TGIF March 2021: Scores
| 1. IMPs. None vul.
|
8 6
K Q 8 6 2
A 8
J 8 6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 15
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 40
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Richard Pavlicek curated these problems from various world championships. We start with a rare unanimous panel.
Zachary Grossack: 3. . . a very comfortable bid. The way I play, 1 followed by 1 shows four spades and at least five clubs. Even in standard, 4-3-3-3 hands are meant to rebid 1NT, so I am assured of a club fit. And if partner has game interest with three hearts, they can now show that with 3. Why make an auction confusing with an undiscussed double when 3 is a perfectly good bid?
David Waterman: 3. Double would be great if it showed this hand, but it doesn't. Pard should have 4+ clubs, and if by some chance he doesn't he will have 3 hearts.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. The alternative 3 isn't appealing if East has clubs and diamonds. Pass will allow pard an opportunity to support hearts.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. Show my diamond stopper and invite partner to bid 3NT.
Michael Dimich: 3. You have too much to pass.
Stephen Vincent: 3. The 2 bid seems slightly peculiar: why not overcall on the first round? Still 3 can't be too far off the mark.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Really safe in my system as we tend to bypass spades with balanced hands. Regardless, I bid that using your system as well.
Paul McMullin: 3. Not quite enough for 3.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. Competitive double.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. I wouldn't mind 3, but would never convince partner I have club not spade support.
David Gordon: 3. Will cooperate with any forward move.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Dbl. Forward going. Pass is possible.
Joel Forssell: Dbl. Penalty.
Earle Fergusson: 3. Encouraging support. Hearts are still in the picture.
Kf Tung: 3. Invite. There is a good chance to double 3 if they come in.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A 10 7
Q J 8 5
---
A K J 10 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
|
3
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 12
| 100
|
|
4
| 2
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Unsure a second double would be for penalty, the vast majority pass and take their plus.
Mike Lawrence: Pass. Plan A didn't go well. Need a Plan B. Again, I'm not sure double would be for penalty. One can imagine a perfect hand for North that would give us a play for 5: J 9 3 2 J 9 7 6 4 Q 9 4 2. I'm hoping for a nice 200 against 3.
Steve Robinson: Dbl. I plan to bid 4 if partner bids 3, which should show tolerance for spades.
Janice Molson: 4. I have decided there are hands I could make a slam on. I doubled planning on bidding clubs over spades. I can't bury a six-card suit. If the 3 bid is based on a diamond fit, e.g., 6-4, I could look foolish for not bidding.
Robert Sauve: Pass. Would have bid 2 on first call.
David Waterman: Dbl. . . and 4 over 3. Tempting to just pass and take the plus at this vul, but the chance of a big penalty or a game is too tempting.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Should have bid 2. Not going to compound that by bidding 4 now.
Larry Meyer: 4. I have enough playing strength to double and then bid my suit.
Michael Dimich: Pass. This hand screams misfit for N/S. We may go plus with a pass.
Stephen Vincent: 4. The quality of the clubs means we're less likely to get doubled should this prove to be the wrong move.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Has East been passed in a splinter? No matter, I pass.
Paul McMullin: Dbl. IMPs and they are vulnerable; partner should be able to decide to defend or pull.
Chris Buchanan: 4. I have half of a 30-point deck. If partner is short in hearts we can likely make game in a black suit.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. Apparently the 2 bid card is missing from this box. This question is worthy of an abstain, IMHO.
Allan Simon: Pass. I prefer overcalling 2 but that ship has sailed.
David Gordon: Dbl. Well I am either rescuing opps or collecting a big score.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. Chance for a plus is good.
Earle Fergusson: Dbl. Pull 3 to 4, or pass 4. Of course would be happy to defend!
Kf Tung: Dbl. They have many red cards. You cannot bid 3 or 4 here, and probably partner will bid 3 and you pass.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
K J 6 5 3
A
J 10 9 4 3 2
J
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 10
| 100
|
|
3
| 3
| 60
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Another majority choose to pass. The minority push further with their 6-5.
Roger Lee: 3. Jumping to game looks irresponsible to me, but I have to make a try.
Josh Donn: Pass. The auction hasn't gone well for me, so I don't want to press my luck by getting higher. A hand like this can fall apart quickly if partner doesn't fit us well.
David Waterman: 3. The opponents' silence suggests we don't have a super fit. Game is unlikely if pard has 3 spades. Tougher problem at IMPs.
Christopher Diamond: 3. I'd just chance 4 at IMPs. I assume this is a help suit game try.
Larry Meyer: Pass. If partner has 3 honor cards in spades and diamonds, then we probably have game, but he won't, so just go plus.
Michael Dimich: Pass. Why weren't opps making a takeout double? This is our minimum minus position and maybe they missed a game.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Partner might have the magic cards for 4 but it's more likely they can make 4 or 5.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Man, did I have a tough time finding the pass button in a hurry! If I get doubled, I'm thinking about running to 3. LHO has trapped and I'm going for my life.
