Hand 1:	53	Auction:	North	East	South	West
Vul: None	AKQJ76		2	3	3	?
Dlr: North	AT2
You are: W	K7

Bid	Frequency	Score
5	12	100
4	2	20
5	0	20
4 NT	2	15
4	1	15
6	0	15
6	1	10

Rick Rowland: 5 seems like the only bid that logically moves toward slam. On this auction, it must be natural and asking about spade control.

Hand 2:	6	Auction:	North	East	South	West
Vul: N-S	AKT876		-	1	Pass	Pass
Dlr: East	AQ86		?
You are: N	A3

Bid	Frequency	Score
Double	13	100
2	0	90
1	1	45
3	2	35
4	1	25
2	1	0

Jeff Ruben: 2 would be too unilateral; the best spot could be in diamonds. I have enough to bid hearts over a spade response.

Pete Filandro: Jumps in the passout seat are intermediate, not weak. If partner can't invite there is no game. If we double partner could embarrass us in spades.

Greg Burch: I know... the doublers are all saying "hey, wait, partner can't bid 4 over the double: he would have preempted or overcalled." The problem with that logic is two-fold... first, you are red vs. white, so the overcall constraints are somewhat more stringent... but the main problem is that they are assuming that partner's next bid will come over a "pass" by the opener. What will partner do when he has J98xxx Qx KJxx x or the like, and lefty bids 3? Doesn't his hand grow up? I think 3 gives you the best of all worlds.

Hand 3:	A	Auction:	North	East	South	West
Vul: E-W	J94		-	-	1	Pass
Dlr: South	A85		1	Pass	2	Pass
You are: S	A98532		21	Pass	?

Bidding Note:
¹New Minor Forcing

Bid	Frequency	Score
2 NT	8	100
3	4	70
3	3	30
2	2	15

Jeff Ruben: Better to lie (slightly) about the heart stopper than to bid that club suit again.

Rick Rowland: Which lie to tell? Seems like rebidding the ugly club suit is better than lying about the heart stopper and spade length with 2NT.

Hand 4:	A4	Auction:	North	East	South	West
Vul: Both	KQ3		-	-	-	1
Dlr: West	-		Pass	1	Pass	?
You are: W	AQJT9763

Bid	Frequency	Score
2	8	100
3 NT	1	80
2	1	70
3	2	65
5	0	50
4	3	30
1	1	0
3	1	0

Randy Berseth: This is a good reason to play a big club system.

Andy Kaufman: This is a very powerful offensive hand and the reverse describes this without taking up too much bidding space... This is at least a 9 trick hand and so too good for 3.

Rick Rowland: We need to invent a reverse. 2 has the technical advantage that it may induce a heart lead where you have a chance at two stoppers if you end up in no trump.

Moderator: Some contestants insisted this was a 2 opening bid. Touché. While this may or may not ease this auction - it is generally poor practice not to have a 10 trick hand when opening 2 on the strength of a minor single suitor, thus our decision to open at the one level.

Hand 5:	AKJ8	Auction:	North	East	South	West
Vul: N-S	Q6		1	Pass	2	Pass
Dlr: North	K3		2	Pass	2	Pass
You are: S	QJ875		3	Pass	?

Bid	Frequency	Score
3	9	100
3	6	90
3 NT	1	60
5	1	45

Greg Burch: You don't known where partner is headed yet, and you are in a forcing auction. Why not show him that you have diamond tolerance? What's the rush to bid 3 looking for that half stopper? Partner can do that at his next turn. That way we'll end up in 5 of the right minor (diamonds) when partner has x xxx AQJxxx Axx.