Reverse bidding challenge

Time to do something a bit different. This is a reverse bidding challenge so rather than voting for the bid you'd make you vote for the situation you'd bid in.

Here's an example, all vul, imps and right hand opponent (first to act) opens some number of hearts:

♠	A Q T 7 6
♥	T 8 7
♦	5 4
♣	K Q 5

I would bid over a 1♥ opening but I wouldn't bid over 2♥ so I'll vote 2♥. See? You select the point at which you wouldn't bid.


Here's another example, this time partner was the dealer but passes and RHO opens spades:

♠	K 3
♥	A Q J T 7 6 3
♦	A 9 4 2
♣	-

Wow, what a hand. I'd definitely be bidding over 1, 2 and 3 spades and I think 4♠ too but I'd make a penalty double thereafter. Penalty doubles don't count for this challenge so I would be answering 5♠.



Everyone on board? Assuming openers bid is natural/pre-emptive you vote for the lowest opening you'd either pass or penalty double. Playing imps, all vul with the dealer on your left you see two passes and a diamond opening holding:

♠	A J 5
♥	J T 4
♦	A 6
♣	A K T 6 5

Where would you give up?

Needing an extra trick or two

Playing club bridge I pick up this possibility rich collection:

♠	Q
♥	5 3
♦	A T 5 3
♣	A K Q 8 6 4

Nice shape, good source of tricks, three suits controlled. Everything you could want for a strong club opening so that's what I did. The vagaries of our relay system aside the auction went like this:

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	blah	X
blah	2♣	blah	Pass
blah	Pass	blah	Pass
blah	Pass	blah	Pass
3NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

Why 3NT? Well because my partner had shown a major two suiter. I'd like to say I knew exactly what his shape was but I was off by a card. As my hand is completely unknown* West led their suit advancing the ♣J.

	♠ J 9 5 2 ♥ A Q T 9 7 4 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ -
♠ T 8 6 3 ♥ 2 ♦ J 7 2 ♣ J T 9 5 3		♠ A K 7 4 ♥ K J 8 6 ♦ Q 9 8 ♣ 7 2
	♠ Q ♥ 5 3 ♦ A T 5 3 ♣ A K Q 8 6 4

It looks like we should have stopped several blahs ago and doubled 2♣.

Winning the first trick I wanted to keep up with those in hearts so hoping for an onside knave I played a heart to the ten. That didn't work and back came the seven of clubs. I covered delicately with the eight which West won and returned the three... round to my four.

The clubs are now up and East must find four discards, two spades and a heart are easy then a diamond gets the bump on the last club. West has the luxury of only making one discard and having four safe spades to choose from.

Safety was never Wests `thing' and away went the ♦2. The diamonds are now up and this is the position:

	♠ - ♥ A Q 9 7 ♦ K 6 ♣ -
♠ T 8 6 3 ♥ - ♦ J 7 ♣ -		♠ A K ♥ K 6 ♦ Q 9 ♣ -
	♠ Q ♥ 5 ♦ A T 5 3 ♣ -

Cashing two diamonds ending in hand revealed the defensive error and when I won the next round East began to squirm. Unable to guard spades and hearts something had to give and I made the rest of the tricks.

When dummy came down there were six tricks and with no finesses working or suits breaking somehow I ended up with eleven!

*My hand is almost certainly centered on clubs and may have diamonds as well - why else would 3NT be right opposite 4630?


Extra for esotericists: What's the line to make 4♥ by North?

2NT in competition

There's a popular saying that goes "2NT is not a contract, it's a convention."

What about this hand:

♠	K T 8 4
♥	Q T 4
♦	K 8 2
♣	J 5 4

Part	Opp	You	Opp
1♣	Pass	1♠	2♥
X	Pass	?

If the double shows 3 card support, where would you like to play?

Passing the double is unwise but you can hardly bid 3♣ either; a 3 - 3 fit is a possibility.

Would you accept the Moysian and bid 2♠ hoping that partner won't raise to game or you won't get forced off or that the defense can't score a heart ruff on the lead?

2NT here needs to be natural.

Missed my cue

The opponents can't see your cards.

It's easy to forget that and pretend that just because you can see the problem your opponents can too. With that in mind have a look at this hand:

♠	A K Q 9 5
♥	J 5
♦	A 7 5 3 2
♣	K

Here's the start to the auction:

West	North	East	South
1♣	Pass	1♥1	Pass
2♣2	Pass	3♦3	Pass
4♦	Pass	?

1. Transfer
2. Natural but denies 3♠
3. 2♦ would be non-forcing

Slam looks likely but what's the best way to get there? You could use keycard but if partner has two you're in six and might be off two cashing hearts.

You could cue your spades but partner is most likely to cue 5♣ and you don't know any more. Even without the ♣A you may have 12 tricks available.

I realised too late that, the best solution, was to cue my heart control.