TGIF February 2020: Scores
| 1. IMPs. E-W vul.
|
4
A K J 5 4
K 10 3
A 10 9 2
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| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 5
| 100
|
|
3
| 3
| 80
|
|
3
| 3
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 70
|
|
4
| 0
| 20
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Oh look! The opponents have offered us an opportunity to cuebid.
Kerri Sanborn: Pass. I want to hear partner's next natural bid. Passing brings clubs into the picture if partner can bid them, and allows a natural 3 or 3 bid. I think I will be better placed if I listen for this round of bidding.
Zachary Grossack: 3. . . a significant playing hand in support of diamonds, often (and probably always) with shortness in their suit. In general, you want a fourth trump for these big raises. But my hand is just so good for diamonds that I need to deploy something more exciting.
Josh Donn: 3. Hopefully 2 promises five, like almost all of us play these days.
Sylvia Shi: 3. Standard now is that 2 promises five, but I'm pretty sure that's not Bridge Bulletin Standard. So my plan is to show clubs and bid diamonds next to show 1-5-3-4 and a great hand for partner. This also gives partner room to bid 3 if they are 3-3-4-3.
Ralph Buckley: 3. Western Cue.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3. No hurry. Probably a slam hand.
Martin Henneberger: 3. I think it's important to show 3 card minor suit support when the opponents enter the auction. Should we hear a 3 or 4 bid on our left we'd want partner to be well placed. Passing or bidding clubs first won't do that.
Robert Sauve: 3. Show fit ASAP.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Good hand, don't know where it's going yet. 3 gets murky and 3 eats space.
Ramona Josephson: 3. This is the best description of your hand, i.e., no 4 card diamond support, 4+ clubs, 5+ hearts, no stopper in spades. Partner can decide how to proceed.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Show solid opener, shortness in opps' suit, tolerance for other suits.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Slam is a distinct possibility: perhaps I'll be able to pattern out.
Perry Khakhar: 3. That should convey the message that we have extras (free bid) and a fit. I am very rich in controls. Could easily make a slam if no wastage!
Chris Buchanan: 3. I prefer at least 4-card support for a splinter. A simple raise works well here.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. I might have to decide if Hamman's rule applies next bid.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. . . to keep all options open.
Timothy Wright: 3. 3 is way too timid for what we have here.
Mike Roberts: 3. I'm trying to find the bid that makes me most comfortable passing 3NT by partner. This is it.
Allan Simon: 3. I must conserve bidding room to explore for the best contract.
Kf Tung: 3. 3 shows a better hand then 3.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
Q 8 4
K
Q 9 8 5 3
K 10 6 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1NT
| 8
| 100
|
|
2
| 4
| 80
|
|
2NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 50
|
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Pass
| 0
| 20
|
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Dbl
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The premium for playing NT sways the panel. They can always bid diamonds later.
Mike Lawrence: 1NT. 2 is too weak and 3 is a touch too much.
Barry Rigal: 2NT. Distinguishing that 3 from the 3 can be tough in the murky light.
Steve Robinson: 2. I don't see any other possibility. When both opponents are bidding, it's usually a partscore deal.
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. Free bid is enough for now. They are likely going to bid more spades in which case I may have to show clubs next. Double probably shows hearts though it would be nice if it showed minors.
Martin Henneberger: 1NT. . . a standout. I have the values to make that bid and am not worried about the suit partner has implied. It may be the route that gets us to 3NT or it may just outscore all the diamond partials. I can compete in diamonds later if need be.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Tempted to bid 1NT. I'll try that strain next if I get a chance.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Show a forward going hand with support for the unbid suits.
David Hooey: 2. I expect another round of bidding, so this is the best time to show my best suit.
Stephen Vincent: 1NT. The soft values suggest notrump.
Perry Khakhar: 1NT. Little understated on values and a little overstated on stoppers! Probably, the best middle road!
Chris Buchanan: 1NT. . . 8-10. Not the ideal shape but I really dislike bidding that diamond suit.
Hendrik Sharples: 2. Sometimes it's ok to have a little extra. I guess the real matchpoint pigs bid 1NT.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 2. Conveys values.
Mike Roberts: 3. Partner doesn't have to be offshape, and I was going to bid 3 after 2-2-P-P.
Allan Simon: 2. All this hand is worth.
David Gordon: 3. Invite.
Kf Tung: 2NT. Shows around 10 points and a desirable 3NT on the horizon.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
Q 9 7 5 3
A 8
A 6
A Q 7 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 10
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 60
|
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3
| 2
| 60
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4
| 0
| 20
|
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Pass
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The vast majority opt for double.
Larry Cohen: 3NT. . . a very matchpointy bid. 3 could paint partner into a corner if he has, say, K x K x x x x K Q J x x x. He would likely raise to 4 and we'd miss 3NT.
Roger Lee: Dbl. I can bid 3NT later if it sounds right. If partner has four spades or a heart one-suiter, this hand has too much slam potential, and we might also just take one more trick in a major suit by ruffing something in either hand.
Mel Colchamiro: 3. Too much chance for slam to bid 3NT.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. I will learn more from partner's reopening action as I can't show spades as well as club stoppers (e.g., with a negative double that may endplay partner). Slight risk it may go all pass but I am taking it.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. The choices are Dbl or 3NT. 3 is horrible as it will endplay partner into the best lie when they can't really support spades or bid 3NT themselves. I like Dbl a lot: we are happy with anything pard bids and can offer 3NT over a low red suit continuation.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. If pard bids spades I'll go slamming, otherwise 3NT. Looks odd but you know...flexible.
