Quiz 8B61   Main

Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

by Richard Pavlicek

Friends, Romans, countrymen: Lend me your ears!
I come to bury major suits, not to praise them.

On each of these 10 problems, you must decide whether to open the bidding in your five-card major or 1 NT (15-17). If you would bid anything else, please don’t admit it, as the angry crowd might bury you along with Caesar. Simply select the button of your choice.

Compare your choice with the two experts who faced the exact same situation in real life; one opening the major, the other 1 NT. Click “Score Me” at any time to see your running score. If you finish plus after 10 boards, consider yourself an honorable man.

Problem 1

In third seat with both sides vulnerable,

You hold:

K Q A J 10 6 3 A J 8 J 6 2

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2001 Vanderbilt		Final	Rosenkranz vs Gromov
Both Vul	A 7 4 K Q 9 10 5 2 Q 9 8 5		WEST Rosenkranz Pass 2 2 NT 4	North Petrunin Pass Pass Pass All Pass	East Mohan 1 2 3	South Gromov Pass Pass Pass
J 9 3 2 8 7 5 Q 9 4 K 10 4		K Q A J 10 6 3 A J 8 J 6 2
	10 8 6 5 4 2 K 7 6 3 A 7 3		Zmudzinski Pass Pass	Pszczola Pass Pass	Balicki 1 NT	Gawrys Pass

John Mohan opened 1 and played 4 with the 8 lead. Down 2, -200.
Cezary Balicki opened 1 NT and played there with the 3 lead. Made 2, +120.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 2

In third seat with only your side vulnerable,

You hold:

A 2 A J 6 3 2 7 5 4 A K J

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2006 USBC		Semifinal	Jacobs vs Nickell
E-W Vul	7 6 Q 10 8 6 2 10 7 6 5 4 3		WEST Garner Pass Pass 4 Pass	North Rodwell Pass 2 Pass Pass	East Weinstein 1 Dbl Pass Dbl	South Meckstroth 2 Rdbl 4 All Pass
J 4 3 9 7 5 4 A 10 3 9 8 2		A 2 A J 6 3 2 7 5 4 A K J
	K Q 10 9 8 5 K K Q J 9 8 Q		Nickell Pass Pass	Jacobs Pass Pass	Freeman 1 NT Pass	Katz 2

Howard Weinstein opened 1 and defended 4 × with the A lead. Down 2, +300.
Richard Freeman opened 1 NT and defended 2 with the 4 lead. Made 3, -140.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 3

In second seat with both sides vulnerable,

You hold:

Q 5 4 3 2 K Q 10 A K 2 K 3

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2006 World Championship		Qualifying	Kokten vs Meltzer
Both Vul	Q 5 4 3 2 K Q 10 A K 2 K 3		WEST Helness Pass Pass All Pass	North Eskinaz 1 2 NT	East Helgemo Pass Pass	South Aluf,S 1 NT 3 NT
A J 10 8 7 6 4 10 7 6 5 4 J		K 9 8 7 6 A J 2 Q 8 7 5 4
	— 9 5 3 J 9 8 3 A Q 10 9 6 2		Kokten Pass Pass	Larsen 1 NT 3	Aluf,T Pass All Pass	Meltzer 2 NT

Niso Eskinaz opened 1 and partner played 3 NT with the 4 lead. Down 2, -200.
Kyle Larsen opened 1 NT and played 3 with the Q lead. Made 5, +150.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 4

In first seat with only opponents vulnerable,

You hold:

A Q A 9 5 4 2 J 3 2 A Q 10

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2007 USBC		Semifinal	Ekeblad vs Schwartz
N-S Vul	K 5 4 8 K 6 5 J 8 7 6 5 2		WEST Martel 1 2 3 NT	North Berkowitz Pass Pass Pass	East Stansby 1 NT 2 4	South Cohen Pass Pass All Pass
A Q A 9 5 4 2 J 3 2 A Q 10		9 8 6 3 2 Q J 3 A 9 7 K 4
	J 10 7 K 10 7 6 Q 10 8 4 9 3		Becker 1 NT 2	Gitelman Pass Pass	Schwartz 2 3 NT	Moss Pass All Pass

Chip Martel opened 1 and played 4 with the 7 lead. Down 1, -50.
Michael Becker opened 1 NT and played 3 NT with the 6 lead. Made 3, +400.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 5

In first seat with only your side vulnerable,

You hold:

K J 6 5 4 A K 4 7 4 3 A 8

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2007 USBC		Quarterfinal	Harris vs Ekeblad
E-W Vul	Q 8 7 J 7 5 K Q 6 5 6 5 2		WEST Carmichael 1 2	North Moss Pass Pass	East Gerstman 1 NT 3	South Gitelman Pass All Pass
K J 6 5 4 A K 4 7 4 3 A 8		2 Q 6 3 2 J 2 K Q J 9 4 3
	A 10 9 3 10 9 8 A 10 9 8 10 7		Ekeblad 1 NT 2	Harris Pass Pass	Rubin 2 3 NT	Morgan Pass All Pass

Tom Carmichael opened 1 and partner played 3 with the 10 lead. Made 4, +130.
Russ Ekeblad opened 1 NT and played 3 NT with the 5 lead. Made 4, +630.

