Tollemache, depths of Coventry, late Saturday evening. Another terrible draw
(Glos, Surrey, all the usual suspects) but after three tough head-to-heads,
the county is almost average. Now, last game on Saturday night, you have the
chance to play the group whipping-boys, Berks & Bucks, who have just 8 VPs
out of 60.

An opportunity to get back in contention, but your brain feels like a rice
pudding that has been cooking an hour too long, you're barely on second name
terms with your partner (no change there, then). and you have the NPC
perched on your shoulder. Anyway, first board:

Q1 Session 2 Hand 21 Green against Red, you hold

QJ2
K5
K97643
82

RHO deals and opens 1D, Precision, 11-15, 2+ diamonds. Your call?

Q2 As above, but imagine you have agreed to play a defence to this where
most bids show the suit above OR the two suits above that, e.g. if you
called 2C, it would show diamonds or the majors. Worth a bid?

Q3 even later Sat eve v B & B (2/23) All vul. You hold

A63
10
AK102
AQ765

Pard opens 1NT (12-14). Great, you have a lovely new gadget for this sort of
hand. You respond 2N, pard is forced to bid 3C and now you bid 3H, showing
at least 5-4 in the minors, slam interest and short hearts. Pard now bids
3S. Oh dear, you didn't discuss this bit. Still, your call, anyway?

Q4 even later Sat eve v B & B (2/26) All vul. You hold

KQ92
942
632
643

Partner opens 1S 3rd in hand (Acol, at least 4 spades) and the next hand
bids 3N. This is passed round to pard who doubles. Back round to you - your
call? Why?

Q5. As above. Say you pass out 3NT doubled. What do you lead, and why?

Q6. As above. Say you opt to bid 4S over 3N doubled. Switch to pard's hand
as he tries to make 4S:

KQ92
942
632
643

108543
7
AKQ
AK87

W leads HA, then HK. E follows with the 3 and the 6. You ruff and lead a
trump to the 7, Q and 6. Now what?

Q7. far too late for B(ed) & B(reakfast) (2/26) Green v Red. You hold

KJ3
AK7
Q10973
K8

You deal and open 1D and pard responds 1NT (6-9). Next hand doubles
(presumably t/o). You redouble (extra values, interest in pens). LHO bids
2H. This is passed back to you. Bid again? if you doubled, how would you
expect partner to read it?

Q8. As above. Say you double again, intending it as Lebensohl-style, values
to raise to 2NT, at least 3 good hearts or better. 2H* is passed out so
you're playing for high stakes. Pard leads H5 and the doubler puts down an
8-pointer: