TGIF December 2016: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
|
J 8 7 3
9
9 7 6 5 3
9 8 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 12
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 70
|
|
5
| 1
| 60
|
|
Moderator: A reader polled his local club when this deal came up in a pairs game, and there was no clear consensus as to the best call. The panel, however, has a decided preference for 4.
Mel Colchamiro: Pass. At first, it seemed so right to bid, but then I wrote down some hands for partner, like: A K x (x) x x A K x x K Q 10 x (x). Game is not exactly a lock, so I'm going against the panel and try to go plus a trick or two.
Jill Meyers: 5. I am afraid if I bid 4 and it gets doubled and I run to 5, they will double because of the runout.
Geoff Hampson: 4. This is a **takeout** double. I have four spades and will often face four spades, so playing in an eight-card fit at the four level seems best.
Eugene Chan: 5. Going against the popular 4 for 2 reasons. 4-X could be very ugly. 5 might propel opps to 5.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. 4 tricks are easier than 11.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Undefined hand over there. Probably a 9-card diamond fit and possibly only a 7-card spade fit. But he invited me to bid spades so I will.
Hk Ho: Pass. Partner did not double to force me to make a choice. I have to respect his decision. LTC-wise, if we could make 5 (unlikely), we should set 4.
Larry Meyer: 4. With a singleton in the opps' suit, and 4 cards in the unbid major, I have to pull the double.
Perry Khakhar: 5. 4 may work, but what will you do over 5? Also, what would partner do with a 3-3-4-3 big hand? Chances are against getting doubled in diamonds.
Plarq Liu: Pass. It's not worth it to run.
John Gillespie: Pass. My pass over 1 was a now or never call and I picked never.
Paul Mcmullin: 4. I can not imagine partner having this set in his own hand.
David Gordon: 4. Choice here is 4 or 5.
Kf Tung: Pass. Too bad they bid 4. But more often you get +100 with a pass than they get +100 if you bid 4 or 5.
Peter Qvist: 5. Too many diamonds and no clue what to lead, make a pass difficult.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A Q 4 3 2
Q 6 5 2
J
K Q 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 6
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 5
| 90
|
|
3
| 3
| 70
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Though the plurality choose to Pass, they concede that every call is dangerous.
Roger Lee: 2NT. I am not opposed to passing at this vulnerability and form of scoring in general, but I would like to have slightly better hearts.
Jeff Meckstroth: 2. It's too risky to pass.
Barry Rigal: Pass. OK, hide my answer from everyone, please. At this form of scoring, I'll try to win the event on this deal, which at any other vulnerability might not be so attractive. If partner has a singleton heart, I'm sure I'll regret it.
Geoff Hampson: 3. Pass could easily be the winner, but if it is wrong, we have a cold zero. I have a useful hand for playing clubs and will happily grab 3NT if partner is worth a 3 move.
Eugene Chan: 2NT. I have a little extra and a heart stopper. Perfectly described via 2NT.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. A gamble, but then so are many bidding decisions.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Ugly, but trying for 200 looks better than stumbling into our misfit.
Hk Ho: Pass. It looks like partner is short in the majors. To defend, I have 2 1/2 tricks in the black suits plus possibly the Q and a diamond ruff. If partner could provide 2 tricks, the result is better than a part score.
Larry Meyer: 3. Pard wants to know my better minor - tell him.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Magic 200 beckons! Why guess and find a 5-2 spade or 4-3 club fit?
Plarq Liu: 2NT. I have heart stoppers.
Paul Mcmullin: 2. Sometimes, there is just no good bid!
David Gordon: 2NT. Hearts not good enough to pass.
Kf Tung: Pass. Top or bottom board, but you will get a top with +200 or +800 with more than 50% chance.
Peter Qvist: Pass. Spade to the ace, diamond to pard, size of pard's diamond return tells me where to continue.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
K 10 5 4 2
A 6 5 3
J 6 5
5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 5
| 100
|
|
4
| 5
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 70
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Five of the panel vote to change the system. The secondmost popular choice is 4.
Daniel Korbel: 4. There's no reason to let West in at a lower level. I can't afford to bid 3 limit as it is nonforcing and this is just not enough 'stuff' for a splinter.
Larry Cohen: 4. Barely worth it. I'm adding for the five-card suit, the ace and the new year.
Mike Lawrence: 3NT. I would like to bid 3NT showing a minimum game-forcing unknown splinter, but the scorekeeper would complain about my going off card again.
