TGIF August 2015: Scores
| 1. IMPs. None vul.
|
A Q J 4
10 7
Q J 10 4 3
Q 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
|
3NT
| |
|
Pass
|
4
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4NT
| 8
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 84
|
|
5
| 4
| 84
|
|
4
| 1
| 60
|
|
6
| 0
| 24
|
|
Moderator: 4NT, the consensus call on this problem, is not Blackwood or key card or anything at all forward-going. It's a big stop sign that says 'I had no interest in going beyond 3NT and I still feel that way.'
Daniel Korbel: 4. Although I have a lot of values in spades, he could have a hand like: x A K x x x K x x A K x x to go past 3NT. If he has a weaker hand, he is unlikely to get us too high on his own.
Kerri Sanborn: 4. I have nothing extra to say. I have no reason to think I can do better in notrump, even though I have extra stoppers in the pointed suits.
The Sutherlins: 5. We have a minimum 2 bid, which has now shrunk in value because of wasted spade values. It is unlikely that partner has two low spades and is looking for a spade cuebid, particularly after we have shown a spade stopper with 3NT.
Steve Weinstein: 4NT. A question of where to bail, not if I should bail. I choose notrump because I can see using hearts, diamonds or clubs for my source of tricks.
Yue Su: 4. North may be 0-6-3-4: he can pass 4 or try 6. This is problematic if we play kickback keycard.
Ian Greig: 4. Although my holdings outside spades are unattractive, I am a non-minimum for my bidding opposite a partner who could still be very strong. 4 lets me leave partner in 4NT if he bids it.
Jongseok Oh: 4. Ace showing.
Larry Meyer: 4. Show my spade control and deny a heart control.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Time to start cue bidding. Don't really see the problem.
Eugene Chan: 4. Show my spade control as demanded by partner.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. It is tempting to bid 4NT to confirm the spade wastage, but it sounds like partner may need only the A for slam.
Jake Grabow: 4. Cue.
Mike Roberts: 4NT. To quote Chuck D, it's time to shut 'er down.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. One positive sound should be allowable.
Plarq Liu: 4. Cuebid.
Paul Mcmullin: 4. Warn partner that I REALLY have (wasted) spade values - I presume 3 was an advance cue bid - I REALLY want to back up to 3NT!
Chris Diamond: 4. . . good hand a card short of a slam try.
David Gordon: 4. I do not like my hand much after 4 but I will show my A opposite shortness in partner's hand.
Leonid Bossis: 4NT. Sign off.
Kf Tung: 4. Pard shows a slam interest, and you cooperate with 5 card diamonds and the A.
Perry Khakhar: 4NT. If partner is 1-5-3-4 with extras as is being described, I want to play in 4NT. Other than spades, my hand is all quacks.
Amiram Millet: 4. Partner is looking for a slam.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
---
9
A J 10 9 6
A K Q 10 6 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
2
(1)
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Weak.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 7
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 88
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 72
|
|
3
| 1
| 44
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 40
|
|
6
| 0
| 36
|
|
Moderator: This hand would be far easier to handle if partner, at favorable vulnerability and known to be short in diamonds, had doubled rather than passed. Unfortunately, partner couldn't muster up the wherewithal for a double or anything else. What to do?
Allan Falk: Pass. We could have a grand slam or not be able to make game. But 2 almost has to be going down at 100 a trick. Even if I were told we could make game, I don't know what to bid.
Roger Lee: 3. I doubt this will be the end of the auction.
Mel Colchamiro: 5. I should have excellent chances. As for 6, even opposite the A and the expected K lead, we're not home yet, being at the mercy of dummy's and East's club spots.
August Boehm: 3NT. Unusual situation, unusual bid. Partner rates to have a lot of major-suit cards, and diamond overruffs could threaten a higher-level club contract.
Kevin Contzen: Dbl. There is no way partner is leaving this double in. I get to hear more from partner on the way to slam investigation.
Anssi Rantamaa: Pass. 3NT is tempting
Yue Su: 3NT. Can this exist?? HCP and spades cannot both disappear.
Laurence Betts: 3NT. RHO forgot they were playing flannery.
Jongseok Oh: Dbl. Strong hand.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Looks like our most likely game, and pard won't bid it since he has no diamond stopper.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Partner needs so little in the right places to make game. No one has been able to bid a major, suggesting partner has a little something.
Eugene Chan: 3. Something fishy. Where are all the points? Most will take a stab at 3NT.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3NT. Some number of entrants will cite Hamman's law. I predict 4.
Mike Roberts: 5. Sneaking admiration for Pass.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. No need to rush, maybe we can double them on a higher level for a bigger positive score.
Plarq Liu: Dbl. With this hand I wanted to try something unusual, such as bidding 6 directly, hoping partner has some clubs to trump my diamonds. But then, what if partner has short clubs, and 6 will be down 3? A double can go both ways, even a gambling 3NT is possible.
Chris Diamond: 5. Seems like a good spot. Might need a club spot or 2 from pard.
David Gordon: 3. I will follow up with a 3NT bid if partner says anything.
Beverley Candlish: Dbl. . . and then bid clubs.
Kf Tung: 3NT. Practical.
Timothy Wright: 5. 3NT is a total gamble here.
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. Double is out of the question, and down 2 undoubled when we can make game is useless. So I will take the slight gamble.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Before they locate the spades. Even 200 might be good for us.
|
| 3. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
7 6 2
A 10 8
A 10 8 5 3
10 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
2
|
3
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 6
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 4
| 88
|
|
Dbl
| 4
| 88
|
|
4
| 0
| 76
|
|
3
| 1
| 48
|
|
4
| 1
| 48
|
|
4
| 1
| 48
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 48
|
|
Moderator: With such jubilation about diamonds, most panelists enthusiastically bid game.
Geoff Hampson: 3. I am worth a game try, and I do have three cards in the suit, which is the most I can have for bidding diamonds first.
Wafik Abdou: 5. They may bid or I could be making . . . I have too much for 4, and I would prefer the A to be elsewhere and have three low hearts instead. Then a cuebid would be in order.
Don Stack: Dbl. Holding two aces when I might have none certainly makes it look like I am entitled to a bid. I will opt for the double rather than the nine-trick 3NT contract.
Mike Lawrence: 4. This would be a terrific spot for some kind of value double. But I don't think it is in our methods. 3NT could work, but that requires we have nine runners, which is against the odds. I'll try 4, a game try. 5 is a sane second choice.
Ian Greig: Dbl. Inviting partner to defend the hand with well-placed black suit holdings.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. There should be enough strength for game, and I have hearts stopped.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. I'm two aces better than promised: time to show some life. Partner won't take this as a trump stack on the auction.
Eugene Chan: 3NT. Should be nine cashers available.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. It sounds like both sides have huge fits. We may even make 5, though I'm not going to bid it.
Mike Roberts: 4. This is my 'I forgot to bid 3 last time, partner' bid.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. I owe partner that as I have more than the zero I promised.
Plarq Liu: Pass. No extra values in competition.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. I've got a monster so I have to show something. Could bid 3NT but at this vul he could be light and the 10 is odds on not to grow up.
David Gordon: 5. Without the 3 bid, I would bid 3NT. Now it seems like partner has a likely singleton heart.
Beverley Candlish: 5. The vulnerability is favourable for North South.
Kf Tung: Dbl. Show your extra values. Pard can pass for penalty or compete to 4 as appropriate.
Timothy Wright: 4. I think that we are favorites to make 5, but I do not want to hang partner.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Too early to double. 3NT doesn't feel comfortable. The 5th diamond sells me on this bid.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. . . mainly to warn against a diamond sacrifice.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
Q 10 8 7 5 4
A K 5
A K Q 6
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1NT
|
Pass
|
3
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 11
| 100
|
|
4
| 5
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 64
|
|
4
| 0
| 60
|
|
5
| 0
| 52
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 24
|
|
5
| 0
| 24
|
|
6
| 0
| 24
|
|
Moderator: Most of the expert panel 'pattern out' (complete the description of their distribution) by bidding 4.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. No way to bid slam in my opinion.
Barry Rigal: 4. I think 4 suggests shape rather than denying a club control. Because slam might be cold facing A J x and nothing else, it behooves me to make one effort.
Kevin Contzen: 4NT. Don't choose exclusion blackwood - the A is actually very useful.
Ian Greig: 4. Decidedly unhappy about the 3 bid (3 may only be a singleton). Now I am left with a unpleasant choice between 4 (right on shape, wrong on spade quality) and 4 (wrong on spade quality; wrong on shape).
Laurence Betts: 4. Playing pard for a 2-card preference, not a 3-card limit raise.
Larry Meyer: 4. Stretch for game when you are vulnerable at IMPs.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Partner might have the magic hand and be able to fill in the holes: more likely he does not and game is the limit.
Eugene Chan: 4. Best slam try available without going past game.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. A gentle push towards slam. Partner can evaluate his club wastage without getting too high.
Mike Roberts: 4. This is one where I think you should make your most natural call.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. Yes opposite J x, Q (x x), J (x x) or x x x x x, I'm missing Slam, but I never play partner for their magic hand and cannot ask for it.
Plarq Liu: 4. Show my third suit. Spades might be a bad deal if partner only has A x or K x.
Dan Cecchelli: 5. Exclusion Blackwood!
Chris Diamond: 4. There still could be gold in them there hills, so pattern out.
David Gordon: 5. Exclusion Blackwood would hit the spot here.
Beverley Candlish: 4. Showing 1st round control.
Kf Tung: 4. Itching for a slam? Even 5 may not be foolproof!
Timothy Wright: 6. This is a great hand for Exclusion RKC. Alas, it's not in the system.
Perry Khakhar: 5. I hope this says: How good are your spades Pard?
Amiram Millet: 4. It will usually make.
|
|
