TGIF September 2021: Scores
| 1. IMPs. E-W vul.
|
A K 7 6 5
J 8 7 2
---
K J 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
| |
|
3
(1)
|
Pass
|
3
| ? |
| (1) Four-card diamond support, 6-10 points.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
5
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Half the panel opts to double.
Josh Donn: Dbl. I know people hate to double in this position with a void, but nothing else is satisfactory. It can still be quite good if partner has four diamonds and passes.
Barry Rigal: 3. 4 as a cue for clubs might lose hearts, and I cannot double with a void, can I? I mean, it might go down if partner passes with his 2-3-4-4 hand, but I can't say I like it. Let others more opinionated than I opine as to whether this is forcing.
Zachary Grossack: 4. For me, 4 is a bit of a prepared bid, almost certainly a club fit with some degree of slam interest and almost certainly diamond shortage. I could double, but I don't want partner to even faintly entertain the thought of leaving it in. I will probably pivot from the slam idea and just pass what partner offers over 4.
Michael Dimich: 4. I am short in diamonds, partner. Pick a game.
Larry Meyer: 3. Looking for a possible 4-4 heart fit.
David Waterman: Dbl. This caters to most hands that partner can have.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Don't like it with a void but I don't want to force a 3-card raise with that heart suit. My next bid, if any, is going to be tough too.
Jake Grabow: 4. Should show the void and club fit.
Joel Forssell: Dbl. Take out.
Allan Simon: 4. My next bid will be 5 which I hope partner can raise to 6 with a heart control.
Hendrik Sharples: Dbl. I play this as 100% takeout. Let's see what the panel thinks.
Paul McMullin: 3. New suit short of game by responder is still forcing, right?
David Gordon: 3. Make a forcing bid which will show 5 spades. You will find a major suit fit if you have one and can sign off in 5 if need be.
Earle Fergusson: 4. Diamond control, club fit, and slam interest.
Kf Tung: 3. Good hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts, forcing for one round.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. I can't see anything else. If partner has 4 diamonds (not likely), he knows you are void so he won't pass lightly.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. The flexible double. However, I'm very unhappy about the lack of negative double initially.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A 8 5
A Q J 7
10 6 3
10 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Dbl
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Three-card heart support.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 10
| 100
|
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 70
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: A majority of the panel pessimistically rebid 2.
Daniel Korbel: 3. My first instinct is 2, which I think would be enough opposite a light opener. But this hand could play very well in the 4-3 fit and nothing else appeals.
Mike Lawrence: Pass. The upside is worth the chase. If they make it, it isn't a tragedy, unless we have 4 which isn't likely given my shape.
Steve Robinson: 2. I underbid because I don't see any alternative strain, and we have only a seven-card fit. I could pass the double hoping that partner has three diamonds, but that is not my style.
Michael Dimich: 2. Great high cards, lousy shape. If partner has 4 spades, short diamonds and better than a minimum, they will bid.
Larry Meyer: 2. Let's play in our 4-3 fit at the 2 level --- no prize, but nothing else looks better.
David Waterman: 3. . . either this or 3 --- ugh. If partner bids 3 over 3 I am going to pass. Could be the end of the partnership.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Have I mentioned I detest unquantified, nearly forced support doubles? Since he could have a good hand I can't just bid 2. But since he could have 10 I'm forced to overbid. Artificial 2NT anyone? A natural one is a consideration.
Robert Sauve: 2. Least of all evils.
Jake Grabow: 2. This could be enough.
Joel Forssell: Pass. Counting on -500 if we make any game.
Allan Simon: 2NT. Perfect as to strength and distribution. Can't have everything.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. If you open super light this is tougher.
Paul McMullin: 2. If we were behind in the match, I might try for a big penalty with a pass --- surely if we can make game, they will be down two or more.
David Gordon: 2. This hand has dropped in value. I reserve cuebids for game forcing hands.
Earle Fergusson: 2. Nonvul and flat, so take the low road. Pard is allowed to bid again.
Kf Tung: 3. Invite. You can make 4 when partner has a suitable hand. 3N and 5 are also possible.
Louk Verhees: 2. I don't see another option. I am for sure not a passer.
Perry Khakhar: 2. A virtual 9 count. I hope I can get 8 tricks.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
---
K 6 5
K J 10 8 7 3
A K 8 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 7
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: The panel opt for 4.
Larry Cohen: 4. Marty Bergen sensibly recommends that four of either minor here shows various types of heart raises. With that unavailable, I take the low road because I have only three-card support and expect bad breaks.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. Impossible choice between 4 and 4. Both could lead to uncertain continuations, but at least when I bid 4, partner knows right away we have a fit. Despite being at matchpoints, a big part of me is screaming to try to make diamonds trump. Oh those J 10. Very good problem.
Jill Meyers: 4. I am really wavering on this one. On the one hand, I want to show heart support by cuebidding 4; on the other hand, I am not so sure I want to play in hearts. So I guess I will bid 4 and then bid hearts my next turn.
Michael Dimich: 4. You have so much shape and high cards. 4 is the obvious start for slam investigations.
Larry Meyer: 4. If pard has as little as A Q and A Q we are cold for 7, so make a forcing bid.
