TGIF August 2021: Scores
| 1. IMPs. N-S vul.
|
K 9 7 4
A 8 5 4 2
Q 10
10 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) North's double is not a support double. Bridge Bulletin Standard plays support doubles only through 2.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 9
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 6
| 80
|
|
4
| 0
| 60
|
|
Moderator: The panel are split 60-40 between the brass ring of 3NT and passing for penalties.
Steve Weinstein: 3NT. Partner's double shows a very good hand. I'm not worried about the diamonds, but if they can run them to set 3NT, they're probably making 3 on their double fit.
August Boehm: Pass. Just how is that double intended? Clearly not penalty, but is it a big balanced hand or takeout? Given the ambiguity, I'll take my plus score and refine our agreements for the next time.
Michael Dimich: Pass. North has a great hand and I have a good hand for defense. It's IMPs, I suspect we will be +500 or +800.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Happy to defend.
Ralph Buckley: 3NT. Not certain what the Dbl means but I'm guessing it's like a Western Cue bid asking me if I have a spade stopper.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. Not sure what he's got except extras. Might have passed with the 10 since it would pretty much guarantee a max of 5 spade tricks for them. Take the cheap off ramp and let him bid if he wants.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. My spades are good enough to try 3NT, but not good enough to sit for the double.
Earle Fergusson: 3NT. Vul game versus nonvul penalty.
Allan Simon: 3NT. The downside is not as big as for passing 3-X.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I do not think partner asked me anything; I do not see where we would have game.
Kf Tung: 3NT. 3-X will lose a lot. Tell partner you have strength and guard for 3N. Usually he will pass, but 4, 5 or a slam still may follow.
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. This must be an undiscussed thrump double! Nothing else makes sense. Long clubs and a diamond card?
|
| 2. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
A 10
8
A J 9 7 5 4
K 7 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
2
|
2NT
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 100
|
|
4NT
| 4
| 90
|
|
5NT
| 4
| 80
|
|
6
| 2
| 70
|
|
5
| 0
| 60
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The plurality opt for a responsive double, and are happy to defend at this vulnerability. The remainder aim for a minor suit game or slam.
Daniel Korbel: 6. With East-West vulnerable, East should not be kidding around too much. Partner probably has only two hearts, and because he didn't make a takeout double, he may often have only two spades. Thus we will have a huge fit in the minors. The only question is whether to insist on diamonds or try to find clubs.
Roger Lee: Dbl. . . for takeout. If partner passes, I'm happy to play for penalties at this vulnerability. If partner pulls, I'll assume they have a non-defensive hand and therefore (likely) a good fit for me, and I'll try 6.
Jill Meyers: 4NT. I'm hoping this is not natural in our Bridge Bulletin Standard system. If partner bids 5, I will bid 5. I imagine partner will take this as a slam try in diamonds. I would love to bring clubs into the picture too, but with 2-3 or 3-3 in the minors, partner will always bid clubs.
Kerri Sanborn: 5NT. There are several choices. We can bid 5 or 6, 5, double (responsive) or 4NT. The thing is, our right-hand opponent must have some big distribution to bid this way at unfavourable vulnerability. That is worrisome, bit I am guessing 6-4 in the majors. So, partner is a big favourite to have a long minor.
Michael Dimich: 4NT. North can't have 4 spades with short hearts otherwise they would have made a takeout double. North has minor cards so 4NT should be the spot. East could be an unbalanced 6/4 or 5/4 in the majors.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. Restraining the urge to punt 6: the opponents must be bidding on distribution and there's too much chance we have two inescapable losers.
Christopher Diamond: 4NT. Everybody is using the Law of Total Tricks these days so he's got 2 hearts, fewer than 4 spades and so 8+ cards in the minors. Should make 10 tricks at MPs. If he pulls it's likely slam time.
Robert Sauve: Dbl. Try for 500.
Larry Meyer: 4NT. Asking partner to bid his better minor.
Earle Fergusson: 6. What I think I can make.
Allan Simon: Dbl. At this vulnerability, I expect 500. Better than taking a stab at slam.
Paul McMullin: 6. If partner has no aces, we were probably going down in 5, but I do not think they can double here!
Kf Tung: Dbl. 500 beats all game scores, which is what the majority N/S will do.
Louk Verhees: 4NT. East must have some 6-4 hand. It is feasible you can make a slam if partner has the right cards. I make a slam try in diamonds by bidding 4NT and then 5. If partner bids 5 then I have to guess.
