TGIF December 2020: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. None vul.
|
A
K 5
A K 9 8 4 2
K Q 5 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 8
| 100
|
|
5NT
| 4
| 80
|
|
4NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
5
| 0
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 40
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The majority make an ambiguous move toward slam.
Mike Lawrence: 4NT. I used to think 4NT was keycard for hearts, the only suit you know partner has, and that's not good here. There's a rumour floating around from the dark side that on this auction, 4 should be forcing. I'm not ready for that. 4 feels like it's inviting hearts. So, 4NT. Believe me, this auction is still getting started.
Steve Robinson: 5NT. There is no clear choice on this hand. I don't know the meanings of further actions. What are the meanings of 4, 4NT and 5? You can't bid those if you are not 95% sure of the meanings. At least partner will know that 5NT is choice of slams.
Kerri Sanborn: 4. Yet another ambiguous cuebid, but nothing else shows my strength. A good question for partnerships to discuss is, 'What would 4NT be?' My partners and I have it defined as takeout until a fit is found, but others might play it as a 2NT rebid or even some kind of Blackwood.
David Waterman: 4. I would like 4NT to show this hand, but it is not clear. I will bid 6 over 5 or 5, and 6 over 5. Let's hope he doesn't have long hearts and not much else.
Gary Harper: 4. Will follow five of either minor with 5. Trusting partner will bid the grand with both aces.
Christopher Diamond: 4NT. I have no idea but since I think 4 sets hearts I'm hoping this suggests minors. I'm likely forcing myself to slam.
Aidan Ballantyne: 5NT. Hope partner gets this is looking to minors. 4 probably shows better heart tolerance.
Larry Meyer: 5. Bid out my shape and show my extra values.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Partner would have strained to bid 3NT with many hands which makes it more likely he has nothing in spades, making my hand even better. I just hope he doesn't think I'm agreeing hearts.
Perry Khakhar: 5NT. If partner can make a negative double this high, we need to be in slam. Since it isn't clear where, I'll defer to partner with pick a slam bid. 4 should show hearts!
Paul McMullin: 4NT. Is this Blackwood? If partner has two aces, I'll try 7.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Asks for a further description.
Timothy Wright: 4. 3NT could be right, but I need very little from partner to make slam in a minor.
Allan Simon: 4. Over the expected 5 I rebid 6.
David Gordon: 4. Onward to slam.
Bob Todd: 4. Have to start somewhere I guess.
Kf Tung: 4. You have slam interest, and you have the A. Note that 7 is more welcome than 7.
|
| 2. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A J 10 2
A K Q 5 3
J 8 2
Q
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 14
| 100
|
|
5
| 0
| 60
|
|
5
| 0
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: A virtual unanimity for the 4 cuebid.
Steve Weinstein: 4. We have a double fit with great cards in our suits. 4 gives partner room to make the 4 control bid we want to hear. Planning to play in the 4-4 spade fit. Give partner a reasonable hand like: K Q x x x x x x A x K x x, and we make slam easily after pitching dummy's diamond on the fifth heart.
Ralph Buckley: 4. Second round control in clubs.
David Waterman: 4. He does not guarantee a diamond singleton here. Let him cue bid it now.
Gary Harper: 4. Allows partner to clarify the diamond situation.
Christopher Diamond: 4. If he is short in diamonds slam seems reasonable.
Jake Grabow: 4NT. Sounds like partner has 4-4-1-4, so check for aces.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. Kind of hoping partner will sign off. Not sure of level or strain or diamond controls. Not clear there is any advantage of playing spades over hearts. Too many ifs.
Larry Meyer: 4NT. Unless we are missing 2 keys, I like our chances in slam.
Stephen Vincent: 4. It's not usually a good idea to cuebid shortness in partner's suit but here there is no danger.
Perry Khakhar: 4. We may have a slam, but I need to see some control in diamonds.
Paul McMullin: 4NT. Can I try Blackwood again?
Chris Buchanan: 4. Looking for a diamond control from partner.
Timothy Wright: 4. I want to set trumps (and imply that I don't have a control in the minors).
Allan Simon: 4. If partner has K Q x x x x x x A x K x x we belong in 6.
David Gordon: 4. Try to get partner to cue 4.
Louk Verhees: 4. Would be nice to know the meaning of 2 and 3. Natural and game forcing?
Bob Todd: 4NT. Partner cannot be 4-3-2-4 and must be short in diamonds. Expect 4-3-1-5.
Kf Tung: 5. Partner will bid 6 with a suitable hand, and he knows that you have no diamond control.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A
Q 10 9 7 5 4
K Q 9 4
8 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
3NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 12
| 100
|
|
4
| 1
| 70
|
|
4
| 1
| 70
|
|
6
| 1
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 40
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
6NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Another near unanimity. Opposite partner's solid clubs, everyone makes a move toward slam.
Larry Cohen: 4. We could easily belong in 6. I just wonder how partner asks for keycards. I envision something like: K x x A x x A K Q x x x x.
Ralph Buckley: 4. Showing partner I have at least an opening hand.
David Waterman: Pass. We might make 6, but it is a guess. Take the plus in the best non-slam contract, and quite possibly the best contract period.
Gary Harper: 6. I bid this being aware that bidding what you think you can make is seldom rewarded in bidding contests.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Very close but if he has a spade stop, diamond ace and a top heart he might have opened 2.
