Vil Gravis's blog

Let me quote from earlier: “There is of course no ‘correct’ answer every time a bidding or play problem arises, otherwise the game wouldn’t be much fun, but maybe we can all learn something each time we are faced with a problem, if not at the table then in retrospect.”
These are the full hands as they were when this deal came up some time ago in teams play.

Dealer E NS Vul

	AJ87 732 QJ KJ65
6542 98 A8 87432		Q3 KJT654 T743 A
	KT9 AQ K9652 QT9

There were varied suggestions as to the best approach in 3NT, mostly ‘diamonds has best prospects, so play them first’, or ‘finesse spades and play West for the queen’, without any detailed specifics as to the play, but I will quote two panelists who would have made 3NT with overtricks as the cards lay.

A continuing theme. This was another problem that came up, with a similar theme to earlier. This one was somewhat different because declarer did not have the luxury of being able to duck the first round of the danger suit. Let me show you the two hands as they were this time. Similar, but quite different.

1. TEAMS. Dealer E NS Vul
North

AJ87

763

QJ

KJ65

KT9

AQ

K9652

QT9

EAST opens a weak 2H
Here are some things to consider.
1. Would you have bid 2NT or passed? Or doubled?
2. If you had doubled the 2H opening, what should your partner then bid?
3. If you passed and partner then doubled, would you then bid 3NT or something else?

The answers to the declarer play problems in W&W15 told me that there is a big difference between Open players and Intermediates and Juniors, and also between TEAMS and MATCH POINT thinking. Let’s take another look at the problems presented and look at these differences in a way that the advancing players can understand and use to improve their play to the standard that all our open players showed by their answers.

1. TEAMS. Dealer S All Vul

Q4 AQ2 QJ652 QT9

AJ72 76 KT9 KJ65

The following deal came up in a recent match point session. When you see the full deal you may not believe the bidding but whatever the case, there are a lot of lessons to be learnt, which is why I set it as a progressive exercise for our panel of advanced and advancing players. Here is the full deal so the reader can appreciate all the ramifications.

Dealer N NS Vul

	5 852 KQ63 KQT95
KT842 QT3 8 J842		973 AJ94 JT954 A
	AQJ6 K76 A72 763

Vil says .. Hi, hope you’re up for another ‘progressive’ exercise. This time it is a match point session.
You are South and hold the following hand:

5

852

KQ63

KQT95

At favourable vulnerability you pass as dealer. West passes and partner opens 1NT (12-14). East bids 2S. No alert. You do not play Lebensohl or anything fancy in this situation. Your bid?