TGIF April 2022: Scores
| 1. IMPs. N-S vul.
|
K J 5 4
9 4 2
J 10 3
Q J 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 8
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 5
| 80
|
|
2
| 2
| 70
|
|
Moderator: A balanced 8 and partner opens a 15-17 notrump. The panel think it's against the odds to go further.
Stephen McConnell: 2. While I pass almost all 4-3-3-3 8-counts after partner's 1NT opening, the vulnerable game potential at IMPs and the J-10-x and Q-J-x connectors entice me to invite game. I'm still willing to try for a 4-4 spade fit. Although I have no shape, partner might.
Janice Molson: 2NT. Vul at IMPs, I bid. I suspect this is another hand on which I will be alone in the crowd, but at least I entertain.
Josh Donn: Pass. In the long run, passing flat, featureless 8-counts opposite a 1NT opening is the winning strategy.
Ralph Buckley: Pass. I have 8 HCP, but take off 1 for balanced distribution, and we are Vul.
Eurydice Nours: Pass. 8 HCP is not enough to invite, especially the hand is too square, too many losers.
Christopher Diamond: 2NT. Vul at IMPs so stretch (a lot). 9 tricks easier than 10.
Jake Grabow: 2. Just in case of a super accept of spades.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Yes I know its IMPs and you're vulnerable but you have to draw a line somewhere.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Downgrade for 4-3-3-3 distribution, 4 quacks, no aces, and only one 10.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. No matter how highly aggressive your tendencies, surely this is not an invitational hand!
Earle Fergusson: 2. . . or 2NT if that is natural.
Paul McMullin: 2. Some will say that this is too flat to be looking for a suit contract, but opener may have a doubleton and LIKE a spade contract!
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. Inviting means 20% of the time you will get to a game that makes less than half the time.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Pass. But, red at IMPs, an invite is definitely an option. Make the hand K J 10 x 10 9 x J 10 x Q J x and I certainly bid 2 or 2NT, but who wouldn't?
Bob Zeller: Pass. My rule for bidding over 1NT is 8+ points and not 4-3-3-3 shape.
Kf Tung: 2. 3 jacks are accompanied, so still 8 points. Can bid 2 and then invite if possible.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. Needs a magic hand to make game. Partner never has that.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
K
A K J 5
5 4
K 9 5 4 3 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
2NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 8
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 70
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Partner's passed-hand status does not deter the majority of the panel.
Stephen McConnell: 3NT. Hamman's Rule. While I wish I had a better quality club suit, I have too much not to go and partner tends to have a club card to invite. I'm worried about diamonds, though.
Larry Cohen: 3. I have extras and want to show them by making a forward-going and natural bid. True, I am worried about the quality of my clubs, but partner will have a good idea of what I have and hopefully do the right thing now.
Barry Rigal: Pass. I know I'm going out on a limb here, but I don't expect my weak clubs will lead to nine easy tricks. I wouldn't have the nerve to do this at teams vulnerable, but here, I'm going to go low and apologize later.
Ralph Buckley: Pass. Don't like my 6-card club suit.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Outside chance 4 may be right.
Jake Grabow: 3NT. I don't have to like it to bid it.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. This doesn't look like it'll play well.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. More than a minimum, no downgrade for stiff K in partner's suit, so accept the invitation.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. As badly as I would like to run to 3, the suit sucks!
Earle Fergusson: 3NT. Hope she has something in clubs.
Paul McMullin: Pass. Partner heard that I am minimum in clubs, no need to repeat myself.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Pass. Responder's 2NT should deny real club support. With good support, he would be inclined to jump to 3NT. Accordingly, you cannot overlook enough tricks for 3NT and 3 is pointless without a club contract in the picture.
Kf Tung: 3NT. Vulnerable 3N is palpable. No need to bid hearts to guide the defense.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. Again: magic hand needed.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A 6 3
A J 6 4 3
A Q J 6 5
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
2
(1)
| |
|
4
|
5
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Hearts and a minor.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 6
| 100
|
|
6
| 6
| 90
|
|
5NT
| 2
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
6
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The panel are almost evenly split between fishing for the grand, or just raising to 6.
Stephen McConnell: 6. This could be laydown for seven, but there's no way to find out what partner has. For all I know, partner might be saving and will be surprised when they see it could make seven. As little as: x Q 10 x x x x x x x x x x could be enough for the grand.
Steve Weinstein: 5. The clearest grand slam try. If I thought 5NT was the grand slam force, I'd bid that. But it's 2022, so I don't.
