TGIF January 2017: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
Q 10 2
A K 5 4
J 9 8
J 6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
2NT
(1)
|
3
(2)
| ? |
| (1) Clubs and diamonds.
| | (2) Competitive.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 10
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4NT
| 1
| 40
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Gratz to Martin Henneberger who came tops overall for 2016 in the ACBL-wide version of this contest. Dianne Isfeld tied for 2nd.
Larry Cohen: Pass. I have so much more defense than offense, but not enough to double. Partner's likely shape is 2-1-5-5, which means 16 total trumps. That alone suggests defending. That and the K and Q 10 2 are useful on defense but not on offense.
Kerri Sanborn: 3NT. I want to compete, but I want partner to be declarer, as my RHO is likely to lead a heart. Also, 3NT might even invite the five level.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Mostly in the hope they'll bid 4 where we have reasonable defensive prospects.
David Waterman: 3NT. I would not mind just picking a minor and bidding it, but I don't want to influence partner's lead - so let him choose. I am certainly not bidding above the 4-level.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. A hot 2NT should be a good hand, so take a shot at the cheapest game.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Double stop in opps' suit, support for both of pard's suit, and a stopper in the other suit - go for the most likely game.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. No certainty of beating 3 but +200 is worth the gamble. At teams I would try 3NT and +600.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. This hand is a long way from 3NT. Not even sure we can beat 3.
Arun Chopra: 3. Just need a partial spade check with North to make 3NT.
Hk Ho: 4. Partner's shape is 3-0-5-5 more often than 1-2-5-5. His values are in the minors. If the opening lead is a spade (West should have the A K for his opening), 2 or 3 tricks will be lost from the word 'go'. Max 10 tricks, unless the minor suit queens drop doubleton.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. Where are the spades? I'm staying out of this.
Timothy Wright: Pass. We have a bare minimum double fit, and West is unlikely to take the push, so bidding here makes little sense.
Plarq Liu: 3NT. It is workable after a heart lead.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Too much to ask partner to spike with 3 defensive tricks.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. I will not change a possible plus to an almost certain minus.
Kf Tung: 4. Too bad they bid 3. NS will score +110 on many tables but you don't have a good chance to beat 3. Bid 4 and hope for +130 or -100.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
J 8 7 5
---
10 9 6 4
A K 10 7 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
1NT
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 100
|
|
2
| 4
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 3
| 80
|
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
|
Moderator: Though there was a variety of answers to this problem, many panelists grumbled that they would have made a takeout double on the first round of the bidding.
Mike Lawrence: 2. I did pass over 1. If I double 2, I will hear partner double 2. Not wishing to deal with this, I bid 2 now, getting both black suits into the game while I can.
Mel Colchamiro: 3. Partner probably has four hearts, so hearts are 5-4-4-0 or 6-3-4-0 around the table. I half expect lefty to chirp in with 3 over my 3, after which my double should give partner a good shot at making the winning decision.
Josh Donn: Dbl. I will assume this is takeout-oriented, because it should be. I have no issue with the pass over 1. Many people double with these very light hands with a void, but I think it leads to lots of trouble. Still, double would have been acceptable.
Sylvia Shi: Pass. Sounds like this might be a misfit auction, and I'm not sure if I want to get involved. I would play double as a takeout of diamonds, but then partner might double the 2 preference when it's wrong.
David Waterman: 3. Double is misguided. We won't defend 2, so just bid our suit.
Anssi Rantamaa: Dbl. . . a negative double?
Christopher Diamond: 3. Tough hand. I don't want to sell out to 2 on their likely 9 card fit so I'll hope for a 3-4-2-4 opposite and try to push them up a level. Pass could be very right also.
Larry Meyer: Pass. It doesn't seem like they have much of a fit, so we probably don't have one either.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Signs of potential misfit. Pass for now awaiting developments.
Stuart Carr: 2NT. . . assuming balancing 1NT (less than 15). Lebensohl to sign off in 3.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. If I have a bid it's 2, which could be a successful pre-balance against West's likely 2 preference. I'm not convinced the panel will take that gamble.
Hk Ho: 2. Partner's re-opening 1NT shows 12-16 HCP with a heart stopper. His shape should be unsuitable for takeout because there is a short suit. 2 should be takeout and hope he has one or both black suits.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. I do not hear that they have suit agreement yet.
Timothy Wright: Pass. Defending could be quite profitable.
Plarq Liu: 2. We may find a 4-4 fit in spades.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Bid what I have.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Dbl. . . takeout in my agreements.
Kf Tung: Pass. You want to bid 3, but you will do it on the next round, as West is going to bid 2.
|
| 3. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
9 4 2
---
A J 10 2
A K J 8 6 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
2
|
2
|
5
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 5
| 100
|
|
5NT
| 4
| 90
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 90
|
|
6
| 1
| 60
|
|
6
| 0
| 40
|
|
6
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Another day, another high-level decision.
Jill Meyers: 6. I would like to keep all three non-heart suits in play, but I think 5NT shows the minors and eliminates spades from the picture.
Daniel Korbel: Pass. This is surely a forcing auction. If partner doubles, I will have a problem, otherwise we will definitely be well placed.
Roger Lee: 5. Seems optimistic to bid more than 5 with such weak trumps, and failing to raise spades with a heart void and spade support is just setting our side up for a headache.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Supporting with three small at the 5-level is a recipe for disaster but I'm rather stuck. I'd like to bid 5NT as pick a slam but fear it would be misinterpreted.