This swing should have gone the other way (3 NT should be defeated) but that’s real life for you!

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 6

In first seat with only opponents vulnerable,

You hold:

A 10 8 5 2 Q 8 5 A K 3 A 5

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2007 USBC		Quarterfinal	Schwartz vs O’Rourke
N-S Vul	Q J 6 4 K 7 6 4 Q 10 9 4 9		WEST Krekorian 1 2 NT 3 5 NT	North Grue Pass Pass Pass Pass	East Casen 2 3 3 NT 6	South Cheek Pass Pass Pass All Pass
A 10 8 5 2 Q 8 5 A K 3 A 5		K 9 A J 9 3 — K J 10 8 7 6 4
	7 3 10 2 J 8 7 6 5 2 Q 3 2		Jacobus 1 NT 2 3 NT	Cohen Pass Pass All Pass	O'Rourke 2 3	Berkowitz Pass Pass

Jim Krekorian opened 1 and partner played 6 with the 10 lead. Made 6, +920.
Marc Jacobus opened 1 NT and played 3 NT with the 9 lead. Made 6, +490.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 7

In second seat with only opponents vulnerable,

You hold:

A K J 10 5 A 4 2 9 4 A 6 2

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2007 USBC		Quarterfinal	Meltzer vs Deutsch
E-W Vul	A K J 10 5 A 4 2 9 4 A 6 2		WEST Baze Pass Pass All Pass	North Smith 1 3	East Cohler Pass Pass	South Cohen,B 2 4
— Q 10 8 7 5 3 Q 10 7 5 2 4 3		9 8 2 K 6 A K J Q 9 8 7 5
	Q 7 6 4 3 J 9 8 6 3 K J 10		Sontag Pass 3	Deutsch 1 NT 3	Bates Pass All Pass	Kranyak 2

Ron Smith opened 1 and played 4 with the A lead. Made 4, +420.
Seymon Deutsch opened 1 NT and partner played 3 with the 7 lead. Made 4, +170.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 8

In fourth seat with only opponents vulnerable,

You hold:

A 7 2 A K 8 7 4 A 5 8 5 2

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2009 Vanderbilt		Semifinal	Cayne vs Katz
E-W Vul	K 8 5 10 6 Q 6 4 3 A 9 6 3		WEST Sadek Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass	North Lauria Pass 1 NT 2 3	East El Ahmady Pass Pass Pass Pass	South Versace 1 2 3 3 NT
J 10 J 3 2 10 9 8 7 2 K Q 7		Q 9 6 4 3 Q 9 5 K J J 10 4
	A 7 2 A K 8 7 4 A 5 8 5 2		Nunes Pass Pass All Pass	Levin Pass 2	Fantoni Pass Pass	Weinstein 1 NT 2 NT

Alfredo Versace opened 1 and partner played 3 NT with the 7 lead. Made 3, +400.
Steve Weinstein opened 1 NT and played 2 NT with the 10 lead. Made 3, +150.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 9

In second seat with neither side vulnerable,

You hold:

K Q J 8 5 J 9 6 K Q 9 K 10

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2009 USBC		Round of 16	Robinson vs Strul
None Vul	K Q J 8 5 J 9 6 K Q 9 K 10		WEST Berkowitz Pass 5 All Pass	North Stewart 1 Pass	East Cohen 2 Pass	South Woolsey 4 5
10 Q 8 7 5 A 5 4 2 J 7 6 5		6 K 10 4 3 2 J 10 A Q 9 8 4
	A 9 7 4 3 2 A 8 7 6 3 3 2		Robinson Pass Dbl	Becker 1 NT 4	Boyd 2 All Pass	Strul 4

Fred Stewart opened 1 and played 5 with the 2 lead. Down 1, -50.
Michael Becker opened 1 NT and played 4 with the 2 lead. Made 4, +420.

Quiz 8B61   Quit

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

Problem 10

In second seat with only opponents vulnerable,

You hold:

A K Q 10 5 A 5 2 K J 8 7 6

What is your opening bid?  1  1 NT

In real life…

2009 Bermuda Bowl		Qualifying	USA1 vs Australia
E-W Vul	A K Q 10 5 A 5 2 K J 8 7 6		WEST Robinson,I Pass 2	North Robinson 1 Pass	East de Livera Pass Pass	South Boyd Pass Pass
9 7 2 Q J 9 8 3 Q 9 6 5 A		J 8 4 7 6 A 7 4 3 K Q 10 4
	6 3 K 10 4 10 2 J 9 8 5 3 2		Woolsey Pass Pass Dbl	Thomson 1 NT 3 All Pass	Stewart Pass Pass	Brightling 2 Pass

Steve Robinson opened 1 and defended 2 with the Q lead. Down 2, +200.
Matthew Thomson opened 1 NT and played 3 × with the 7 lead. Down 2, -300.

Results and IMP scores are based on what happened in real life, so the winning decision is not necessarily correct in theory, nor does it prove anything. Nonetheless, you must accept the result of your choice, whether you agree with the actual auction or not.

Well, have you learned to praise Caesar? Or are you just ready to join him?

Quiz 8B61   Main

Top   Major? Notrump? Et Tu, Brute?

© 2010 Richard Pavlicek