Conference turris::bridge

	1. Jxxx-87x-32-J652 after 1D-P-P-X-P-P-?

	Redouble looks interesting.  You'd rather be anywhere than 1DX.
	The only trouble will be if partner is 3343 or 2353 and you end
	up playing 1HX.  I think I want to play in a trump suit that
	breaks a little more evenly, so redouble it is.

	2. I'll assume x-ATxxx-Qxx-AQxx for now.  1S-P-1NF-? Vul vs not.

	It's a little thin to be coming in on this auction when it's still
	live.  Swap the vul and I might bid 2H.  Double is the only other
	interesting bid, but partner won't like playing the 4-3 diamond
	fit with a 5-3 heart fit.  Since 1N was forcing, I think I can
	afford to wait a round and see what develops.

	3. Kx[x]-AQxx-Kx[x]-Kxxx, 4S-P-P-X-P-?, vul vs not.

	Double is penalty and 4N would have been takeout, correct?  I
	don't want to hang partner for balancing, but I am concerned
	that we might be missing a vulnerable slam.  If it really was
	2 spades and 3 diamonds, the best bid may be 5S - Pick a slam.

	Another interesting question is if 4N by you now is natural.
	I don't think we can set 4S enough tricks to offset a vulnerable
	game - Down 3 is only 500, and six tricks is pushing it.  4N
	may be the correct place to play - especially if S-Kxx and D-Kx,

	So Pass is not an option, but until the hand pattern is verified,
	I don't want to commit to a bid.

	7. 8xx-AJTx-AJT98-A, 1D-P-1S-P-2S-P-2N-P-?

	3D and 3N are both possibilities.  Don't know if 3D is forcing
	or not, so I'll bid 3N.

	11. KTx-QJ-KTxx-KT96, P-1D-P-P-?

	A natural, balancing 1N.  Don't see the problem.

	Need to think about rest for now

    1. P. They must have a game, so -500 wouldnt be too bad.
    3. 4N. Will they talk us out of vul slam? Say, 6N.
    
    Will look at the rest domani.

>1. Nobody Vul
>
>S Jxxx, H 87x, D 32, C J652
>
>Partner opens 1D-p-p-*
>	       p-p-?

I redouble.  I want out of here -- when the opponents sit
for a double at the one level, they are usually right.

>2. Jay could you please put in your exact hand. The auction went 
>1S-P-1N (forcing) and Jay had something like: 
>	S x, H ATxxx, D ???, C AQxx (no DA or DK-but I think DQ)
>You are Vul vs not

Assuming it is Qxx of diamonds, I pass and wait.  At favorable,
I might venture 2H.

>3. Vul vs Not
>	Opponents open 4S-P-P-*
>		        P-?
>S Kxx, H AQxx, D Kx, C Kxxx (might have been 2 spades and 3 diamonds)

Geez, I think I would have doubled 4S myself.  Now partner can do the right
thing, I hope.

Given this auction I probably pass partner's balancing X with Kxx of spades.
With Kx of spades, I'm now tempted to bid 5H.  

I don't see any guarantee we're missing a slam here.  5S (pick a slam) may
be changing any plus into a minus, but would launch us if slam is right.
I'd be worried about an opening spade ruff or AS followed by spade ruff
if partner winds up playing in a suit.

Preempts work, don't they?

>7. Both
>
>You open 1D-p-1s-p
>	 2s-p-2n-p
>	  ?
>
>S 8xx, H AJTx, D AJT98, C A

3N.  Good red spots, likely source of tricks in diamonds.

>11. None
>
>You	p-1d-p-p
>	?
>
>S KTx, H QJ, D KTxx, KT96

I pass quietly.  Partner didn't have enough to overcall or
preempt -- they have a major suit fit and LHO has a good hand.
I hope to set 1D, and I don't think I can outbid them safely
in NT.

>13. Both
>
>Partner open 1C-p-1h-p
>	     2h-p- ?
>
>S A, H Qxxx, D Q96x, C AQJ9
>
>Say you bid 3C, would you bid again over 4H?

Hmmph.  Tough call.  I probably wouldn't have bid 3C, but
assuming I did I might venture 4S over 4H now.  Depends on
whether you like all the queens...  If I had QJ or QT of
hearts I'd be a lot happier....

>19. Not Vul vs Vul
>
>You open 2c-3h-p-p
>	  ?
>
>S Ax, H A, D AKx, C AKJT9xx

I bid 5C.