Paul McMullin: 3. Ask for help in my second suit.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Try for game.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. It might make, and I sure don't want to defend with this hand.
Allan Simon: 4. This will be exciting.
David Gordon: 3. Why did I not open 1? I guess I will bid my second suit and hope.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. Nope. Would have opened 1, or not at all. I like to hold something in first.
Louk Verhees: Pass. It is quite possible they let me play here and I don't do 3 preemptive.
Kf Tung: 4. Thank opponents for their pass, and don't give them a second chance.
|
| 4. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A Q J 9
K 8 7 6
A
K 9 8 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
2
(1)
| ? |
| (1) Diamonds and spades.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Though imperfect with a stiff ace, 9 of the panel choose to splinter.
Steve Weinstein: 4. It's close between 3, a mini-splinter, and 4, a game-forcing splinter. I think 3 is probably right, but 4 has the advantage that I'm 100% sure partner will know what it means.
Jill Meyers: 3. If they had not bid, I would have bid 3 showing shortness, but their bid has alerted me to the fact that the splits on this hand may not be friendly. I also don't like showing shortness with a stiff ace.
Kerri Sanborn: 3. I want to get the strength and trump support right.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. I like to have five cards in my anchor suit as a source of tricks when I splinter, so no more than 4 for me. The stiff ace is no bargain, and my good and positional spades, given the bidding, will either be wasted opposite shortness or golden; bad splits are more likely. Unless partner has five hearts, the hand may not play so well.
David Waterman: Dbl. If LHO bids 2 and pard doubles, I will pass at this vul. If 2 is not doubled I will bid 4.
Anssi Rantamaa: 2. Partner needs to see this as a cue bid with heart support.
Christopher Diamond: 2. This turned into a very good hand. Going to 4 even in the face of horrendous breaks. I'll make a cheap slam try now.
Larry Meyer: 3. Show my 4-card support and extra values.
Michael Dimich: 2. This hand is good enough to investigate slam.
Stuart Carr: 3. Is 3 mini-splinter?
Stephen Vincent: 4. Don't like splintering with a singleton A or K.
Perry Khakhar: 4. My hand, the vulnerability, the denomination of the scoring all point to this bid. I'd be slightly concerned of missing 6, but insignificant compared to the correct bid.
Paul McMullin: 3. 4 was a close second choice, but sometimes it is nice to involve partner.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Every card I have is working so I will splinter.
Hendrik Sharples: 2. This should show the better heart raise (as opposed to 2).
Allan Simon: 3. Enough with bad breaks likely.
David Gordon: 3. I keep making the mistake of splintering with a single ace.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 2. . . but only with the agreement that it offers support in hearts. (I have that agreement.)
Joel Forssell: 4. Ready to double 4.
Earle Fergusson: 2. Lots of bidding to come, Q J x x x x and the A should make slam.
Kf Tung: 4. Focus on slam interest for hearts.
|
| 5. IMPs. None vul.
| |
J 9 7 3
J 9 7 3
9 7 5 4 3
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
2
|
Dbl
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: How good can a 2-count be? Most take a free call, hoping to buy a partial.
Larry Cohen: 3. . . not pass. I don't want to go minus 110 when we can make something. True, we might belong in spades, but unless we can make game, I don't mind playing in a lower-scoring partial.
Barry Rigal: 3. Some people might have bid already. As it is, I can't stay silent.
Janice Molson: 4. Strain before points. It's a lot, but it's a 30-point deck and partner has extras. Hopefully no club wastage. If she wants to bid a game, OK.
Brad Bart: 3. I might've bid 1 the previous turn.
David Waterman: Pass. I should be safe at the 3 level, but If I bid now partner won't pass. Better to let him reopen, then I will bid 3. If he raises, game should be good.
Christopher Diamond: 3. They seem to be in a pretty good spot so try to move them a bit higher if we don't buy it.
Larry Meyer: 3. Partner asked twice, so tell him about my 4-card major.
Michael Dimich: 4. Envision partner's hand --- your hand fits so well but partner has to avoid getting a heart lead from West. So 4.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Having limited my hand previously I think it's time to chime in.
Perry Khakhar: 3. I don't think that double here is responsive. We may be down 1, but unlikely to get doubled.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I have passed twice already. Surely partner will recognize a 'shape' bid, right?
Chris Buchanan: 3. I can't hold much in this auction but a club void entices me to squeak out a spade bid.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. I think I'm happy if 3 ends the auction, but I suspect that isn't happening.
Allan Simon: 3. Partner shouldn't expect much more after my pass on the previous round.
David Gordon: 3. I will compete in spades up to 4 with my next bid.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. Yes I will.
Louk Verhees: 4. Let's go high.
Earle Fergusson: 3. Safest partscore at IMPs. I don't like the short hearts on my left.
Kf Tung: Pass. With a very strong hand partner will bid again, so why worry now?
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