Jake Grabow: Pass. Fast arrival to 3NT. Got to trust partner here.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. Hopefully partner cues 4 and I can Blackwood in clubs.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Hoping for 7 club tricks from pard, plus 2 tricks from my hand.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Expecting solid clubs and some outside cards for the 3NT bid.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Typically, this is 7 running clubs with short hearts. We might make, I hope!
Paul McMullin: 4. I would be a lot more confident if I had the J, but I still think a slam is close.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Partner has a long source of tricks. Looks like a reasonable spot. With a third club I would investigate more.
Timothy Wright: 4. Partner should have solid clubs and something outside clubs. With K x x A x x A K Q x x x x I want her to get to slam.
Allan Simon: 4. Partner has 7 solid clubs. Over 4 I rebid 4, then if he has 2 little hearts we can stop safely in 4NT. (In my dreams, anyway.)
David Gordon: 4. Natural and forward going.
Bob Todd: 4. I have a great hand for clubs.
Kf Tung: 4. 4 offers a better score than 3N. Partner can still try for a slam with suitable cards.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
6 4
Q 8 5 3 2
A
A J 10 7 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
(1)
| ? |
| (1) Forcing one round.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 7
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 90
|
|
2
| 3
| 70
|
|
2
| 0
| 60
|
|
Moderator: With no safe way into the auction, one third of the panel pass. The other two thirds are split between 2 and Michaels.
Barry Rigal: Pass. I'd like to bid 2 Michaels, but at this vulnerability, I would need a better hand. Bobby Wolff says, 'Too dangerous is no excuse.' But I'm currently wearing sheep's clothing.
Daniel Korbel: 2. This is gross, but so is everything else. I refuse to pass when we could have a game, but bidding Michaels and sailing to the three level seems reckless. 2 doesn't aim at the most imporant target, which is the heart game. So although this comes with no guarantees, I'm bidding 2.
Josh Donn: 2. Showing hearts and a minor almost seems too easy. Yes, it prevents stopping at the two level, but I feel much better showing both suits.
David Waterman: 2. Not ideal, I know, but the best available bid.
Gary Harper: Pass. I'll wait one round before sticking my neck out.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. I'll get a second chance instead of walking into a live auction with a crappy suit vul.
Jake Grabow: Pass. Partner could be bust and my bidding could give the opponents the gameplan at first trick. Might be able to get in later with a lead directing double.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. Take out. On a good day partner bids one of my suits. If not, I will have to correct diamonds to hearts. I'd rather get in early than pass and wait. It's less risky.
Larry Meyer: Pass. If the opponents also show diamonds, then I will have an easy balancing double.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. There's nothing I can bid at the 2 level that will show my distribution.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. The question is how lucky do you feel? With those hearts, I'm very pessimistic. No Michaels from me.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I am not afraid of bidding later if their auction stops low.
Chris Buchanan: 2. Passing could lead to getting shut out of the auction and the hearts simply are not strong enough to overcall. I do not like the idea of committing to the three level with Michaels.
Timothy Wright: Pass. Bidding 2 means ignoring the suit qualities, vulnerabilities, and the need to be at the 3-level. No thanks.
Allan Simon: Pass. I might reconsider at my next turn, but the hand may be a massive misfit for both sides.
David Gordon: 2. Hearts and a minor.
Bob Todd: Pass. Will bid 2NT over 2 to show 2 suits.
Kf Tung: 2. Your clubs promise a better offensive and defensive source of tricks.
|
| 5. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
Q 2
J 6 5 3
K 7
K Q J 4 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1
| 14
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 60
|
|
Moderator: Even with only two possible answers, this problem was supposed to be more polemical.
August Boehm: 1. Close to unanimous today, I expect, but I sympathize with an aceless pass.
Janice Molson: Pass. I know all my men will open 1 as they have man hair. Despite the fact that in my old age, I'm starting to get man hair, too, I pass. If you promise they buy the hand and partner leads a club, I would open 1, too.
Ralph Buckley: Pass. Difficult second bid. No aces. Crummy spades and hearts.
David Waterman: Pass. An easy bid for me. The spade holding is ugly. Mind you, my regular partner typically wants a robust 14 count to open in second seat, so perhaps I should try 1? No.
Gary Harper: Pass. Two passes in a row in a bidding contest? Can't be good, but the aceless 12 with a Q x deters me.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Not popular these days but a flat, aceless, spade-short 12 count that offers no preemptive value just doesn't do it for me.
Jake Grabow: 1. What did I miss?
Aidan Ballantyne: 1. Can't afford to pass these days. More than ever it's a bidder's game.
Larry Meyer: 1. Rule of 20 opener, even after -1 for Q x. Plus it's a good lead director.
Stephen Vincent: 1. The lead directing value of 1 makes this a marginal opener.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. If you open, partner has a right to expect a little defence. I might get shut out, but so what?
Paul McMullin: 1. It IS quacky, but I want to get started while the bidding is cheap.
Chris Buchanan: 1. Lead directing if nothing else.
Timothy Wright: Pass. This is not only an ugly 12-count, but over 1 by partner, do I really want to rebid 1NT? Or 2?
Allan Simon: 1. I don't get it, nothing else comes to mind.
Louk Verhees: 1. Not smart enough to pass.
Bob Todd: Pass. Not expecting a lot of company.
Kf Tung: 1. Controls are poor but your hand is not flat. You still want to open the hand.
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