Get your ownFree Home PageS Q8532 W N E S H 9742 D A4 - - 1D(a) 2C(b) C 65 2D(c) x(d) 3C(e) P(f) 3D(g) P P P S 94 S AT H J63 H AKT8 D Q983 D KJ652 opening lead: H5(h) C Q943 C T7 obvious shift: clubs (i) expert analysis: N-S, 9 tricks @ S S KJ76 N-S, 7 tricks @ C H Q5 E-W, 6 tricks @ NT D T7 E-W, 9 tricks @ D C AKJ82(a) [16 pts.]
(b) [14 pts.] The club suit has 3 honors, and with a five-card suit, a two level overcall begins to be dangerous, but with 21/2 quick tricks, there is a prospect for game, making the overcall worthwhile. Add to this the preemptive value of the bid, the lead direction, and the favorable vulnerablility, and the overcall is automatic. Slightly too weak for a double in 'TheSystem'.
(c) [6 support pts.] When the auction gets competitive, some hands are worth only one bid. It is important to get in there on hands like this in order to make it easier for opener to compete to the three level when holding the appropriate hand. However, if the opener is the type who consistently competes too high based on any response, perhaps, then, this hand should be expressed with a pass.
(d) [6 pts.] ALERT! (responsive double) Takeout for the majors. The most questionable call, but the latest theorists claim that the hand that is short in the opponents' suit must strain to bid.
(e) Extra values. A game try. Artificial. Neither asking, nor telling.
(f) Not willing to commit to the three level on a probable 4-4 fit.
(g) Refusing the game invitation.
(h) The responsive double showed the majors, so the attempt is to connect without, possibly, giving away an unnecessary trick, keeping the location of the queen concealed from the strong hand (declarer), and hoping for a ruff later.
(i) The obvious shift is clubs, the suit that south bid. If dummy plays the jack of hearts on the opening lead, then north will have the opportunity to play the H2, encouraging in hearts (and denying the K or A of clubs).
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