Had a bit of a rocky set with Jeff on Friday.  We ended up plus an IMP and change per board, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. 

 

Jeff picked up in 4th favorable

 

AJ632 / A2 / A75 / Q96

 

and chose to open 1NT (my choice as well, but not everyone's, with doubleton Heart, 3 Aces and pretty poor spots.)

 

Lefty bids 2 Clubs and 2 passes to you.

 

Again this is a borderline decision.  Partner could have doubled to bid Stayman.  They're likely in a 7 card fit (partner is extremely unlikely to be completely broke, so it's hard to construct a hand where he has a doubleton club and can't find a bid over 2 Clubs) but bidding 2 Spades might push them up a level or find an 8 card Spade fit.  Again I think I'd bid too, but it's a pretty undisciplined position mainly justified by the proposition that it's often easier to declare than to defend.

Unfortunately this was not the time to bid.  They weren't in a 7 card fit. 

A 6 card fit?  Nope.

Wow, a 5-0 fit!

Getting warmer ...

I held

Q / JT9 / Q63 / AT8752

 

I did a double-take when my Righty bid 2 Clubs and waited 2 or 3 seconds for the alert but none was forthcoming.  I didn't want to break tempo, so I passed. 

 

I'm not sure how we play 1NT - 2 Clubs natural - 3NT because in theory we play systems on/2 Clubs.  Does that mean Lebensohl is off?  It didn't really matter because a) I expected Jeff to reopen with a double since he was marked with a doubleton Club and b) even if Jeff passes, we're heavy favorites to go +300, +400 or +500 against our Red opps, which will be enough to cover most, if not all, of our probable white game.

 

After Jeff bid 2 Spades, I bid 3NT and my Lefty doubled.  I didn't think I had quite enough to send it back, but was tempted (white I probably would have.)

 

Jeff was uncharacteristically sloppy in the play and ended down 3.  Lose 10 and change.  Ouch.

 

http://online.bridgebase.com/myhands/fetchlin.php?id=8455492&when_played=1189663611

The 2 Club bidder 'assumed' that his partner would take 2 Clubs as Landy.  No alert.  Nice.

K9854 / K8754 / J4 /3

Our best board was nice because it was an opportunity to clarify what we were playing without a bad result being the catalyst.

Opening Lead Problem:

KQT76 / 84 / 4 / AQ642

You open 1 Spade in 1st.  Lefty passes.  Pard bids 2 Spades.  Righty doubles.  You pass.  Lefty bids 3 Diamonds.  Pard passes.  Righty bids 3NT.  Float.

...

If you led a low Club, congratulations.  Down 1.  It's kind of tempting to lead the Ace to 'have a look' but of course that might well set up the Club King as the 9th trick for Declarer.  Or, as in this case, it blocks the suit (pard has KJ tight and they're 3-3.)

Jeff assumed we were playing Lebensohl here (he was the 3NT bidder.)  I didn't think we did (I thought 2NT on this auction would be scrambling (probably 4-4 in the minors not wanting to pick the wrong one.))  Luckily I had enough values for 9 tricks absent a Club lead.

32 / Q63 / AJT52 / T93

AJ9 / AK9 / KQ73 / 875

+400 was worth 7 and change

http://online.bridgebase.com/myhands/fetchlin.php?id=8459772&when_played=1189663611