This set of FORUM problems was originally published in  vol. 9 nr. 1,  January/February 1998.
FORUM courtesy of   infotech
directed by Jaap van der Neut   AUTOMATISERING
 
Starting with the previous issue of FORUM we have included with each problem a comment (or two) from a panel member which best represents the plurality opinion. The panel consists of at least fifteen experts. The list "How the panel voted" has been deleted, but the breakdown of the votes for each problem is maintained.
 
w 
Board 1 SOUTH 
- 
K J 8 7 5 4 
K J 8 4 
A 9 8		 N/EW 
 
 
West 
- 
1		 North 
1 
Pass*		 East 
Pass 
3**		 South 
1 
? 
 
 *Pass= N-S play support doubles  **3=preemptive 
Panel   choices  (%)
w 4 
4 
Double 
4 
3NT 
 		 29 
29 
21 
14 
7
Director: 
 4
 
Jan-Willem Bomhof: 4. At first glance a promising hand with slam potential. But the closer I look, the less I like it. The trumps are under pressure: in a minor suit contract you have to ruff the opening lead, and next you may have to establish hearts by ruffing on the other side. Everything has to break 3-2 in a minor suit contract - else even game is doubtful. What else do you know? Partner didn't bid 2 and so 6, or even 5, is still far off. Partner didn't bid 1NT either. You don't know if that means no spade stopper, or singleton hearts, or penalty pass of 1. The vulnerable raise to 3 makes me weary of a singleton somewhere, so I tread carefully, and 4 is out. Doubler may be right, but it's a gamble you can't afford. Partner will be quick to pass, certainly holding a doubleton spades. What remains: 4 and 4. 4 looks like the more flexible call, but a 4-4 fit (not to mention 4-3) may not be sufficient at the five-level, whereas a 6-1 or 6-2 might. Therefore, 4 - admittedly, also risky. If partner's singleton isn't an honor, his spade pictures must fend off the forcing attack.
Off the record: oldfashioned bidding might have made life easier. After 1, this hand would qualify for 2 in Acol: good suit and some slam interest. After that sequence 4 now stands out.
w 
Board 2 SOUTH 
J 9 7 
A Q 9 8 6 
4 
A 8 6 5		 W/both 
 
 
West 
2(multi) 
2		 North 
Pass 
Pass		 East 
2 
Pass		 South 
Pass 
?
 
Panel   choices  (%)
w Pass 
3 
Double 
 		 50 
29 
21
Director: 
 Pass
 
Kit Woolsey: Pass. If it had gone 2, weak, to my left, Pass, Pass, it wouldn't occur to me to balance. In this sequence, partner is even more limited, as he had two opportunities to enter the auction.
Pass 
w 
Board 3 SOUTH 
4 3 2 
10 
Q 10 
K J 10 8 7 4 2		 E/both 
 
 
West 
- 
2		 North 
- 
3NT		 East 
2(multi) 
Pass		 South 
Pass 
?
 
Panel   choices  (%)
w Pass 
4 
5 
6 
 		 64 
14 
14 
7
Director: 
 Pass
 
Lauge Schäffer: Pass. Holding a strong balanced hand, partner would double first. So I expect him to hold primarily long diamonds.
w 
Board 4 SOUTH 
A J 8 
A J 4 2 
A 
Q 10 9 4 2		 E/both 
 
 
West 
- 
Pass 
Pass		 North 
- 
1 
1		 East 
Pass 
Pass 
Pass		 South 
1 
1 
?
 
Panel   choices  (%)
w 2NT 
3NT 
2 
1NT 
2 
 		 57 
14 
14 
7 
7
Director: 
 2NT
 
Lauge Schäffer: 2NT. Shows extra's and gives partner room to support me at the three-level, if that was his intention. If 1s was the start of a slam try in clubs, I'm happy to oblige.
René Steiner: 2NT. In my system, 1 is real, upwards of eight points, or conventional and at least invitational. That gives me an easy 2NT-rebid, showing about 15-16 in a semi-balanced hand.
w 
Board 5 SOUTH 
9 7 2 
8 7 4 3 
4 
K J 9 7 3		 S/both 
 
West 
 - 
1		 North 
- 
Double		 East 
- 
4*		 South 
Pass 
? 
 
 *4 = fit showing. 
Panel   choices  (%)
w Pass 
5 
 		 71 
29
Director: 
 Pass/5
 
Marc Smith: Pass. I wouldn't have bid 5 if RHO had passed, and now I'm not going to get pushed into it. What other possibilities are there? I suppose it's my fault, but I don't see any. But if partner doubles again, I'll bid 5.
w 
Board 6 SOUTH 
4 2 
K J 10 8 6 3 
Q J 10 
8 3		 E/both
 
West 
 - 
4NT 
7		 North 
- 
Pass 
Pass 		 East 
1 
5* 
Pass		 South 
2 
Pass 
Pass 
 
 *5= 2 aces + queen of trumps
What do you lead?

Panel   choices  (%)
w x 
x 
Q 
 		 36 
36 
28 
 
Director: 
 x
 
Onno Eskes: . On this auction they're simply going to make it. West has a source of tricks, a fit, and enough controls. All aces are on board. So your only chance to set them is a ruff on the opening lead. Leading a heart will seldom give away the thirteenth trick.
Kokish once wrote about a South-American who deliberately refrained from making a Lightner double for fear they would run to 7NT. Partner was supposed to find the ruff all by himself. Nice story. At the table I think I would simply track a spade. Or perhaps the Q, but no heart.
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