David Waterman: 6. Happy to play 6, and partner won't bid 7 without solid spades - what else could he have to justify 7? He will discount heart cards.
Anssi Rantamaa: Dbl. . . showing two aces.
Christopher Diamond: 6. He doesn't need the world for 2, but he might have it. There are probably other routes. I'm just not sure they will do a better job of asking for great trumps for a grand.
Larry Meyer: 5. With first round control in all the side suits and 3-card support for partner, I have to raise.
Eugene Chan: Pass. . . forcing, intending to pull partner's likely double to 5. Shows slam try with first round heart control in accordance with Bridge World Standard.
Stuart Carr: 5. Allow for spade and diamond loser.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 6. The opponents seem to think we have a slam, and who am I to disagree?
Hk Ho: 5. Partner's 2 should have 5+ spades and opening strength or better. If he has A K Q and Q x, 13 tricks are available, but how can you check that he has them all?
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. I want to believe that this is a forcing pass.
David Gordon: 5. Easy to bid. Hope we do not miss slam.
Plarq Liu: 5. Actually, this hand is good for offence.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Forcing pass.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 5. This ought to make.
Kf Tung: Dbl. At least you can double 5 and tell partner that the hand belongs to you, but you cannot be sure of 5 or other contracts.
|
| 4. IMPs. None vul.
| |
K J
A Q 10 8 7 3
Q
A 9 8 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 9
| 100
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: A difficult hand to navigate both strain and level.
Kerri Sanborn: 4. . . choice of games. Granted, facing 5-2 in the majors I prefer hearts, but we can't have it all.
Geoff Hampson: 4. There is no great option. We could easily belong in 4 or 5, but I have extras and my hearts are pretty strong, so I will plant us here.
Stephen Vincent: 4. 4 might strike gold but is more likely to lead to an inferior game.
David Waterman: 4. I am afraid that if I bid 4 partner may pass with K Q x x, x x, and not much else.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Too good for 3, a cue bid will only make a messy auction messier, so 4 and hope pard can do something intelligent.
Larry Meyer: 4. Can't bid spades or notrump, so bid out my shape.
Eugene Chan: 4. I have a little extra. Heart suit is suspect but I have been in worse games.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Every bid is awkward. Might as well just take our +300.
Hk Ho: 4. Partner should have the black suits and less than three hearts. It's best to tell him what you have.
Paul Mcmullin: 4. Missing heart honors should be onside; 4 might be interesting but I fear partner would take that for possible spade support.
Timothy Wright: 4. East can easily have diamond support and a flat hand, so 3NT is a big gamble here.
David Gordon: 4. Pull partner's 4 bid to 5.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. Will raise clubs if partner bids them.
Kf Tung: 4. The value bid.
|
| 5. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
A K Q J
A 3
Q J 5
A 10 9 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
2
(1)
|
Pass
|
2NT
(2)
| |
|
Pass
|
3
(3)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Weak two-bid.
| | (2) Forcing, asks for feature.
| | (3) Maximum with K.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 5
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 60
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
4NT
| 1
| 40
|
|
Moderator: The majority of the panel bail out in 4 citing that the K was not the feature they were looking for.
August Boehm: 4. We need diamond shortness (or no diamond lead), plus solid hearts for slam. I could try 3, hoping to elicit a 4 shortness cuebid. But then, is 4NT clearly Blackwood for hearts?
Barry Rigal: 3. Because 3 is not forcing, I must do more. I think 3 is value-showing, looking for 3NT, because I can bid spades directly with 2 then 3. I'll try 3 and explain what it means to partner later.
Steve Robinson: 3NT. Four spades, two clubs, two hearts and one diamond is nine tricks. Partner has to have at least one red king to have a maximum. 4 might go down if partner holds: x K x x x x x x x x x K Q. They might get two diamonds, a diamond ruff and another trump trick.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Trying to coax partner into showing a singleton diamond.
David Waterman: 3. . . and 5 over 4. We are telegraphing the lead, but I think they will find it any event.
Christopher Diamond: 3. I don't really want to be at the 5-level with 2 losing diamonds so I hope he cues with a singleton there. Then I can RKC and find out if he has the K Q.
Larry Meyer: 4. Even if pard has K Q J x x x together with the K, then he won't have A or K because he opened a weak two, so there are probably 2 quick diamond losers.
Eugene Chan: 3. New suit is GF. See what else partner has.
Julie Smith: 3. Why are all these problems so hard???
Stuart Carr: 3. See if partner can cuebid diamonds.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3NT. Choose the safest game. There isn't room for partner to have K and K Q.
Laurence Betts: 3. Best chance to discover a stiff diamond or blow off the diamond lead, not a bidding contest favourite.
Hk Ho: 3. Hope partner's maximum comprises K Q, K and K. He should bid 3NT to show K x. If he has K Q and K Q, he should bid 3 with x x or 4 to show a singleton.
Paul Mcmullin: 4. How does one ask for another feature here?
Timothy Wright: 3NT. Trying for slam is too risky without a shortness-ask. So, it's either 4 or 3NT. And I cannot come up with a maximum 2 call without one of the red kings.
David Gordon: 4. Likely 2 diamond losers.
Plarq Liu: 3. This hand is heading towards slam, cue for spade ace.
Chris Buchanan: 3NT. 9 tricks look to be easier than 10 here.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. Could he also have a singleton diamond?
Kf Tung: 4. You want partner to hold the K for a slam, not the K.
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