Imp Decisions

I played an interesting 10 board team match with Karen this afternoon.  I though I write up a few hands in the form of a quiz.  The opponents were a practiced pair and seemed pretty decent. 

Question 1

AKQ932

J98

A

J108

You are East, white on red and you open 1 in first.  South bids 3.  Partner raises spades to game and North bids 5.  What is your call?

Question 2

The opponents have this auction red on white

1	2
2	3
3	4
4NT	5
6

Your hand is

Q94

QJ2

A1076

985What is your lead?

Question 3

You are not vulnerable against vulnerable playing against good opposition (us).  What do you bid on this hand after partner opens 1NT

Q642

953

K864

K7Okay so these problems aren’t so tough but lets see if you got them all right.  Here is my unbiased opinion and what happened at the table. 

Answer 1

I think it is right to bid 5.  This hand says offense to me. Try partner can have a wide range of hands but these colors are so forgiving.  In total trick land there is probably about 20-21 total tricks.  If we have 11 they have 10 and vice versa.  5 is right.  If you pass it to partner she will probably double and that won’t be as good a result.  You need to take the push to get a push since the opponents were allowed to play in 4 at the other table.

J1086

64

72

AKQ93

Answer 2

Did anybody NOT lead the A!  Did you think it was a trick question, dude?  (I just always wanted to say dude like that, sorry).  It cashes and so does your trump trick.  Any other lead and they are writing up +1430.  This is a big swing because the opposition played in game not slam at the other table.

	A K KJ942 KQJ1032
Q94 QJ2 A1076 985		J108653 53 Q83 76
	K72 A1098764 72 A

Answer 3

I prefer pass on this hand not vulnerable.  You have a flat eight count without good spots and no aces.  I know partner could have hearts and a fitting 17 or something.  A long time ago everybody passed on this hand.   At my table the opposition just bid 3NT!  At the other table they did bid Stayman and played in 2NT when there was not fit.  I didn’t find the best lead but they still went 2 down for a push).  If you pass 1NT you have a decent chance of making it.

I find with some partners they are quite forgiving and you can do think a bit off-center with them and its okay.  I did for example overcall 1 with 1NT with a fourteen count and six clubs.  Karen ended up in 2 which wasn’t the easiest contract.  She figured out the ending (a trump endplay) to make it.  Thanks Karen. 

And I did have a fun hand to play in 1NT with I had to guess the ending for yes really a strip squeeze and endplay.   The defense was not perfect and some good unblocking (two good unblocks) would have avoided the end play but it was still fun.