What & Why (01)

Welcome to What&Why. This series is for IMPROVERS. Most of the questions and answers will be aimed at players who are playing at Intermediate or Open level or in the upper grades of club play.

The questions arise from actual play that readers may have taken part in. The first ‘chapters’ will cover more than just a few things that we can all learn from. Apart from No.1, they all come from just one deal sent to me by my correspondent John from the Franklin club. It is quite amazing that so many things can come up in just one deal, as you will see when you take part in this series.

1. Match Points Dealer East all vul

AKQJT7
8743
A76

You are SOUTH. Playing at match points East opens 1NT. What do you bid?

2. Teams Dealer N All Vul
You are South and your hand:

J875
A862
AJ7
AK

The bidding has been:

SouthWestNorthEast
--1Pass
1Pass1NTPass
?

North’s 1NT rebid is 15-16. You have no other agreement with this partner. What do you call now?

3. Now for a declarer problem. You are West this time and it is teams. You opened 1C, 1H from partner and you rebid 1NT (15-17). Partner calls 6NT.

AQ62
KQ5
K9
Q973
J875
A862
AJ7
AK

How do you intend to play this if:
a) North leads the four of hearts?
b) North leads the two of diamonds?