Ramona Josephson: 3. New suit by unpassed responder is forcing so partner will bid on. Could bid 3NT but may miss slam if you bid too fast.
Larry Meyer: 3. No reason not to bid my longest suit.
David Hooey: 3. Start with the obvious. 3 doubled is not scoring enough vs game or slam so no point in passing. The harder problem comes next when partner rebids 4.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. I would like to show spades and not lose the NT. Decent compromise!
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. Even if we have slam values the likely bad breaks may doom making 12 tricks.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Dbl. Will get me the most information.
Timothy Wright: 3. The vulnerability is wrong for a trap pass, and it's worth giving up on 3NT to explore spades.
Mike Roberts: 3. I don't like the suit either, but won't distort.
Allan Simon: Dbl. We are likely headed for 3NT, but the double allows some scope for partner to further describe her hand, you never know!
David Gordon: Dbl. Flexible.
Kf Tung: 3NT. Your hand can produce the same number of tricks in hearts or NT, and partner can remove it to 4 if he wants to.
|
| 4. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A Q 8 4
Q J 7
J 7 5 3
J 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
2NT
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 6
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 90
|
|
4
| 3
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 40
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 30
|
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Pass
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: How big a diamond raise do you make? Or do you raise diamonds at all? For a start, what does partner have?
Jill Meyers: 4. Close between 5 and 4, but at the table, I would bid 4.
Kerri Sanborn: 5. It's hard to pinpoint where our losers are. If we have a diamond loser, it must be right to play that suit rather than notrump, and 4 could get sticky missing, say, the A.
Daniel Korbel: 4. I don't think this heart stopper is good enough to think we have nine running tricks in 3NT. Imagine something like K x x x K Q 10 x x A K x x. If partner has that hand, we can play 5 or he can give us one last shot at 4. I hate bidding 4, as once in awhile, partner is 2-1-5-5 and was stuck over 2NT.
Aidan Ballantyne: 5. I wish I'd bid a simple 3 over 2 after which it's easier to find the right game if we have one. I'm interpreting that pard doesn't like NT but has a little extra and is trying for game in spades or diamonds. Guessing diamonds will be best.
Martin Henneberger: 4. Partner's 3 is forcing. It accepts the invite and offers a choice of games. If my spades were worse I'd bid 4 and leave the choice to partner. Here, I will place the contract as my spades are good enough to suspect it's the right place to play.
Robert Sauve: Pass. Values in hearts wasted; I have a working 6 count.
Christopher Diamond: 4. With the 10 I'd play in the Moysian. Running off 8 tricks after hearts are established is iffy and we're not vul.
Ramona Josephson: Pass. We don't have a better fit and I have too many jacks. My hand has not grown up.
Larry Meyer: Pass. I doubt that we can run 9 fast tricks in NT, so they will run hearts, and in our 4-3 spade fit, my heart honors will not pull their weight.
David Hooey: 3NT. Partner has a little extra and is offering a 3NT or 4 game with 3 card spade support.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Partner's offered a choice of games: let's reciprocate.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Well, this is going to be a Moysian but with short hearts in the 3 trumps side, it should work out! I don't have so much wasted in the heart suit that I'd insist on 3NT.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Sounds like partner is 3-1-5-4. I will show him diamond support in case they are 3-0-6-4 and let them make the decision.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. Assuming this is accepting and showing 3, I'm being given the choice of 3NT, the 4-3 spade game, or 5. So does partner have a heart void, the 2, or the K? Beats me.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. I'd have preferred 2 and then 3 (but only if it isn't defined as absolutely game forcing).
Timothy Wright: 5. Opposite partner's 3-1-5-4 hand, 3NT is odds-against.
Mike Roberts: 4. This is assuming that partner has the brains to bid 2 on 3-1-5-4 min.
Allan Simon: 4. Letting partner make the last mistake.
David Gordon: 5. Q J x not enough opposite a stiff for 3NT.
Kf Tung: 4. 4, 4, 5 are offered for partner to choose.
|
| 5. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A K 9 7 5 4
A 6 4 2
---
J 10 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 8
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
2
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The panel majority choose double, but not for penalty.
August Boehm: 3. Leaves a path to 4, 3NT or even 5.
Mike Lawrence: Dbl. Double is wrong if partner has two spades. I'm betting on one.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3. Move towards most likely makeable game (4), but getting to 3NT will no longer be possible. Leaving room for a 4 rebid in which case I will cue 4.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Tough problem. Using Dbl in order to gain the space needed to untangle where to play is ideal for this hand. However, I'm not so sure how or why this shouldn't be pure penalty. My hearts aren't good enough for a penalty double but I might survive anyway.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. I was wrong once before.
Ramona Josephson: 3. Shows 6 spades and looking for game in spades.
Larry Meyer: 3. Show my extra length and my extra strength.
David Hooey: 3. Force with 3 forcing, looking for more information. Ready to pass 3NT, raise 3 to 4, or raise 4 to 5.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Well it would appear that partner is 5-5 most likely. If he has as little as Q x, he's better off playing it. My suit isn't good enough to insist.
Chris Buchanan: 3. . . forcing. Tell me more.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. Hope partner can show spade tolerance. It wouldn't surprise me if Dbl is the winner here .
Timothy Wright: 3. I have to cue-bid hear to show strength. (Just don't ask what I will do over 4 by partner.)
Mike Roberts: Dbl. I might miss 4, but where are they getting tricks?
Allan Simon: Dbl. If partner sits for this, it will be a bloodbath.
Kf Tung: 3. Of course you will be delighted if partner bids 3 on his turn.
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