Jeff Meckstroth: Pass. Clear. Partner may be saving.
Kerri Sanborn: 5NT. Remember grand slam force? If partner can bid 7, I would take a shot that diamonds are coming home. Meanwhile, I can convey the playing strength and comfortably pass a 6 save.
Ralph Buckley: 5. Cuebid telling pard I have a strong hand with heart support.
Christopher Diamond: 5. Who knows? But I might as well show a control if I'm going.
Jake Grabow: 6. Could probe with 5 but that already commits to slam.
David Waterman: 5. Give him a chance to bid the K.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Give partner x K x x x x x K x x x x x and 7 is almost cold. Hard to bid with confidence though.
Larry Meyer: Pass. That A opposite partner's likely void will not be all that useful.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Partner could have tried to obtain more information, but he didn't bid 4NT. He is uninterested in slam, and may have considered this hand as a sacrifice. Hope he makes!
Earle Fergusson: 5. Bidding 7 over 6.
Paul McMullin: 6. Still has chances if partner is missing both K and Q; there is no bid asking partner to bid 7 if he has K Q K and a stiff spade.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. Slam might be cold, but I've got to give partner some rope. (3 passes in a row, just like real life.)
Lars Erik Bergerud: Pass. Partner may take a stretch and he can always start with 4NT and then correct 5 to 5 with a constructive hand. Even 5 may be in danger with a lot to handle if pard doesn't have help in diamonds. But 13 tricks will not come as a big surprise.
Kf Tung: 6. Partner, my diamonds are good. Do we get 12 or 13 tricks?
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 6. The relevant finesse rates to be right.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
9 7 5
8 6 5
Q J 10
K J 9 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4NT
| 9
| 100
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
4
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 0
| 60
|
|
5
| 1
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 60
|
|
5
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: The panel majority contract for game in a minor.
Stephen McConnell: 4NT. Pick a minor. Partner is forcing to 3 or four of a minor when they know I couldn't bid over 1. So either I have fewer than 6 points and/or fewer than four spades. My diamond and club cards are big.
Mike Lawrence: 4. I'd like to think this shows the minors. I would bid spades if I had those.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Take out the takeout doubles. Assume 4-1-4-4.
Jake Grabow: 4. Different problem if I had bid 2 on the previous round.
David Waterman: 4NT. This is my flyer. At least we will be in the correct strain.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. With misgivings.
Larry Meyer: 4. Show my cheapest 4-card suit.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I hate bidding a 4-card suit at the 4 level, but if partner is 4-1-4-4, this may be the last plus score.
Earle Fergusson: 4NT. Clubs with diamond support. I can't do less vully at IMPs.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I am not willing to venture onto the 4-level with this shapeless mess.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. Maybe they won't double.
Lars Erik Bergerud: 4NT. Choice of game in minors. Love my minors and the odds are very good for 11 tricks. Partner will seldom raise a preference even if game is ice cold, while bidding game may find a good slam.
Kf Tung: 4. Plays better in 4 than 4.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. I hate these, but at IMPs I'm not passing.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
8 5
K 6 3
K Q J 5
10 6 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
2
|
3
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 6
| 100
|
|
5
| 6
| 90
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 70
|
|
Moderator: The panel are split on doubling vs raising.
Stephen McConnell: 5. I'm hoping to make four, so we either have a good nonvul save or we have a perfect fit and can make five.
Roger Lee: Dbl. Not penalty for me. It's probably not great if partner passes, but when my double gets partner to bid, it'll usually be right.
Jill Meyers: Pass. I have no idea who can make what here. Partner will bid again with extras.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Best guess preparing for my next best guess if he doubles.
Jake Grabow: 5. Partner should have 15+ and a likely single spade.
David Waterman: 5. A guess.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. At this vulnerability, I believe the opponents.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Bidding at the 5-level would show more shape or more strength than I have.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. 5 is too much opposite a 2-6-2-3 11-count that all of us would overcall. However we should be able to beat this on sheer strength!
Earle Fergusson: Dbl. Transferrable values, can't let them bully me into 5.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I have about the average hand that partner already bid.
Hendrik Sharples: 5. Nobody pushes me around. :)
Lars Erik Bergerud: 5. East is bidding 4 to make and I estimate a heart-contract to have at least 8-9 tricks on average. Too much support and too little defense, not even close to a certain trick for a value double. If I have to decide on 5 next round, I'll pass.
Kf Tung: Dbl. 5 is uncertain. 4-X is uncertain. But you must try to get +200 or more. +100 is near bottom.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. No reason to gamble.
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