TGIF November 2017: Scores
| 1. IMPs. E-W vul.
|
J 9 8 7 3 2
A 9
---
Q 10 8 7 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 7
| 100
|
|
1
| 3
| 70
|
|
2
| 2
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 70
|
|
4
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: You have 7 HCP opposite a passed hand, you have shape and you have the master suit. So what if the quality of the spade suit is somewhat suspect?
August Boehm: 2. . . not 1, which leaves me unprepared for diamonds or defense. If we have a future, it's probably in spades. Should it go double-pass-pass back to me, I can try 3.
Mike Lawrence: 3. It would be nice to know the state of the match and our opponents. 3 is oddly harder to double than 2 and I'm definitely going to do something.
Barry Rigal: Pass. I can't believe I'm doing this, but with such a weak suit, passing then bidding gets both suits in, while bidding one suit may commit me to act later and regret it.
Daniel Korbel: 1. I think if I catch a spade fit, I want to at least get to 4 at these colours, so I won't try an offbeat 2 or 3. If I don't catch a spade fit, we could also be making 5. Opening 1 gives us the best chance of finding either fit.
Gilbert Lambert: 3. Eddie Kantar: It is not about how much you can go down, but about how much they can make.
Christopher Diamond: 1. Depends on what pard might have passed. My general rule: bid slow with spades, fast with other suits.
Larry Meyer: 2. My suit is pretty ugly, but West must have a strong hand, so I need to be disruptive.
Eugene Chan: Pass. At favourable vulnerability, very tempting for 2. However if I take action, I prefer 3. But this is IMPs. Hence Pass.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Preempting 1 level higher for 6-5 shape.
Hk Ho: 2. Pard has passed, so we have more freedom. In 1st or 2nd seat, a better suit is required. After 2 passes, the bid tells pard that you have less than opening strength, but 6+ cards of the suit. Most important of all, it forces West to come in at the 3-level.
Perry Khakhar: 2. This seems clear cut with the vulnerability. I may bid clubs at some level as well!
David Gordon: Pass. I do not mind a 2 bid. It is a situational decision.
Plarq Liu: 2. Have to bid something as nonvul versus vul. If doubled, run to clubs.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. Probably worth more on defense.
Allan Simon: 2. This no longer seems eccentric.
Kf Tung: 2. Pave the path for a save.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A 8 7 5
A K Q 8
A 5 3 2
8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Double, while the clear panel favourite, has its issues.
Larry Cohen: 3NT. At least I can hold up in diamonds and hope that RHO has no side entry. If you could remove all the club bids from my partner's bidding box, then I'd double 3.
Geoff Hampson: 4. My hand is very suit-oriented, but the possibility of playing clubs after double is too high. I can stand to play a 4-3 major as long as partner is taking the tap.
Sylvia Shi: Dbl. I think double is the winner in the long term. Partner will strive to not bid clubs, and if he does, I can just blame him because clubs isn't a suit anymore, as we all know.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. While making a silent prayer to the bridge gods.
Gilbert Lambert: Dbl. Not enough potential tricks for NT.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Sorry Hamman, not this time. Guess I'm passing the dreaded 4.
Larry Meyer: 4. Michaels to show both majors. My strength should compensate for my lack of length.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Not giving up on possible slam. On the other hand, may be creating a big minus. It is matchpoints: I've had zeroes before.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. Too many diamond losers to consider 3NT. I will insist on a major but 4 Michaels is too big of a stretch.
Hk Ho: 3NT. Pass or Dbl is out of the question. If pard can't offer any help, we can't set 3. Dbl might see pard take out in 4. Hope 3NT results in -100 vs -110 or -200 vs -400. If West doubles, I will redouble for pard to run to a long major.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Cannot possibly make a take out double, can I? The possible bids can get ugly with the take out double.
David Gordon: 3NT. Make the value bid.
Joel Forssell: Pass. Pard will reopen.
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Two majors to choose. If partner bid clubs, run to 4NT.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. Hope he has a 4-card major.
Allan Simon: Dbl. . . and pass any response including the dreaded 5.
Kf Tung: Dbl. It is more frequent to strike a major suit fit than to invite a disaster.
|
| 3. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A 4 3
J
A Q 10 2
A K 8 6 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 10
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The singleton rules out doubling this time; must be because hearts is a real suit and clubs isn't! The lonely heart does not, however, dissuade panelists from bidding notrump.
Daniel Korbel: 3. . . a vile bid, but 2NT doesn't feel right. Partner could have: x x x x x x x K J x x x x and all we make is 5. If partner has a little something and wants to try to get to 3NT, he can still cuebid 3. I hope nobody is doubling 2 with this hand.
Josh Donn: 2NT. . . natural. We can easily have game if partner had an awkward hand to bid, or else I will just hope we get to a making contract.
