white passing is quite appealing to me.

Finally #4 AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
At the table pd bid 6♠ and they inmediately found a phantom defense in 7♦. The psychology of this hand is quite important it's very likely that they will defend if you bid 6 so I think 6 is a very good bid.
If you pass pd bids 5♠ if that happens or you bid 5 directly they defend to 6♦ with the intention of doubling 6♠. 6♦ is only +100 and 7♦ is +300. Of course 6 spades has no play. (LHO leads the club king and you must lose a heart and the other club)

After this session you fall from 2nd place to third and the pressure is starting to build for the last day of the tourney. (Day 3 problems coming soon!)

Luis

[inquiry]

luis, on Apr 19 2005, 10:30 AM, said:

Ok now let's see what happened at the table.

On #1 where you had Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
If you invite pd rejects. If you bid game pd makes it on a quite nice endplay for +400. Pd held: Kxx, Jxx, AJ9x, Kxx
Congratulations to the players that bid game.

Hand #2 where you got AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652 was the most interesting hand. First of all you can see that 6♠ is almost cold unless something terrible happens and if pd has the club ace you may win 7, however that is slightly unlikely because opener rates to have the club ace more than pd. The interesting problem that nobody considered is if they will double 6♠, defend to 7♥ or just let you play 6♠ without doubling or defending. The bid I really like is 6♥ inviting 7 if pd is looking at the club ace and faking a heart void, now they will probably double based on the diamond ace and the club ace and you will probably win 6♠ doubled. Once you show a heart void if somebody doubles the other player should respect the dbl.
What happened at the table? I just bid 6♠ and LHO took 1ms to bid 7♥, I said "yikes" to myself and collected just 800. So I guess that if you bid 6♥ you score +1560 otherwise +800.

On #3 where you had KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
If you reopen you are booked for at least 500, at the table pd bid 2♠, it was doubled and he rescued himself to 3♦ again doubled for 500. If you pass they win 2♥ and nothing happens. If you bid you lose. I'm surprised for the many players that decided to reopen this hand, red vs white passing is quite appealing to me.

Finally #4 AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
At the table pd bid 6♠ and they inmediately found a phantom defense in 7♦. The psychology of this hand is quite important it's very likely that they will defend if you bid 6 so I think 6 is a very good bid.
If you pass pd bids 5♠ if that happens or you bid 5 directly they defend to 6♦ with the intention of doubling 6♠. 6♦ is only +100 and 7♦ is +300. Of course 6 spades has no play. (LHO leads the club king and you must lose a heart and the other club)

After this session you fall from 2nd place to third and the pressure is starting to build for the last day of the tourney. (Day 3 problems coming soon!)

Luis

Ok.. since I got two "right" (3NT on 1, clear, easy pass on 3), lets deal with two I got "wrong"..

On 2, how does your partner know "CLUB ACE" is what you need for six, and not diamond ACE? Is your michaels always top and bottom? If your parnters minors where switch, how would 7S fair? How about even 6S? I think those of us who bid 5C (and ron's exlusion 5D --- great if you ahve that agreement) have a chance to get there without partner knowing what ACE is working and what ACE is not. If they bid 7H, I plan on using forcing pass (if I can from my side of the table).. if partner bids 6C or 6S on his own (with me looking at AKQJx of spades), I will take it he liked my club bid and bid grand myself.

On 4, you didn;t mention the vul.. if we are and tehy are not, 6S is good bid to goad them into 7D... some of us commented on this. Otherwise, I am still fond of pass now, respect partners decision (here 5S), and double with my two aces if they bid on.

[han]

luis, on Apr 18 2005, 09:08 AM, said:

Hi Everybody again, I hope you enjoyed your first day at this tourney. Your pd is the same exp pd that loves to take some "strange" decisions. You are playing a Fantoni-Nunes style system 1NT is 12-14, 1 level openings 14+ and 2 level openings 9-13. And the show today features the following hands:

#1: None vul. you have: Axx, Ax, K8642, xxx
Pd opens a 12-14 NT in first position. Do you pass, invite or bid 3?

#2: Vul vrs Not you get: AKQJx,AK9,-,KT652
RHO opens 1♥, you decide to start with 2♥ michaels, LHO bids 3♥ and pd surprises you introducing 3♠ on hiw own. RHO bids 4♥ and now it's your turn. What do you bid now and why?

#3: Your a re vul and your opponents are not.
You have: KQTx, xx, QJTxx, JT
1♥ on your right,you pass, 2♥ on your left, pass pass to you. What do you bid?

#4: AT9xx, 9872, -, AJT8.
They open 1♦ on your right and you bid 1♠ (agree?). 3♦ on your left and pd bids 4♦. LHO bids 5♦ what now?

1. I like this 11-count: invite.

2. I'll guess 6S, perhaps they save (or perhaps they do when they should)

3. Double! I correct 3C to 3D.

4. Agree with 1S. Tough decision now.. I bid 5.

[inquiry]

Jlall, on Apr 19 2005, 02:06 PM, said:

inquiry, on Apr 19 2005, 09:41 AM, said:

On 4, you didn;t mention the vul.. if we are and tehy are not, 6S is good bid to goad them into 7D... some of us commented on this. Otherwise, I am still fond of pass now, respect partners decision (here 5S), and double with my two aces if they bid on.

Interesting as you said you would X 5D (not pass) and also said that the vulnerability probably wouldn't help.

Lol... i forgot what I bid.. like I said it wasn't a happy hand... well, if I double, maybe they will let partner play his 5♠ anyway if he bids it... It is a tough hand...