>Same hand you open 2D (Schenken asking for Aces)
>	2d-3h- p-p (partners pass denies an Ace)
>	 *- p-3s-p (double asked for Kings and 3S denied any)
>	 ?
>3N would now be natural and 4C asks for Queens
>

If I can ask for queens and still get out at 5C I do so.
Else I bid 5C.

>24. Nobody vul
>
>You	p-p-1H-2C
>	?
>
>S Jx, H Kxxxx, D AJ9xx, C x
>
>Say you bid 4C (splinter-2D is possible but it NF by passed hand)
>	4c-p-4N-5S (4N is RKB)
>	 ?

Double.  DEPO is on now, the way I play (the interference is at or
above 5 of our suit.)  I have two keys.

     7) 4S
    11) 1N. This is the type of hand for weak NT opening.
    13) 4D. Pard must know my D-support.
    19) 5C. It's IMPs, isn't it?
    24)  P. The splinter was forced as it was. Pard knows I have
        an ace. You have reds, they have blacks, probably. What if 6H 
        pushes them to a cold 6S?

	11.  I balanced with 1N in my last reply.  I'm now wondering why
	I didn't open.  It's pretty close - It passes the rule-of-20, but
	it's ace-less and has eight losers.

	Two things might be happening here.  1) It's the opponent's hand,
	and getting back into the auction will be a bad idea.  2) It's our
	hand, but we probably don't have game.  Partner could be 4-4-3-2
	with no good bid over 1D.  He could be 3-4-4-2 and waiting with
	baited breath for my double.  Down 3 easily beats a non-vul game,
	although this is IMPs, so it's not going to gain that much.

	If partner has the trap pass, he'll raise 1N to 2N, and I'll go
	on to 3N.  I'll take the chance that it isn't the opps hand.

	13.  I like 3D better than 3C.  So many quacks...  If partner
	liked my game try, I'd cue 4S.  So now we're in 6H...

	SA, HA, SK (Pitch D), S-ruff, HK, Cx-CK-CA-Cx, HQ, CQ, CJ, C9.
	If LHO had 4 clubs to the CT and the DK, he'll be endplayed into
	giving me the DQ.

	19.  Double looks good.  I don't know if slam is there or not,
	but we may be taking 3HX for a ride if partner can leave it in.
	If not, I'll bid clubs, which must be forcing (If partner bids 4D,
	then I'll have to choose between 5C and 6C).  Anything else is
	just a crap-shoot.

	RE: Schenken bidding.  Does asking for Kings promise all the Aces?
	Does asking for queens promise all the Kings?  Will the answer
	be a straight up-the-line count, or is it something like Roman
	answers where I might be able to figure out one or both of his
	queens if he has two?  I guess I can ask and bid 6C if he has
	2, 3 or 4, and 5C if he has only 0 or 1.

	24.  A might weak for a splinter.  A straight 4H jump seems better,
	although a fit-showing jump to 3D might be okay.  With the extra
	trump, I guess 4C is a pretty close call.

	Over the 5S interference, we play DEPO, so I have to double.

	-Dave

From: US7RMC::"[email protected]" "Jackson, Collis" 25-APR-1997 13:27:49
To:	"'Dick Bator'" <mlopcs::bator>
CC:	"'Mark Stiles'" <star::stiles>
===============================================

Dick, could you post?  Thanks

Mark:  Our answers matched (almost!)

1.  Redouble.  Almost certainly we should play somewhere other than 1DX.

2.  Pass.  At this vulnerability with no protection from a trump suit, 
you could go for 4 digits against the wrong hands - with no makable games!

3.  Why didn't I double 4S?  At this point, I bid 4N with Kx of spades and
     Pass with Kxx of spades.  I'm likely to push to slam.

7.  3N.  What else?

11.  Typical 1N balance.  Do it.

13.  3C isn't forcing the way I play it, but glad it worked.  Because 
of my lack of controls and stiff ace, I'll settle for a 4H bid.  But now 
that I'm in slam, I'll play the HQ, HK, club to CA (covering the king), 
HA, CQ (4-1 clubs),
DA (what are the diamond spots?), low diamond to dummy.  Whether I
put in the D9 or DQ depends on spots and table feel.  Let's say LHO plays
DT so I cover and lose.  I'll try to ruff out the high diamond honor.

19. a.  5C
    b.  4C  (Queen ask) and go from there.  3N not an option.

