TGIF December 2019: Scores
| 1. IMPs. N-S vul.
|
8 5
10 9 8 5 4 2
Q
A K J 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
(1)
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
|
3
| |
|
Pass
|
3NT
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Waiting.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 11
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 80
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 50
|
|
5NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 20
|
|
4
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: Though the majority choose the natural 4, there is a quartet of panelists that are not unhappy to raise partner with the stiff Q.
Larry Cohen: 4. We could easily have a 4-4 club fit, and even if we don't, why not bid what is right in front of my nose? I know people who would think this is Gerber, but don't get me started on that. Gerber is a baby food.
Daniel Korbel: 4. I know it's a singleton, but it's the queen, and partner should have quite a good suit. I no longer care about hearts once partner cannot raise them immediately. This will be the easiest way to sort out level. A grand slam is easily possible: A K x A A K J x x x Q x x.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. . . natural, not minorwood. I think my diamond queen is rather a big card! To open 2 and rebid a minor should show a long good minor. 4 is probably Gerber, not natural.
Christopher Diamond: 4. We're heading for slam, so I want him to be able to see the Q. If he shows we have all the keycards I'm going to try 7. A Moysian club slam might be the only one available.
Larry Meyer: 4. Bidding out my shape, looking for slam.
Michael Dimich: 4. Your Q is huge, so agree trumps and let your partner and you cuebid to either get to 6 or 7.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. Elicit a preference bid from partner.
Stephen Vincent: 4. I suspect we'll end up in 6.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I'm not ready to give up on a slam quite yet! What's partner got? A K x A A K J x x (x) Q x x (x)? A minor suit slam seems logical! I can't say I like NT slam.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. I have some really nice cards here, with an auction that may have endplayed partner into bidding 3NT.
Leonid Bossis: 4. Heading to 7 or 7NT. For his bidding pard must have: A Q A A K J x x x x Q x x.
David Gordon: 4. Natural and forward going.
Norm Tucker: Pass. I do not love my hand. Overtricks are a possibility.
Peter Qvist: 5NT. . . pick a slam! 4 is for aces.
|
| 2. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A 8 7 5
A K Q
K 10 9 8 4
9
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 7
| 100
|
|
2
| 5
| 90
|
|
1NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 60
|
|
Moderator: Almost everyone on the panel takes action in balancing chair. Their action is among several imperfect choices.
Jill Meyers: Dbl. I feel poised to handle the auction over any of partner's bids: Over 2, I will bid 2; over 3, I will bid 3NT; over 2, I will bid again; and over 2, I will probably pass.
Steve Robinson: 2. I don't see reasonable follow-ups to double if partner bids two of either round suit, and 1NT does not show this hand.
Kerri Sanborn: Pass. I don't anticipate a game, and bidding could turn a plus into a minus. Possible actions include 1NT (a bit heavy and flawed, shapewise), double (flawed for obvious resaons) and 2 (a bit misdirected).
Roger Lee: 1NT. The range is about right (I play a balancing 1NT over 1 to be a little stronger), and the diamonds aren't really good enough to want to bid.
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. Cautious start. Partner passed with likely spade shortness and that's a red flag.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Right answer is none of the above. Let the scrambling begin.
Larry Meyer: 2. I would rather bid 2 now, compared to bidding 2 after I doubled and pard bid 2.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. The hand is too strong for anything else.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. This is why I prefer to play 1NT with range-Stayman.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. Barely qualifies for double and bid a suit. If the spots were worse, I'd simply get out with 1NT.
Hendrik Sharples: 2. Pass is too final but wouldn't surprise me if it is right. Hopefully nobody bids clubs.
Bob Todd: Dbl. An awkward hand. Will start with double and see.
Kf Tung: 2. Be prudent. You can add more to your bidding if you can bid again.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
A K 9 2
K 5 2
Q J 9 5 4
Q
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 6
| 100
|
|
2
| 4
| 90
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 50
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The deal looks different when partner is a passed hand. Regardless, the plurality press forward with 2NT.
Steve Weinstein: 2NT. I'll keep the bidding alive and hope partner can make the right decision.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3NT. Too much not to go for the max.
