From: brett@oce.orst.edu (Brett Barksdale)
Subject: Problem Solvers' Panel 15.4
Organization: Oregon State University, College of Oceanography
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 19:45:24 GMT


Problem 4.
Matchpoints
N-S Vulnerable
Dealer North

You, South, hold, S-K2 H-J3 D-KJ98532 C-K4 

South  West   North  East
              Pass   Pass
?

What call do you make?

The panel:
----------
(JB)     jbaron@gauss.ssc.gov (Jeff Baron)
(DV)     varvel@cs.utexas.edu (Donald A. Varvel)
(TIBOR)  TIBOR@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu
(TW)     tim@theory.lcs.mit.edu (timothy m wright)
(DESJ)   desj%idacrd@Princeton.EDU (David desJardins)
(DK)     Dennis Kibler <kibler@turing.ICS.UCI.EDU>
(PRM2)   "Paul Markowitz (PRM2)" <PRM@brownvm.brown.edu>
(SGM)    "Steven G. Myerson" <sgm@sgfb.ssd.ray.com>
(JTW)    Jaroslaw Tomasz Wroblewski <jwr@math.Princeton.EDU>
(MOJO)   mojo@netcom.com (Morris Jones)
(PM)     Peter Montgomery <pmontgom@math.ucla.edu>
(KP)     as572@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Kevin Podsiadlik)
(ARS)    AVIR@VM.BGU.AC.IL(Aviel Roy-Shapira)
(MB)     msb@sq.com (Mark Brader)
(BRI)    milord@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Milord)
(DD)     valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty)
(JWH)    hargrove@ASC.SLB.COM
(JR)     gunner1@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Jayant Rajgopal)
(CH)     holzsche@prl.philips.nl
(DOUG)   Douglas Newlands <doug@cm.deakin.OZ.AU>
(JD)     jld1@iwtgp.att.com (Jeffrey L David)
(BV)     ben@ph.tn.tudelft.nl (Ben Verwer)
(JC2)    Jim Cox <cox@unx.sas.com>
(RG2)    Raymond L. Gilbert <pi@wam.umd.edu>
(RD)     RDOBER%ESRIN.BITNET@vm.gmd.de
(DG)     dagibbs@quantum.on.ca (David Gibbs)
(AO)     ago@meceng.coe.northeastern.edu (Andrew Ofiesh)
(DAVID)  davidm@Rational.COM
(PBH)    pbhyf!skataba@ns.PacBell.COM
(WU)     Warren Usui <aardvark@locus.com>
(CC2)    chris.chambers@rose.com
(GD)     ding@raj2.tn.cornell.edu (Gary Ding)
(GJA)    G.J.Ackland@edinburgh.ac.uk
(AM)     alex@am.sublink.org (Alex Martelli) 
(ZW)     ZWANGERS@ACFcluster.NYU.EDU
(IM)     Ilene Morgan <morgan@math.psu.edu>


PASS
----

(RD) 4. PASS.  Alternatives?
2D, not my stile, we play very well defined weak two, this doesn't fit.
3D, at matchpoints, pard passed, why not! A very close alternative.
In real world I will bid with the field.
1/2 in major. For sure I will do it sometimes. (once in a lifetime)

(TW)4.Pass. This is really a philosophical question.  If you like to preempt,
3D is clear.  If you like opening light, 1D is clear.  I don't like either.  I
will either have a chance to bid my suit or to take my lumps on defense.

(TIBOR) 4. P.  This hand has no QT and is light on points for an opener.
Yet it has only 6 losers and nice defensive values, so it is too
nice for a 3d seat pre-empt.  I'll bid diamonds enthusiatically
later if I have a chance.

ONE DIAMOND
-----------

(JC2) 4. 1D.  Never bid pre-emptively with such outside strength.

(RG2) 4. 1 D.  You can just squeeze out enough points for a 1 level opening.
You don't have a strong enough suit to warrant a 3D preempt (3S is a
different story, because of the higher preemptive effect).

(PM) 4.  1D.  Broken suit and 7-2-2-2 distribution are flaws for 3D.
 
(BRI)4.1D.There is a good tactical reason for 3D in 3rd seat, but this 6 loser
hand will be better described by 1-2D.
 
(AO)4.1D.I plan to rebid 2D.This call stands out a mile because of the outside
kings.  Why preempt? Passing is right out.

