TGIF February 2016: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
9
K
Q J 9 8 6
A 8 6 5 4 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 10
| 100
|
|
3
| 6
| 80
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Most of the panel goes for 2NT with this misfitting collection of scattered values. Is 2NT meant to be an invitation or a retreat? In theory, it's invitational.
Roger Lee: 2NT. I actually think notrump might play quite badly with a hand like this. But it's also the kind of hand where notrump is going to be very tricky to defend well, and there's no safety in 3 anyway.
Geoff Hampson: 3. I don't expect to make many notrump or anything in a major. We'll see if partner has enough to bid again, otherwise I get to play my longest suit.
Monica Angus: 2. I'm out.
Martin Henneberger: 2NT. Speculating that 3 of a minor could be the right contract is just that, speculation. I see no reason to put on my guessing shoes when I have a descriptive value showing 2NT available.
David Waterman: 2. This is very easy. 2NT is dreadful.
Chris Diamond: 2. . . feeble but may make on power. Anything else could well make things worse.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. I suppose 2NT might play a little better, but I really don't want to give partner any encouragement.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. Deny support for either of pard's suits, with 9-11 points.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 2NT. Horrible hand. Tempted to bid 3, but only if it's agreed as non-forcing. However, in matchpoints 2NT is probably better as opps cannot easily attack any suit. I will pass a fragment-bid from partner (hope its not 3).
Roy Bolton: 2. Misfit. Why go higher?
Plarq Liu: 3. I prefer my diamond's strength.
Paul Mcmullin: 2. At least the K should prove useful.
Amiram Millet: 3. Ready for pass by partner.
Beverley Candlish: 2. I want to get out as soon as possible.
Kf Tung: 3. 3 can produce a plus more often then 2N. Choose 3 in MP scoring.
Norman Tucker: 2NT. Not much help here.
Timothy Wright: 3. Partner won't expect this shape, but I show short majors and 6+ clubs.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Should play a trick better than 2, I think.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A K 9 6 2
A J 9 7 4 3
---
A 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1NT
|
2NT
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Minors.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 13
| 100
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: It's OK to issue an invitation with the last hand, but then put the brakes on with this one? Unlike Problem 1, here you're assured of at least a seven-card club fit. But is there a seven- or eight-card heart fit? You may well never know.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3NT. At IMPs, I will try for the game bonus.
Barry Rigal: 3. I don't see how we can do less than this. My idea of a 2NT overcall means that 5 will have play most of the time (for down 500).
Jill Meyers: 3. Partner has the minors. I am not introducing a major. Basic rule: When you don't have a fit, stay low.
Martin Henneberger: 3. This hand screams misfit. I don't see a trick source and as such need to stay low by bidding 3.
David Waterman: 3. Tougher question if vulnerable.
Chris Diamond: 3. I suppose we could have a major suit fit and maybe there's a game here but if pard has less than his maximum of around 8 HCP it'll take some play.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. 3 will be hopeless, whereas 3 will be quite playable in a 6-1. This bid only backfires when partner is void and they are able to double.
Larry Meyer: 3. When an opponent shows 15-17 points, I don't think we have a game.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. To bid 2NT over 1NT with max 9 points (or did West psyche?) he has to have a CLEAN hand and probably long minors. I will start forcing and if necessary correct diamonds to clubs. He might raise on 0265.
Roy Bolton: 3. Another misfit.
Plarq Liu: 3. Bid my better minor!
David Gordon: 3. Both majors, longer hearts. 3 would have shown longer spades.
Amiram Millet: 3NT. Partner holds about 8 HCP.
Beverley Candlish: 3NT. We have all the suits.
Kf Tung: 3NT. If there is a game it would be 3N. Choose 3N in IMP scoring.
Norman Tucker: 3NT. Only place to be.
Timothy Wright: 3. Partner is advertising a misfit, so I need to stay low.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Partner asked me to pick a minor. No sense looking for magic.
|
| 3. IMPs. None vul.
| |
J 8 6 3
A Q 7 6 5 2
A Q
A
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 7
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 90
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: A number of panelists suggest they would have overcalled 1 rather than doubling the first time around. But we imposed a double and now look! Partner bid spades. What next?
Mike Lawrence: 3. Partner will continue with a smattering of cards. If he has five spades, he will continue unless his hand is absolutely awful. Other bids don't get the job done. A cuebid, for example, will sound as if I have a good hand with three spades.
Steve Weinstein: 2. I would have bid 1 on the first round. Now that I am here, this cuebid is usually a good hand with three spades. I am bidding 2 even though I have an extra spade, hoping to hear 2 from partner. If partner has a 3-2-5-3 yarborough, that's BAD!
Martin Henneberger: 2. I would not have doubled originally. Modern day overcalls tend to have a much higher cap, some going as far as saying unlimited. That being said I will bid 2 now and if partner takes another call, support spades next.
David Waterman: 2. If partner cannot bid over this, game will be poor.
Chris Diamond: 3. Probably wouldn't have doubled, 3 now looks about right.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. There is an argument to be made for 3 if 2 is semi-preemptive. I would have just overcalled 1.
Larry Meyer: 3. Ask pard to bid game if he has anything more than a Yarborough.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. What else? Asks partner if he is absolutely minimum or can find some useful values.
Roy Bolton: 2. I would rather play some number of hearts if we have a fit.
Plarq Liu: 4. Happy splintering!
Amiram Millet: 3. . . encouraging 4.
Dan Cecchelli: 2. . . then support spades!
Beverley Candlish: 3. . . invitational.
Kf Tung: 3. Tell partner you have a good hand with hearts and you are going to play 3N, 4 or 4.
Norman Tucker: 4. Partner will not need much but may pass if I bid anything else.
Timothy Wright: 2. Can I go back and overcall 1? No? Then I need to show hearts in case partner has a few cards and can raise me.
Perry Khakhar: 2. . . and then 3 over 2! Controls, source of tricks and partner picked spades! The hand improved just a little!
|
| 4. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A 6
Q J 4
K Q J 4 3
9 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 10
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 60
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
5
| 0
| 40
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: There sure is a lot of negative doubling on this hand without four hearts and/or four spades.
Daniel Korbel: 4. Very difficult problem. In my book, the options are 4 or double. Double aims for the brass ring of partner bidding 3NT, whereas 4 will allow for better exploration for game, slam or even partscore. I don't think 4 forces beyond 4.
Larry Cohen: Dbl. Double does not guarantee the majors - good thing, since I have neither of them. I am dreaming about hearing 3NT from partner. If he bids 4 or 4, I will have to retreat to 5.
Martin Henneberger: 4. We would all like partner to bid 3NT from their side if that's the right contract. That is not realistic unless we start with a seriously flawed 1st call. Not willing to mastermind 3NT from my side I will make a descriptive trump support value bid of 4.
David Waterman: Dbl. Ugly but practical. There is a good chance partner will bid 3NT. If he does not, my next bid is 5.
Chris Diamond: 4. Go for it 3NTers. A negative double will only confuse things and I'm too good for 3.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. There is no logical way to right-side a 3NT contact, so might as well show my support right away.
Larry Meyer: 3. Support with support, leaving 3NT open as an option for pard if he has a club stopper.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Dbl. . . and then support diamonds.
Roy Bolton: 4. 3NT might be best but how do you get there?
Plarq Liu: 3. Bid my diamonds as usual.
Amiram Millet: 3. Not closing the door on 3NT.
Beverley Candlish: 4. . . invitational to 5.
Kf Tung: Dbl. If partner has a good hand with only one club then 6 is palpable. Start with double, and find your way to at least 5.
Norman Tucker: 4. Pard bids game unless bare minimum.
Timothy Wright: 4. Double might get us to a 4-3 fit where the long hand gets tapped. If East is under 30, 3NT rates to make. By elimination, we have to make a diamond raise.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. Moysian 4 is a logical place to play. AK-A will do it! 5 likely requires K as well and only two clubs in partner's hand.
|
| 5. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
---
---
A K Q J 9 7 6
J 9 8 6 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 7
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 5
| 90
|
|
2
| 2
| 70
|
|
4NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: While a number of panelists choose unusual notrump calls to show the two lower-ranking suits at once, an equal number just go ahead and pick their favourite minor and bid lots of them.
Mel Colchamiro: 5. If partner has three clubs and zero diamonds, I still want to play in diamonds.
Allan Falk: 4NT. It's close between this or expressing my strong preference for diamonds immediately and keeping the opponents from exchanging information below the 5-level. Holding no major-suit cards, I think 4NT is a reasonable compromise. I will correct 5 to 5, but pass 6.
Barry Rigal: 2. If this gets passed out, I won't just eat my hat, I'll eat the editors, too. (I meant to put an apostrophe after editors, but I think on reflection, I will actually eat the editors, not just their hats.)
August Boehm: 2NT. I make some attempt to gauge partner's club holding before facing a decision later.
Gilbert Lambert: 4NT. Where did you get that set of hands?
Martin Henneberger: 5. At 1st glance it looks as though we might bid 4NT. That is a mirage, however. The diamond suit can play opposite a void and we will never consider passing a 5 bid from pard else they be 2-2 in the minors. 5 takes away any RKCB or cue from the opps.
David Waterman: 5. Not a great question. Anything could work.
Chris Diamond: 5. I'm not letting him choose a suit. He might get it wrong. A slower approach might work but I'll try to make it harder for them.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4NT. It might be preferable to walk the dog here, but not in a bidding contest.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. There will be a lot of spirited bidding, so tell pard right away about both my minor suits.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4NT. This way partner can participate in picking the right strain. He might pick clubs and A x x or K Q x is enough for the slam I will probably bid anyway.
Roy Bolton: 2. The bidding will not end here.
Plarq Liu: 2NT. Very unusual notrump.
David Gordon: 2. I will compete as high as I need to and get pard to lead a diamond against 7.
Amiram Millet: 2. Will go up to 5 of a minor.
Beverley Candlish: 2NT. Both minors.
Kf Tung: 2NT. Tell partner you have two minor suits. Climb to a suitable level, expecting some fireworks.
Norman Tucker: 2NT. Info please pard.
Timothy Wright: 2NT. My inner Al Roth abstains. The rest of me plans to bid 4NT over their 4.
Perry Khakhar: 4NT. I hope that I got it high enough, fast enough! 6 may be decent choice. Run to 6 if doubled. Unfortunately the Center Opponents always get in the way!
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