24.  4C is a good bid, I was thinking 3C.  After 5S, Double is clear (DEPO
      at 5 of our suit or higher).

Collis

    
      (1)  I run, starting with redouble.
      (2)  I usually double with these 1-5-3-4 minnies.  I expect mostly
          to defend spades or notrump, and dislike empasizing a heart
          lead.  Also, it could be ours in a minor.  At Imps, partscores
          are all the same.
      (3)  5S.  I would have doubled 4S.  I'm slamming now.  As to the
          positional aspects, I dunno.  Bidding 6H might be the winner
          if LHO is void of spades, but really, I don't expect the deal
          to be positional.
      (4)  3NT.  Of course, I accept.  I don't see what 3H can gain me.
          By the way, I would not raise to 2S on 8xx.  I'd rebid 2D.  But
          here it probably matters not - I still accept with 3NT over 2NT.
      (5)  Pass QJ doubleton is worthless and I have no aces.  Give 'em 70.
      (6)  Playing 6H is very tricky. SA,HA, CA with CK coming up, HQ, HK.
          You are pretty much guessing for the DK on either an endplay or
          a "finesse".  At the table, I might have a better clue.  By the
          way, I disagree that 3C should not be forcing - I think it should
          be.  But I dunno about going on past 4H.  Notice the slam is bad.
      (7)  I'm not playing 3NT, which might go down with 6C making.  My aim
          is 5C, huffing and puffing.  But the real trouble is that the
          hand might well belong in 7D opposite xxx xxx QJxxxx x.  There is
          no real hope in the Schenken 2D auction, but I'd try 4C, asking
          for queens.  Who knows - maybe partner has all 3 ?  In the
          2C-3H-P-P-? situation, I luxuriate in a natural, forcing 4C.
          If partner (in my dreams) bids a natural 4D, I'd raise to 7D.
    
      bb

Re: Schenken

2D opener asks for aces. You are showing either a freakish 1-suited
hand that could make slam with the right keycards opposite, or the
uppermost ranges of the NT openings (23+HCP).

In the absence of interference responder bids:
	2H = no aces (cheapest bid)
	2S, 2NT, 3C, 3D = 1 ace (S, H, C, D respectively)
	3H, 3S, 3NT = 2 aces (same color, same rank, same shape)
	4C = 3 aces (any three) but it never happens

Opener makes the cheapest bid (bypassing NT) to ask for kings, queens,
and jacks if there is bidding room. Responder's cheapest bid is always
0; cheapest NT to show one honor in the cheapest suit, non-jump bids
show one honor in the suit bid; jump bids to show 2 honors using the
"crash" (same Color, Rank, Suit) steps.

Opener is boss in this auction unless the first rebid is in NT (Stayman
and Jacoby then apply). So opener's rebids other than the cheapest suit
are natural sign-offs.

With interference, we use both pass and double (or redouble) to show
0 aces. Otherwise we make the cheapest bid in the suit of our one ace,
the next 3 steps are "crash" and the 4th step is 3 aces. Double or
redouble is a feeble attempt to expose psyche interference.

This is a great :-) convention for playing the hand from the wrong side
or for missing game in responder's long suit. It's fun to use but gets
us lots of bottom boards.