Kerri Sanborn: 3. If I were playing mixed raises, this one would probably fit the bill. But it is still close to a limit raise. I doubt that we will miss game if partner passes 3.
Eugene Chan: 4. Bid what we can (or hope to) make.
Stephen Vincent: 3. A little heavy, but I think partner is entitled to expect more in the way of high cards for a splinter.
Craig T. Wilson: 2NT. . . Jacoby. If North has the right cards there might be a slam here.
Christopher Diamond: 4. A mini-splinter followed by 4 anyway would just about be right. But I don't think that's available.
Hk Ho: 3. The Bergen raise allows partner to choose game or 3, which should most probably stop E/W to enter the auction.
Larry Meyer: 4. It is tempting to splinter with 4, but I want to take away the maximum amount of bidding space.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Here in Alberta this is a mini splinter in clubs. But otherwise, 3 seems to stand out (presumably invitational).
Plarq Liu: 4. Happy splintering!
Paul Mcmullin: 4. I would want another king or ace to splinter.
Hari Ajmani: 3. Limit raise.
David Gordon: 4. Choice is 4 or 4.
Kf Tung: 4. 10 tricks are more likely than 9 tricks opposite an ordinary opening hand.
Peter Qvist: 4. Top score will be a splinter bid - it's wrong - too much help to opps finding a good lead. It's MP.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A K 10 9 5 3
K 9 4
---
A J 10 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
3
|
Pass
|
5
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 8
| 100
|
|
5
| 7
| 90
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: The panel was split on this one.
August Boehm: Dbl. Under the gun, this can't be penalty, but if partner is broke - with or without diamond tricks - 5 doubled might still be best.
Josh Donn: 5. You have to double with so many hands at this level, and partner will pass it way too often for my liking to do that here. So I will resort to the tactic of bidding my longest suit and hoping for the best.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. 3 tricks easier to make than 11. Partner still has option to bid or pass.
Christopher Diamond: 5. Many options, so I'll bid the most likely game and maybe pard can figure out if he has enough good cards to continue.
Hk Ho: Pass. East's strength is unknown. 5 could easily lose 3 or 4 tricks. There are 2 1/2 defensive tricks, A, A and hopefully K. It's IMPs, not worthwhile to double to bet 150 for 50.
Larry Meyer: 5. Pard passed, so slam unlikely, so bid what I hope I can make.
Perry Khakhar: 5. Best available game bonus! Trying for 6 seems like a stretch.
Plarq Liu: 5. Give it a shot.
Bjarne Andersen: 5NT. . . pick a slam. If partner bids 6 I move to 6.
Paul Mcmullin: Dbl. 5 here is just too unilateral.
Kf Tung: Dbl. Time to solicit an opinion from partner!
|
| 5. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
8
Q 9 8 6
A J 6 2
A J 10 9
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1
| 9
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 80
|
|
1
| 1
| 70
|
|
1
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Many players use Pearson point count as a guideline for opening the bidding in fourth seat on a marginal hand. The panel do not think this hand is marginal, however.
Steve Weinstein: 1. I got an opening bid, yo. Even if they find spades, there is a good chance partner has four of them and I go plus that way.
Steve Robinson: Pass. The singleton spade and a rebid problem over a 1 response lean toward pass. If, however, I was playing with a sound opener - someone like Al Roth - I would certainly open 1.
Eugene Chan: Pass. I rarely violate the rule of 15. Nothing appealing about this hand at all.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. It's likely the HCP are about even. If pard has spades, it's not so good, same if he doesn't. Very close. Another 10 would swing it.
Hk Ho: Pass. It looks like 20/20 and E/W has spades to compete. If my clubs and spades were switched, I would certainly open 1. It would be too bad if partner had 4 or 5 spades and 10 HCP, because 1NT should make.
Larry Meyer: Pass. 12 HCP plus 1 spade = 13. Rule of 15 says pass.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Oh come on! Really?
Plarq Liu: 1. Standard should be 1 for 4-4 in minors, and 1 for 3-3 in minors.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. Like the Aces, HATE the lack of spades. I think I will use the extra time to get a coffee.
David Gordon: 1. Good intermediates.
Kf Tung: 1. Keep all plus scores open. This hand belongs to you.
Peter Qvist: 1. I don't care very much if it is 1 or 1. A pass is putting all the eggs in 1 basket.
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