From: varvel@cs.utexas.edu (Donald A. Varvel)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Some Bidding Problems
Date: 16 Apr 1992 21:51:54 -0500
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: bovina.cs.utexas.edu

In article <1992Apr16.232031.24389@pencom.com> eric@pencom.com writes:
|In article <1992Apr16.180219.26459@linus.mitre.org> bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert  
|D. Silverman) writes:
 
|> All of these are IMPS, against a HORRIBLE team.
 
|> You hold, none vul.
 
|> J9x
|> x
|> AKQ8xxx
|> QJ
 
|> You LHO Part RHO
|> 1D  3C   3H  4C
|> 4D  P    4S  P
|> ??

|Since you are willing to play at the 4 level with a void from partner,
|4S is probably a cue-bid.  5D.

While I admit I don't know what's going on, *I* think 4S is
natural.  I'm worried enough about the 3 1st-round controls
and two second-round controls I don't have that I consider
passing.  5S probably works out better when partner is cuebidding,
though!
 
|> (2) None Vul.
|>  
|> x
|> Q109x
|> Qxxx
|> Kxxx
 
 
|> RHO  You  LHO  Part
|> 1NT   P    P   6S
|> Dble. ??
 
|> I am not joking.
 
|> What has partner got??   Note: You have 2 suited bids available at the
|> two level if you feel that is relevent.

|Partner has 11 or 12 tricks in spades and another suit and RHO is
|doubling out of indignation.

I don't really know what partner has, but it's obvious he expects
to make 6S.  Maybe AKQJxxxxxx x AK --.  That leaves xx AKJx Jxxx AQJ
for opener.  The key is that I don't *have* to redouble.  Partner
will.  (If there's a second suit, it's a *lot* shorter than the
spades.)
  
|> What do you do??
 
Pass.  What *should* I do?  Redouble as an act of faith?  If partner
needs some cards I have them.  But they may not be the right ones.

|> (3) All Red:
 
|> Axxxxxx
|> Jx
|> Qxx
|> x
|> 
|> LHO  You
|> 1C    ??

|1S.  Just enough high cards to be constructive.

Question of style.  I have no problem passing with this hand.
My second choice is 2S.  But then, I'm from the "sound overcall"
school.  This hand is not close to a simple overcall as I play
them.  There's very little defense.  The suit isn't good enough
for all-out preemptive action.  Spades outrank anything but notrump.
There's no hurry. 
 
|> (4) Vul vs. Not
|> 
|> AKxx
|> AKxxxxx
|> J
|> x
|> 
|> 
|> Part RHO You LHO
|>  1D  P   1H   P
|>  1NT P   ??

|2S followed by repeated heart bids.  If partner nevers supports
|hearts, he can still assume that RKC is for hearts after I rebid them.
|With 2 aces and the Queen of hearts I will go to 7.

It's easy to construct hands opposite which 5H goes down, but I
think I'll follow Eric's plan on this one.  I presume that even in
these days of NMF and checkback/Crowhurst 2S is a game force.
 
|> (5) None
|> 
|> 10xx
|> Jx
|> AKQx
|> AQJx
|> 
|> You  LHO  Partner  RHO
|> 1NT   P    3C(1)   4C       (1) A weak, minor two suiter.
|> 5C    P    P       6C
|> P     6H   P       7H
|> ??				Might you double for a diamond lead?

|I think they know they are missing 2 aces.  A 7H solo suggests
|2 voids and your hand certainly does make that seem possible.
|I will pass.

That assumes the opponents are good, which we were told they weren't.
Providing I thought partner would lead a diamond, there's a lot to
be said for a double.  *I* think RHO is more likely to have a club
void only and is counting on a club lead.
 
|> 
|> (6) Vul vs. not
|> 
|> AKJx
|> Qxxx
|> AQx
|> xx
|> 
|> 
|> You  LHO  Part  RHO
|> 1NT  Dble  P    P
|> ??
|
|Pass.  I imagine this rest of the field will end up around the
|same place.

IMPs, Eric, IMPs.

Being a weak notrumper, the thought of anything but pass here
makes me shudder.  Only partner can know whether 1NT is in trouble
and partner passed the double.  The *opponents* may be in serious
trouble.  You're supposed to double 1NT with 16 HCP and a decent
lead, and pass the double with any balanced hand.  That leads to
the occasional disaster.  Maybe this is one of them.
 
|> I have some stories to relate from these and a few others.
|> The stories are Ghastly.

Please tell!

-- Don Varvel (varvel@cs.utexas.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge