Hand 1 from an A player:

Regional Tournament, match points

you're Vul, they're not

Playing 2/1 Game Force:

You hold:

S   Axx

H   xx

D   AKx

C   AKxxx

Right Hand Opponent opens 1Spade.

Question: What is your call?

John Burgener

I would only consider two choices, 1NT and 2C because I will not start with a double with only 2 hearts. This hand is heavy for both but just within the range. I would choose 1NT because of it points to the 9 trick game and because Axx makes holding up effective.

Mark Boswell  

I would make the under bid of 1NT.  This bid has the advantage of adequately describing my hand in one bid.  On a bad day even 1NT could go down. The problem with a double is that there are too many common auctions that could lead to serious problems such as 1S-D-2S-3H-P-? or 1S-D-3S-4H-P-? or

1S-D-1NT-2H-P-?.

Tom Kniest
1NT - In a perfect world, you'd double and pard 's bid 1NT.  Probably not happening here, so I bid 1NT which allows partner to transfer to hearts or get to long diamonds via Lebensohl.  Of course, partner will often pass and have something useful in clubs which will make 1NT an excellent contract.  Double will usually get you in trouble because you have a problem with your shape and possible rebids. 2C is one dimensional and doesn't adequately describe your hand.  So I go for the heavy 1NT - with a clear conscience.

Roger Lord

2 Clubs.  My direct overcall does not deny a good hand.  Consequently, I don't need to distort my hand by doubling without support for the unbid major.  If I double and rebid 2NT, we may have just one spade stopper and no running source of tricks.

Tom Oppenheimer

I suggest 2 clubs.  Double or one no trump could be correct.  I think 2 clubs gives you the best chance for a plus score and leaves partner a little room to bid.

Nancy Popkin

With this strength, a double is called for. Partner is unlikely to jump as there are only about 9 or 10 points left in the deck. Assuming pard bids 2 hearts, I will follow with 2NT, showing a hand slightly stronger than a 1NT overcall.

Rod Van Wyk

Rod is taking a rest on this set of hands.

Karen Walker  

1NT, which should be played as up to 18 HCP, especially red-vs-not. This shows the hand's overall strength and, if partner has enough to move forward, its suitability for our most likely game (3NT). A 2C overcall isn't out of the question, but it over-emphasizes the club suit and suggests an unbalanced, somewhat lighter-HCP hand. Double has the obvious problem of partner bidding 2H, over which you'll have to bid an uncomfortable 2NT.

En Xie

I'd bid 1NT. I play 1nt overcall as 15-18hcp. It's slightly underbid. You have three Aces and two Kings plus a good club suit. It looks like more than 18 points. But weak spades holding suggests we might be better off making a conservative bid.

Milt Zlatic

I think this hand is too good to overcall 1NT--too many controls and a good five-card suit. I would start with a double and rebid no trump over partner's bid.

Playing 2/1 Game Force:

You hold

S  AJX

H  Q 10 9

D  KJ10

C  AJxx

Partner     RHO   You

1S            3D     ?

Question:  What do you bid?

John Burgener

Opponents preempt to keep you from bidding constructively. Here it is to make you guess, game or slam and where. Very effective. Here I would Double “negative.” More descriptive information from partner may allow you answer these questions and select either game or slam and where.

Mark Boswell

I would bid 3NT.  It looks like I have 2 diamond stoppers.  Preempts cause problems.  It might be right to play in spades but it may suffer from diamond ruffs.  More than likely you will take as many or more tricks in NT as you will in spades.  It also may be right to be in slam, but we don't have the room to explore for it.  This is typical of Standard American problems when the opening bid can vary widely in HCPs.  In this case, 3NT or 4S may be the limit or slam could be cold but is not as likely.

Tom Kniest
3NT - highest scoring contract at matchpoints, and no ruffs by the opponents.  This is not close.

Roger Lord

3NT, the last station on the track.

Tom Oppenheimer

I would bid three no trump.  I have a soft diamond holding.  If slam is likely, partner will possibly take another bid.

Nancy Popkin

We should have enough points to even suffer a diamond ruff, so I am playing in spades, even though NT pays more. My fear is that we may miss a slam, so I am going to cuebid to show that I have a good hand. If partner carries on to 6 spades, I can convert to 6NT.

Rod Van Wyk

Rod is taking a rest on this set of hands.

Karen Walker

4D. Close between this and “borderline-mastermind” 3NT, but even if the diamond honors are wasted in a trump contract, I don't want to squash a possible spade slam by withholding my good support for partner's suit. When in doubt (and you surely are here), support with support and give partner a say in the final decision.
 

En Xie

I'd bid 3NT. It's my favorite contract. It's true that hand has support for partner and extra value. But it also has poor shape and too many HCPs in diamonds. I believe with that shape usually NT contract get as many tricks as suit contract unless partner is void in Diamond.

Milt Zlatic

I would bid a heavy 3NT. The 4-3-3-3 shape keeps me from doing anything else. If partner has extras, he'll bid again

Hand 3 from an A Player

Regional tournament , matchpoints

all vul

Playing 2/1 Game Force:

You hold:

S   K10xx

H   A

D   J

C   AKQxxxx

Auction

You       LHO       Partner       RHO

1C.          2NT*           Pass             4H

*2 lower unbid

Question: What is your next call?

John Burgener

First question, how much did partner deny having when he passed directly over 2NT? If his bid is forcing he can still have a very useful hand now. I recommend some form of “unusual vs unusual” where partner can show a non forcing hand with a spade suit or a non forcing raise to 3 clubs or forcing bids if his hand warrants or suggest his hand is penalty oriented. In any event I would rebid 4S now. It might be right or push the opponents a level higher where defending is more promising.   (This could end up in a 7 card fit but partner should pull to 5C with 2 or fewer spades.). No Double now because my shape suggests they have a big fit perhaps a double fit. If doubled, I'd redouble suggesting returning to clubs. At five level I would double since it is matchpoints.

Mark Boswell

I would bid 5C.  It seems silly not to bid it when partner could have only say the QJ of spades or a number of other spade holdings that make 5C cold.  Maybe partner as AQx in spades and you will make 6.  Even if 5C does not make, you may also win because it is a good sacrifice against 4H making.

Tom Kniest
4S - RHO bid a vulnerable game, so the opponents have at least one fit, if not two.  There's room in partner's hand for spades, so I bid them.  I have a powerful playing hand and defending with such a hand is often a losing proposition.  Partner could rightfully expect much longer clubs on this auction, so would not table a dummy with poor spades and club length.

Roger Lord

Double, takeout showing spades along with my club suit.  I wouldn't mind at all if partner's red-suit holdings permitted him to pass for penalty.

Tom Oppenheimer 

I double  (take out).  I am afraid that if I bid 4 spades, partner will think I have a six-five pattern. 

If partner has 4 + spades, he will probably bid them.

Nancy Popkin

I pass. Partner did not peep over 2NT, so where am I going—vulnerable?

Rod Van Wyk

Rod is taking a rest on this set of hands.

Karen Walker

5C. I'm expecting to make, but it could be a sacrifice. 4S sounds like a 6-5 hand, and I don't want to be playing a 4-3 fit on this deal (or perhaps even a 4-4).  Double is the other possibility, but partner will just pass with many hands that would make 5C, and I think my hand is too light on “sure” defensive tricks to risk it.
 

En Xie

I'd bid 4S. Pass would be too conservative. It would be nice if there is partnership understanding that 4S bid doesn't promises five of the suit and implies much better club suit.

Milt Zlatic

A double here should show spades. I don't think it could be penalty, although partner can sit. They're bidding on a double fit so we probably have one too. A four-spade bid here should show 5 spades.

John Burgener

I really like having problems like this one. Now I play that 3C over a weak two bid ask pard to show shortness by bidding a short suit (A below game jump shows a void and 3NT shows club shortness). A rebid of partners suit shows no shortness. Without this option what is your agreement for “feature ask” does it require a maximum hand to show a feature some people show an ace or a king or side shortness. Any of these tools are workable, you just have to discuss and hope to be on the same wavelength. If it is an individual and none of these options were available to me, I would bash 6H.

Mark Boswell

I don't think I would learn about a singleton club until I put the dummy down, and I see a look of disappointment in my partner's eyes!  It is much more likely that partner has the A or K of clubs than a singleton anyway. Partner is more likely to be short in your longer suits than it your shortest suit.  2NT asking for a feature might be nice here, but I play Ogust.  I plan to use it and will assume that good hand will include the A or K of clubs.  With any response, I will bid Blackwood, looking for the A of clubs. I will have a little talk with partner if we are missing the K of hearts.

Tom Kniest

This is a hand that's easy with some of my partners, and difficult with others.  At IMPs, I play 3C asks for a stiff.  However, at matchpoints, I often play that 3 of a minor is nonforcing, with a suit probably better than pard's while 2NT is Ogust.  Other partners I play with agree that 2NT asks for a feature, so you can get to slam opposite the A or K of clubs.  In the absence of any of those useful agreements, you can bid 2NT forcing, then 3H, if there's room, then 4D, if there's room, then 5S - which would zero in on the lack of a club control.  At matchpoints, you need agreements for the most frequent hands.  At IMPS, you need agreements favoring game and slam bidding over partscores.

Roger Lord

Some partners instruct me to respond 3Clbs to inquire for a singleton in any suit.  Perhaps I don't get it, but, after opener denies a singleton club, how will I know whether he has the club KING? Apparently, we need an asking bid for our repertoire.  Without such a systemic complexity,  might respond 3 Clubs followed by 6 Hearts, and I will try to keep my hand from shaking before the opening lead!

Tom Oppenheimer

Most of us play that 3 clubs over a weak 2 asks for shortness.  With a singleton or void in clubs, partner would bid 3 no trump.  Another possible tool is that a jump shift asks for first or second round control.  In this case you would jump to 4 clubs.   Partner would bid 6 hearts with second round club control and 6 clubs with first round control..ace or void.  Bottom line...you need a tool with partner.

Nancy Popkin

Some people play that 3 clubs over a weak 2 asks for a singleton. Partner would bid 3 diamonds or 3 spades with those singletons and 3NT with a singleton club in case partner wants to play there.

Rod Van Wyk

Rod is taking a rest on this set of hands.

Karen Walker

Some pairs play that 3C asks the weak-two bidder to show a singleton. Even if you have that gadget in your arsenal, though, I wouldn't use it here. If partner has a singleton, it's highly unlikely that it's in clubs, and you'll have no idea what to do if he shows a spade or diamond singleton (or no singleton). You can Blackwood, planning to sign off if partner shows just one keycard, but 6H could easily make if partner has the club king instead of the ace (xx, KJ10xxx, Jx, Kxx
You'll be better placed if you instead bid 2NT to ask for an outside ace or king. If partner bids 3C, bid the 6H slam. If he denies a club feature (by bidding 3H), settle for 4H.
 

En Xie

I don't quite understand the question. Is that partner's singleton so critical? If partner has club Ace or King, I think every one wants to be in slam. Some players use 2NT or 3C to ask singleton. So the question is easy for them. Without the agreements, you can start with 2NT first.Then you will have better idea what kind of hand partner has after partner's response. By using control bid, I believe you can find if partner has first or second round control in club or not. Then you can decide to go on or not.
 

Milt Zlatic

I would say, "Do you have club shortness, pard?"

John Burgener

We are really just talking sour grapes here. You are only –150. Bidding in this situation is going to get you in to many 7 cards fits or other “law of total tricks” violating contract and some of them doubled and perhaps costing phone numbers. Then you will have something worth crying about. What we actually know about this hand is that 2D and 2H are beatable! Is either Double-able? Do not dwell on the small losses: You are playing for money, worry about the big losses to come if you worry about this result.

Mark Boswell

I would have passed 1NT.  Unfortunately, the best bid does not always lead to a good result.  Too bad partner was not a little stronger and could bid 2D, which I would have passed. 

Tom Kniest
You have my sympathy with this hand.  First of all, you might have opened 1S in 3rd seat, just to get the lead if you wind up defending.  Then you would also have a convenient rebid over the 1NT response.  No savings on this particular deal, however.  On the other hand, a rebid of 2H would often work out since partner didn't bid 1S and thus has room in his hand for 2 or 3 hearts. 

Roger Lord

If you "never" open a 4-card major, even in third seat, you should count the AKQx as a 5-bagger - and, for the future, rescind the prohibition.  Open 1 Spade, then rebid 2 Hearts.  However, partner has the option to respond 2 diamonds directly over the opening, whether it was 1 Spade or 1 Heart (to the Flight C player: 2 Diamonds is NOT FORCING when bid by a passed hand).

Tom Oppenheimer

I agree with your pass.  If they took 9 tricks against this hand you are unlucky.

Nancy Popkin

It is an awkward hand. But think of all the times you have had to rebid 2 clubs and 3 little clubs. You are just 1 short here, so it is the best lie.

Karen Walker
You have to pass 1NT. The result of  –150 was unlucky, but probably not a disaster, as your opponents could surely make at least +110 in a club partscore. You didn't ask what your partner should have done, but on this deal, he was the only one who could have kept you out of the poor 1NT contract. If you don't play two-way Drury, he could have responded 2D, which, considering that he's already passed, isn't really much of a stretch with this hand.

En Xie

Yes, that's a good hand for Flannery convention. Without the convention, we have headache now. There are three choices: Pass, 2C, and 2h. Personally, I like 2H better. Playing in H, the hand has about 5 or 6 tricks. 2C would be my 2nd choice, it gives partner a chance to do something smart. I wouldn't pass unless you force me to do so. By passing you assume partner has something in minors, then 2h at least as good as 1NT. By the way, if you don't like Flannery, you better encourage partner to open 2D more often in the future. It might dramatically reduce your headache. 

Rod Van Wyk

Rod is taking a rest on this set of hands.