Jill Meyers: Pass. Partner is a passed hand. I do not think we have a game. If I had a second club, I would bid 2NT, but the stiff Q means transportation difficulties.
Sylvia Shi: 2. Because partner is technically showing 10-plus points, I should move. I will start shaping out and hope we get to the right strain and level.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3NT. The value bid.
Christopher Diamond: 2NT. Q probably makes this good enough for 3NT. But we'll blame transfer.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Bid the most likely game to make.
Michael Dimich: 2. The shape is right and only a little light in HCP.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3NT. 4 is possible, but I prefer 3NT with a spade lead.
Stephen Vincent: 2. Something of an overbid but it should ensure we get to the right game.
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. The value bid! At matchpoints, a 2 bid may make some sense, but I am an optimist.
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. Automatic to bid 2 if partner is unpassed, but having missed the obvious(?) 1NT opener, I now have to catch up.
David Gordon: 2. . . on the way to 3NT.
Kf Tung: 2. Good hand, diamonds, spades, and a lovely Q.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A 3
A Q 3 2
Q 6 3
A K 7 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
3
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 6
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 80
|
|
4NT
| 3
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 70
|
|
5
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Cuebid with A x support? Why not!
Barry Rigal: 4NT. Is this natural and quantitative? Let's find out!
Mel Colchamiro: 3NT. Partner is a big favourite to have a diamond card, something like: K Q x x x K x x A x x x x. If I am even vaguely right as to strength, slam is way, way off.
Josh Donn: 4. I want to invite slam somehow, but it would be quite embarrassing to do it in notrump and lose the first two tricks in diamonds.
Bill Angus: 4. I'm going to communicate strength and show some support. I wish I had 3-card support, but pard could have been seriously preempted.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3NT. No sure diamond stop and gross underbid but it feels right. Will reassess if partner bids again, for example I may bid 5 over partner's 4.
Robert Sauve: 4. Should have opened 2NT.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Cue queen-third? But I'm too good for 4 and 5 is risky. I'll try that if he bids 4.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Bid the most likely game to make.
Michael Dimich: 3NT. Matchpoint bid. Partner will rebid spades with 6 of them.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. Give partner a chance to show hearts while showing extras.
Stephen Vincent: 5. I can't bid just 4.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I know this shows a spade fit, but it is the most flexible bid. If partner has clubs, he can show them. No chance that he has 4 hearts.
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. Brutal. Partner under pressure may have bid light, and suits aren't splitting. Or partner has full values and we have a slam. I wish 4NT was quantitative (maybe it should be).
David Gordon: 5. Show the 2 losers in diamonds.
Norm Tucker: 3NT. Hoping partner rebids spades.
Kf Tung: 4. Good hand, clubs, hearts, and a lovely A.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A Q J
6
A 9 8
A Q J 7 6 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 10
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
1
| 1
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Jumpshifting into a higher ranking three-card suit doesn't scare these panelists.
Zach Grossack: 2. The hand has a smell to it, as the opponents haven't bid, so partner might well have values with something like five diamonds and four hearts. Or not. Whatever. I'm still rather excited by this hand. If partner raises spades, I can bid 4, assured that we are at least close to slam zone in diamonds.
August Boehm: 3. . . a slight underbid, but a jumpshift in the ranking suit has dangers. Suppose partner raises and keeps raising spades on four small? Might pick 2 vulnerable at IMPs to increase the chance of reaching 3NT. Missing a marginal game at matchpoints is less costly.
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. Set the game force, show diamonds next if given room to do so.
Christopher Diamond: 1. If this spins put of control at least my 3-card suit is a good one. Hoping for 1NT-3 continuation.
Larry Meyer: 3. Show my extra values and my extra club length.
Michael Dimich: 2. Absolute monster hand for suit play in diamonds or clubs.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Splintering with 3 seems like the smallest lie.
Stephen Vincent: 2. How often will partner not have 5+ diamonds here?
Perry Khakhar: 3. This should convey a diamond fit, and so long clubs. I'd like 4 diamonds for this bid, but then you have a real difficult time catching up in this auction after a 3 bid.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. 1 second choice.
David Gordon: 3. Maximum.
Kf Tung: 2. Keep calm and carry on. Show your stepping stone to a slam.
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