Dave

> 1. Nobody Vul
> 
> S Jxxx, H 87x, D 32, C J652
> 
> Partner opens 1D-p-p-*
>               p-p-?
> 
Partner has S AQxx, H Jxxx, D AQx, C xx. I passed worrying about a 
2-3-5-3 and thinking that 1D would only go for about 500 vs a 400 for 
3N. Unfortunately with a 6-2 diamond break 1D went for 800 and 3N 
went down at the other table on a spade lead. At the other table LHO 
bid 1N with something like Kxx, H Kx, D JTxxxx, AK. The opponents 
said that they would double our runout to 1H and could get it for 
500, but I'm not sure that they would have.
> 2. Jay could you please put in your exact hand. The auction went 
> 1S-P-1N (forcing) and Jay had something like: 
>        S x, H ATxxx, D ???, C AQxx (no DA or DK-but I think DQ)
> You are Vul vs not
>
Partner had S KQJx, H x D xx, C KJxxxx. At our table the given hand 
passed, LHO bid 2D and RHO corrected to 2S passed out and set 2. At 
the other table RHO bid 2S and that hand doubled. RHO passed and 
partner bid 3N and made on a spade lead. I believe that it was cold 
after a non read suit lead.
> 3. Vul vs Not
>        Opponents open 4S-P-P-*
>                        P-?
> S Kxx, H AQxx, D Kx, C Kxxx (might have been 2 spades and 3 
diamonds)
> 
Partner has S A, H JTxxx, D Axx, C AJT98. Henry DuLawernce bid an "oh 
wait the hell" 6N and made 8 when RHO turned up with S Qxxxxxxx, H 
Kx, D xx C Q. Our partner allwed 4S Doubled to be the final contract 
and only set it 500.
> 7. Both
> 
> You open 1D-p-1s-p
>         2s-p-2n-p
>          ?
> 
> S 8xx, H AJTx, D AJT98, C A
> 
Partner has KQxx, H Qxx, D Qx, C QTxx. Our auction proceeded 3H, 3S, 
4S. That went down 3 on the 5-1 spade break. At the other table 3N 
went down 1 trick (luckily) when every card was offside.
> 11. None
> 
> You     p-1d-p-p
>        ?
> 
> S KTx, H QJ, D KTxx, KT96
> 
Partners hand looks much like yours with S AJx H KTxx, D Jxx, C A8xx. 
I balanced with 1N and got to play it there making a very easy 4NT. 
Should partner have raised?
> 13. Both
> 
> Partner open 1C-p-1h-p
>             2h-p- ?
> 
> S A, H Qxxx, D Q96x, C AQJ9
> 
> Say you bid 3C, would you bid again over 4H?
> 
> Now for the play. Say you wind up in 6H. You get a middlish spade 
> lead and board hits with
> 
> S Kxx, H AKxx, D A8, C xxxx
> 
> More info:
> 
> Hearts are 3 left-2 right
> When you play a club up RHO plays K
> If you play a diamond to dummy LHO plays DT
> 
I bid 4H at the point in question and made 7 on a diamond lead. At 
the other table declarer missguessed the diamonds (LHO had KJTx and 
RHO had 7xx), but alas a defensive error was made allowing declared 
to make it anyway ;-(
> 19. Not Vul vs Vul
> 
> You open 2c-3h-p-p
>          ?
> 
> S Ax, H A, D AKx, C AKJT9xx
> 
> Same hand you open 2D (Schenken asking for Aces)
>        2d-3h- p-p (partners pass denies an Ace)
>         *- p-3s-p (double asked for Kings and 3S denied any)
>         ?
> 3N would now be natural and 4C asks for Queens
> 
At the other table they bid 6C after the 2C opening. I won't reveal 
the offender but 3N was the call on the above auction. To be fair, I 
did find one hand (it wasn't easy) which 3N would be better than 5C. 
Partner held the QS, QD and three clubs so 6C made.
> 24. Nobody vul
> 
> You     p-p-1H-2C
>        ?
> 
> S Jx, H Kxxxx, D AJ9xx, C x
> 
> Say you bid 4C (splinter-2D is possible but it NF by passed hand)
>        4c-p-4N-5S (4N is RKB)
>         ?
> 
> There were other play and defense problems from the other table 
that 
> would someone ought to post
I think that many missed the point here. Double is the "correct" call 
in response to 5S to show your key cards, but what if partner passes 
"knowing" that slam can't be made. The law of total tricks tell you 
that the opponents might well make their contract! I bid 6D. I 
couldn't hold 3 key cards plus a stiff and had passed originally so I 
was on safe ground. The opponents allowed us to play that rather than 
going 1-2 down in 5 spades. So we make 6.

re:

>I think that many missed the point here. Double is the "correct" call 
>in response to 5S to show your key cards, but what if partner passes 
>"knowing" that slam can't be made. The law of total tricks tell you 
>that the opponents might well make their contract! I bid 6D. I 
>couldn't hold 3 key cards plus a stiff and had passed originally so I 
>was on safe ground. The opponents allowed us to play that rather than 
>going 1-2 down in 5 spades. So we make 6.

I'm sure partner won't pass 5SX -- if two keys and a singleton from a passed
hand aren't enough to be in slam, we shouldn't be there.  I can't imagine
a hand with partner having a valid 4N bid with only one key card!

I like the diamond bid if it allows partner to reason out your holding:
DA, KH, stiff club, implies diamond suit/short spades -- but only because it
really does imply your key count:  what if they bid on to 6S?  What if partner
needs to make another decision at the 7 level?

					- Mark