Perry Khakhar: 5. Sometimes preempts work!
|
| 3. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A 6
Q 7
Q 7 4 3 2
K J 10 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
(1)
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
| (1) Semi-forcing.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 11
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 60
|
|
Moderator: The vast majority choose 2. Many would like to double to show values as a general takeout, but most believe to double would be for penalty.
Janice Molson: 2. I must admit this is the most top-heavy 1NT I have ever seen. Partner is 5-3-3-2 in some form, so this seems as good a spot as any.
Barry Rigal: Dbl. Easy to gamble someone else's IMPs. After all, they do have only 16 HCP between them. I'm glad you didn't ask me to lead. (I think the J.)
Michael Dimich: 2. North has a flat minimum. I can't double with short hearts so 2 is the only call.
Stephen Vincent: 2. Partner clearly has a minimum hand so we don't have game. Try and push them up a spot even if it's a bit of a misfit.
Christopher Diamond: 2. I'm semi-annoyed by this abuse of language. I'd double at matchpoints and hope. Anybody want to play 2NT forcing yet?
Larry Meyer: Dbl. It is our hand. We can not sell out to 2 undoubled.
Allan Simon: 2NT. Three weird bids so far. Might as well make it four.
Paul McMullin: 2. Let's try to scramble for 8 tricks. (Why did I make a semi-forcing bid with an opening hand?)
Kf Tung: 2. . . the safest part score as partner can pass 1N. 2-X risks a big loss.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. . . for takeout. Easiest problem.
Perry Khakhar: 3. If 1NT is semi forcing, shouldn't I have bid 2 the first time? I suppose bad as this auction has been, may as well make an esoteric cue bid!
|
| 4. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
8
K J 9 5 4
---
K Q J 10 7 6 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1NT
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 5
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 90
|
|
5
| 3
| 80
|
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 40
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Playing DONT, the panel follow the system. But many just ... don't.
Josh Donn: 4. 2 showing clubs and another suit would probably give us another chance to bid hearts later, but I am more interested in making it hard for the opponents to find spades.
Larry Cohen: 2. Too much game potential to preempt to 3. The big question is whether I correct partner's 2 to only 2 or to 3.
Roger Lee: 5. With hands like this, it's always such a guess for everyone at the table. I'll just make the bid directly that I think I'm going to have to make at some point anyway.
Michael Dimich: 5. Constructive versus destructive. Let the opponents try to make the correct decision at the 5 level.
Christopher Diamond: 4. I actually think the right answer is pass. But that's not going to fly. So take up the maximum space with the roundeds while letting the pressure curtail their slam ambitions.
James Harris: 4. If I am doubled, I will bid 5.
Larry Meyer: 3. 4 is unlikely after they open 1NT, so just bid as high as I am willing to go right away.
Earle Fergusson: 5. No guarantees on this hand, so let them guess.
Paul McMullin: 3. I will try 3 if a 3 bid comes back to me.
Louk Verhees: 5. Anything can be right. Need partner to have 1-2 useful cards. Put the pressure on.
Perry Khakhar: 3. And, BBS only has DONT!! May as well get a plus. But if partner has the A, we will make too many.
|
| 5. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A Q 7
A K Q 10 8
A 7 5 2
K
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 10
| 100
|
|
1
| 5
| 80
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Door #1 or door #2?
Mel Colchamiro: 2. If my 8 were the 8, this would be unanimous.
Zachary Grossack: 1. I'll figure out what's next later. Not vulnerable, I'm not overly terrified that 1 will get passed out.
Michael Dimich: 2NT. I'm torn between opening either 1 or 2NT. If partner has 5/6 spades and a weak hand then they will bid over 2NT but pass over 1.
Stephen Vincent: 2. Would partner respond to 1 with K x x x x and out?
Christopher Diamond: 2. OK, don't see the problem.
Larry Meyer: 2. 22 HCP, -1 for stiff king, +1 for 5-card suit, +1 for quality suit = 23 starting points.
Earle Fergusson: 2. Follow up w/2NT.
Allan Simon: 2. You didn't ask, but I plan to rebid 2N.
Paul McMullin: 1. Not enough for 2; I expect some will argue for 2NT.
Kf Tung: 2. Too many games are possible opposite 4/5 points. If overbid, you may get a trick from the K!
Louk Verhees: 1. I don't like opening these hands at the 2-level. Hearts and diamonds reversed I may opt for a NT-range which is still a possibility now.
Perry Khakhar: 2. My decision should be what to do on the next bid! I will rebid 2 and not 2NT with this hand.
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