David Waterman: 4. I am bidding slam, but try diamonds on the off chance he can raise. I would happily play the safer slam.
Christopher Diamond: 4. If he raises I'll try 6 and hope it is a matchpoint winner. If he bids 4, I'll make a try with 4.
Robert Sauve: 6. Take a shot.
Jake Grabow: 4. Voidwood.
Joel Forssell: 4. Exclusion Blackwood.
Allan Simon: 4. The problem will come on the next round.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. I know if I bid 4 it will go 5-Pass-Pass to me, so I'm showing support now.
Paul McMullin: 4. I am mildly worried about a bad heart split, but if partner has A Q and A Q, we could be on for a grand slam.
David Gordon: Dbl. Show your other 2 suits and then find a bid to support hearts.
Earle Fergusson: 4. Spade control and heart fit. Over 5 will bid 5NT GSF.
Kf Tung: 4. Natural and game forcing. You look for +600 or +620, as 3N may make or go down.
Bob Zeller: 4. We are crammed for bidding space, so I show my heart support by cue-bidding.
Louk Verhees: 4. I play that as a heart fit and slam interest.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. Planning on pulling 3NT to 4.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A 10 7
K Q
A 8 3
10 9 8 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 90
|
|
4
| 3
| 80
|
|
5
| 2
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Despite the unfavourable vulnerability, the top vote is for a penalty pass.
Janice Molson: 4. It could be horribly wrong not to bid game. Every card I have is working, but unless I am buying five-card club support, I think we rate to have three losers opposite a passed hand.
Roger Lee: 3NT. . . optimistic, but 4 and pass don't have much appeal.
Kerri Sanborn: 5. I hope partner has four or more clubs and we should be fine. I'm aware she could have nine cards in the majors, but still, even Q J x could be enough.
August Boehm: Pass. A perfecto from partnter, e.g., K x x x A x x x x A x x x, makes 5 good, but then we rate to collect 300 or 500 on defense. Of course there are plenty of hands that make 5 untenable.
Michael Dimich: 4. If I am in fairytale land I would be sure partner has K A K x x. Everything would split and 3NT would roll.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Looks more likely than 5.
David Waterman: 3NT. I am persuaded by the third diamond --- I can hold up twice. Might as well bid something that has a big upside if it is right.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Lucky he's a passed hand so I don't have to stretch to vulnerable game.
Robert Sauve: 4. Too dangerous to pass double, won't hang partner.
Jake Grabow: Pass. Options are to Pass, bid 3NT or run to 4.
Allan Simon: 3NT. Pass is the easy way out, collecting 300 or so. But I think I can scrounge up 9 tricks. And if partner has extras, he isn't barred!
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. What's -470 between friends?
Paul McMullin: 3NT. I have gone down before.
David Gordon: 4. Game is not on as partner is a passed hand. Bid your longest non diamond suit.
Earle Fergusson: 3NT. Hope I can shut out RHO's diamonds while I set up 9 tricks. Vul at IMPs there is too much upside to bidding close games.
Kf Tung: Pass. +100 or +300 instead of a miracle +600. If you always bid in this situation, partner will not balance again, and lose confidence to compete.
Louk Verhees: 3NT. Again I have no real choice here.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Unlikely to make 5, so settle for 300.
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
Q J 3
9 7 4 3
A K J 5
7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 4
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 100
|
|
2
| 4
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 80
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: The scorer was swayed by the conservative bias of the panelists (Pass and 3) to break the tie between the top-ranked calls.
Larry Cohen: Dbl. . . cards. No low-level penalty doubles.
Mike Lawrence: 3. Looks like 3 or pass. Other bids are grungy. I suspect that pass will end the bidding. 3 keeps the auction going. Might nudge East-West to bid one more time.
Jeff Meckstroth: 2. I need to show my values; no heart stopper for notrump.
Zachary Grossack: Pass. . . unhappily. Double is an idea. I just hate to have no help in clubs and such slow values in the majors. I don't want to punish partner for balancing, and I think our chances for game are slim (but not impossible) if partner cannot take another call.
Michael Dimich: Pass. North didn't bid 3 or Dbl. They have 5 or 6 clubs and 3 or 4 diamonds. Their hand strength is still unknown until their next bid.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. A low level double like this should show values but with no clear direction.
David Waterman: 3. I have no idea what to bid here. At least this is correct on values.
Christopher Diamond: 2NT. If we can't stop hearts then a double is dicey anyway unless it was kind of Snapdragon. So might as well make a play for the vulnerable game.
Robert Sauve: Pass. Too many defensive values to bid.
Jake Grabow: 2NT. The most descrÃptive bid regarding strength and shape.
Allan Simon: 2NT. Perfect as regards strength and distribution.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. Brutal problem.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I do not have a better way to say I like his suits better than yours.
David Gordon: Dbl. A snapdragon-like Dbl to show diamonds and tolerance for clubs.
Earle Fergusson: Pass. If pard has more than a balancing 2, he can bid again.
Kf Tung: Pass. What can you play at the 3-level? Give partner one more chance. Your real challenge will come if he doubles again!
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Alternative is to bid 2, but should have better clubs for that.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. No need to get involved in a misfit hand without sufficient values. Let's defend.
Bob Todd: 2. Least of all evils?
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