A Very Unusual Problem
Before I start with this hand, here is a brief comment. Everyone tells me that I should work less and have more fun. One of the enjoyable things that I do is to talk about bridge. With this in mind, I am going to try to write a bit more. We shall see.
A student sends me the following hand, both vulnerable at IMP’s:
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A K T 8 5 2 
A 3 
J 9 7 6 2.
To your surprise, it goes three to you. What is your call? What has happened to the spades? If you open, can you expect to be plus? And finally, is this an automatic decision?
Solution is delayed —
I certainly consider bidding to be automatic–in my opinion it would be awfully pessimistic to pass out this collection worrying that the opponents will start bidding spades. Game is likely and even slam is possible, tho it may not be biddable if it is there. I’d just open one heart and count myself unlucky if I end up with a big minus score.
August 3, 2008 drew b
Do you have any agreements with partner as to what 3H would be (in fourth seat)? I’m not too afraid of spades, partner probably has at least four, but am making a bid that might get us to game. The club fit is crucial, but I’m not sure how to address that. 1H is okay, but if partner bids 1S, now what do you rebid? 4H has a lot going for it, too — let them figure out what to lead and how to defend.
Good problem.
August 5, 2008 MOJO
I asked two other players their opinion. They both liked 4H, but didn’t really give their reasons. There ought to be a better way to bid the hand than blasting into 4H, yet it has a lot going for it and my first thought was that is a what I would bid.
The more I think about it, however, I like 1H. Let’s try and find out more about all the hands. If you were in an earlier position, then you’d have to be worried about spades. Both opps have had a chance to act and I do have some defense.
August 6, 2008 MOJO
I think the choices are pass and 4H. 1H gives me too many impossible decisions later in the hand. The opponents are extremely likely to bid spades. What do I do when it goes 1H-1S-2H-3S-4H-4S-P-P-?. I lean toward opening 4H here because (A) it might make, (B) at least that way I won’t have to play 5H and (B) if it’s going for a number, the opponents are unlikely to be able to double – not the case if I go slower. I think these same arguments make pass reasonable, but 4H makes you a tougher opponent to play against, and I like that.
August 11, 2008 Kenny
I would find it difficult to pass this hand at the table, and I pass out far more than my share of deals. I sympathize with the desire to open above the 1 level. 2H neither expresses the hand’s values nor shuts out the spades, but 4H feels like too much. (Note that LHO may be able to double 4H for penalty on this particular auction, depending on your opponents’ agreements, since he is a passed hand. He isn’t going ot double 3H for penalty.) I think 3H has a lot going for it. If partner bids 3NT, I will bid 4C next. (That’s the vig…we may find clubs.) If partner passes, I suspect we weren’t making 4
December 21, 2008 Christopher Monsour