(PBH) 4. 1D. Very marginal but I have a 2D rebid.

(CC2) 4. 1D.  A good part of the field will be playing light 3D preempts,
but I prefer to play 3D as sound.  2D does not really take away any
bidding space and prevents me from bidding again.

(MB) 4. 1D.  I value this as 13 points, which makes the one-opening mandatory.

(GD) 4. 1D.  No need to rush preempt just yet, and we are at vul

TWO DIAMONDS
------------

(DV) 4. 2D.  I have too much defense to risk a higher bid.  I usually end
   up down two not doubled against a partscore when I bid more on
   this kind of hand.

(JB) 4. 2D.  Kind of weird, but hey, the range is 6-11, right?  1D
seems just wrong, with no aces and a bad suit to rebid, so I'll just
get it out of my system now.  3D is too rich for me, red vs. white.


(JWH) 4.   2D      Assuming this is a weak 2 bid. If not, I bid 1D or pass,
             depending on my frame of mind. I think this is the wrong
             kind of hand for 3D. In my youth, I bid 1S on this hand.

(JR) 4. 2D.  Assuming the alien plays weak twos...

THREE DIAMONDS
--------------

(KP)4.P.3D seems all right at first, but why go down two tricks vulnerable when
West is about to pass the hand out?

(PRM2) 4. 3D.  Any other choice?  Describes my hand pretty well.

(DD) 4. 3D.  As a passed hand, this is OK.  In our partnership, though, probably 2NT.

(JD) 4. 3D.  I don't care if I have 11 "points."  This hand has
look and feel of a preempt.  I'd pass this hand in first or
second seat.  Besides, if you open 1D, E-W will play the hand
right.  If you open 3D, they'll never place the strength in
the correct hand.

(DK) 4. 3 diamonds. We don't have game, maybe they do.

(JTW) 4. 3D.

(DG) 4. 3D.

(ARS) 4.  3D.  It is good bridge to vary one's preempts in 3rd seat. I have no 
         quible with the passers. I don't think any other bid has any merit.

(DAVID) 4. 3D.  If I open 1D, what am I going to bid when the bidding comes back
        at the 4 level?
        
(WU) 4. 3D.  I know, I have a ratty suit, I have too much in other suits but
   I would probably do this and hate myself for doing this.

(DESJ) 4. 3D.  At unfavorable vulnerability this is enough.  I don't really
want to play 4D passed out, while not preempting is making life much
too easy on the opponents.

(CH) 4. 3D.  I would have opened 1 D in first or second seat.

(GJA)  4. 3D.  Unless I can be easily doubled for penalties.  My passed partner 
          won't embarrass me too much, and the opponents may misread my
          strength when they play a major suit contract.

(AM) 4. 3D. NOT a classic pre-empt, but little risk in 3rd position.  4D
would be far too much at the prevaling vulnerability.

(BV) 4. 3D. Seems leftie has a nice hand. So preempt (I liked the first hands
more though, djeeh).
 
(MOJO) 4. 3D.  Oh agony.  Third seat and 11 HCP.  I wouldn't rate this one a
good enough 11 to open 1D in third seat.  Many will disagree.  <shrug>

(SGM)4. 3D. I doubt we are missing a game, and if the opponents have one,
let them start at the 3 level.

(DOUG) 4. 3D. With a passed partner there is no practical possibility of game
       our way and no reason to not expect diamonds to be our correct
       denomination - make it difficult for the opponents. 

(ZW)4.3D.A little strong defensively,but we are vulnerable, and I'm third seat.

(IM) 4. 3D.  In third seat this is clear at any vulnerability.

=============================================================================

Bid tally: 3D - 20
           1D - 9
           2D - 4
           Pass - 3 

Submitter's Comments
--------------------

I don't know if this is worthy of being a problem or not, but my guess
is that if it goes out, there will be a ton of "WTP's" with all
different answers.  Some will say pass, some 1d, some 2d, and some 3d.
I'm just curious what the experts will say...

For the record, I bid 3D (which I don't like now) and dummy came down

S: x x x x
H: x x x x x
D: 
C: J x x

I made five of my diamonds and the club king for off three, undoubled, a
good score that I didn't deserve (they should have doubled me or found
their game in either clubs or spades, making five in either, if I remember
correctly)

-- 
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                     "Just waiting for the nuts..."
             Brett Barksdale        brett@porky.oce.orst.edu
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