Stephen Vincent: 2NT. . . with misgivings. Where are the hearts?
Gilbert Lambert: 2NT. Here I do have more potential for tricks.
Christopher Diamond: 2NT. I like 2NT a lot better when its forcing. But I don't see a viable alternative here even if its natural.
Larry Meyer: 3. Continue with my plan to show a reverse in clubs and diamonds.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. OK kids. Repeat three times. All good hands start with double.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2NT. The opponents seem to have a big heart fit. Passing might be our last chance for a plus, but don't believe the panel will pass because game is still possible.
Hk Ho: 3. Dbl implies hearts. 3 shows reverse-strength and clubs longer than diamonds. The ball is in pard's court.
Perry Khakhar: 2NT. With A x x, I think that Notrumps may play well. Double is out with this hand and 3 may be too crazy.
David Gordon: 2NT. Shows diamonds or hearts.
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Let partner bid again.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 2NT. Right on strength, but could be down easily.
Allan Simon: Pass. Partner couldn't even croak a negative double, so we don't have a game. And defending gives us a good chance at going plus.
Kf Tung: 2NT. Your hand is better than a 1NT opening and you have clubs.
|
| 4. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
---
K 9 8 6 5 4
K Q 7 6 5 3
8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 6
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 90
|
|
1
| 4
| 80
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: The panel are split between the 3 choices of 1, 2 or Pass. Good problem!
Jill Meyers: 1. I have so much playing strength, I just can't see passing and entering the auction later.
Roger Lee: Pass. Nothing feels right at the moment, so I'll just come back in and show a big two-suiter later.
Mel Colchamiro: 2. . . then 4 or 5 if I have to. That's just how I handle these low high-card-point 6-6 jobs.
Stephen Vincent: 1. I don't like freak hands in bidding competitions.
Gilbert Lambert: Pass. You have to pay some respect to the vulnerability!
Christopher Diamond: 2. Nearly a possible opposite hand for problem 1. So fast with hearts. Easy game. Might be able to get diamonds into play later.
Larry Meyer: 1. Relying on the Rule of 20.
Eugene Chan: Pass. This will be our hand . . . or it won't be. Initial action won't help our cause.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. IMHO the best opening is 1. But last time this question was posed the panel chose to pass.
Hk Ho: 1. 2 is not my cup of tea with a better 2nd suit. If pard responds vigorously, we can bid diamonds again and again. Passing will let E/W plain sailing to find spades.
Perry Khakhar: 2. . . followed by whatever number of diamonds I need to bid. Emphasizing a lack of defense and a crazy hand.
David Gordon: Pass. . . and bid lots later.
Plarq Liu: 2. Bid hearts and prepare to run to diamonds.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 1. Disaster looms, but can't get myself to pass.
Allan Simon: Pass. I hope to get a chance on the next round.
Kf Tung: Pass. You can enter later. You do not open with 8 points on the first seat with two suits.
|
| 5. IMPs. None vul.
| |
K J 10 4 2
4
K 9 7 6 4
Q 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 8
| 100
|
|
2
| 7
| 90
|
|
2
| 0
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Another split panel, taking preference to neither of partner's suits.
Mike Lawrence: 2. Hardest of the set. 2 ends the bidding in what may be our best contract. Or not. 2NT might survive. 2 is OK if it isn't forcing forever. I expect it will be the winner, but the comments will be wishy-washy. My guess is 2. Hopefully partner can raise.
Kerri Sanborn: 2NT. I rate to find a stiff spade opposite, so maybe a diamond card or two. If I bid 2, it forces to game, and 2 for the above reason feels wrong.
Stephen Vincent: 2. Least of evils.
Gilbert Lambert: 2NT. A slight stretch.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Ugly. Guess I could take a false preference. Not forcing to game with this. Spades aren't good enough to play opposite shortness. Pard could have a good hand but a nonvul game isn't a big loss.
Larry Meyer: 2. 2 would be 4th suit game forcing, so rebid my 5-card suit instead.
Eugene Chan: 2. 2 is game forcing for most partnerships. Nothing bad about rebbidding decent spade suit.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Another repeat. My choice would be to psyche a 2 fourth-suit-forcing and pass any response, but last time the panel chose pass.
Hk Ho: 2. 2 is fourth suit. In the lack of support for pard, to rebid a not bad 5-card suit at the lowest level is the best thing to do.
Perry Khakhar: 2NT. Backed into a corner! This is only a slight exaggeration of values compared to the alternative! At least shows a semblance of diamond cards!
David Gordon: 2. Keep the auction alive.
Plarq Liu: 2. Not enough to bid 2, rebid spades.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 2. A perennial problem; this is my choice on reasonable spades.
Allan Simon: 2NT. I don't like it either.
Kees Schaafsma: 2NT. 2 is unlimited; 2NT is non-forcing.
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