TGIF July 2023: Scores
| 1. IMPs. None vul.
|
A Q
Q
A 4 2
K Q 9 7 6 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
| |
|
3
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 5
| 100
|
|
4NT
| 3
| 80
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
5NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 50
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The plurality vote for 4, but with no clear direction.
Steve Weinstein: 4. I'm more worried partner will pass a double than 4.
Kerri Sanborn: 4. Let's see whether I can get some support or a diamond rebid. At this point, the strain is a guess.
Zachary Grossack: 4NT. It sides the contract correctly and gets off the playing strength with reasonable accuracy.
Barry Rigal: 5NT. Let's play a slam in a minor. If partner has two or fewer spades, we surely rate to have a playable eight-card minor fit. Partner could still have a singleton club I suppose. Let's hope we don't play in the wrong minor facing 2-4-4-3.
Michael Dimich: 4NT. Giving partner a chance to bail with a bad hand and cooperate with a good hand.
Samuel Krikler: 4. We may have a slam in clubs (or diamonds). A forcing bid is required.
Christopher Diamond: 4NT. Let him take it how he wants but I want to bid NT first.
Larry Meyer: 5. Sounds like the opps have a fit, so we likely have one, too. Pard's opening strength should be sufficient for us to take 11 tricks.
Earle Fergusson: 4. Spade control. Now let's find the right strain for slam. I'll raise either minor or try 6NT over hearts.
Allan Simon: 3NT. Partner's Pass suggests no extras. I try to avoid 'brilliancies' on board 1 of a long match.
Peter Qvist: 5NT. Pick a slam.
Paul McMullin: 4NT. Good Old Blackwood. (I hope!)
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. Thanks Bob.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. More flexible than any other action. Partner is most likely 2-4-5-2 or 2-4-6-1. Best to defend, but no reason to make a unilateral decision. Show the extra values and see what happens.
Kf Tung: 4. Support diamonds, slam interest. Partner will be excited with A A K.
Louk Verhees: 4. Interesting problem. Your hand has so much potential. I feel the choice is between 4 and Dbl. Start with 4 and later 5NT pick-a-slam. Could still be a grand even.
Timothy Wright: 3NT. Might 6 make? Perhaps—but if I don't bid 3NT we won't get to play the most likely contract.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
---
K 8 7 4 2
Q 6 4 2
K 10 9 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
2NT
|
Pass
|
3
(1)
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Hearts.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 7
| 100
|
|
4
| 5
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 70
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
5NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Much of the guesswork depends on how much stuff partner has in our void. The panel are near evenly split.
Janice Molson: 3NT. Another charming hand. As goofy as it sounds, I bid 3NT. Four of a minor shows slam interest, which I have if partner has weakish spades and a four-card minor. But there is no way to show both and my guessing is not so good.
Josh Donn: 4. This is officially a slam try, not that we are completely worth it, but do I really have to explain what could go wrong with rebidding 3NT instead?
Michael Dimich: 4. Searching for the making game and perhaps more.
Samuel Krikler: 3NT. 4 is ambiguous and the diamond suit is not good enough. We may miss a minor suit slam.
Christopher Diamond: 4. If 3 showed shortness I'd bid it but otherwise this doesn't look like a NT hand.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Offer pard a choice of games.
Joel Forssell: 4. Cuebid.
Earle Fergusson: 4. Let's find the strain while keeping slam in the picture.
Allan Simon: 3NT. I doubt we have the methods to locate a fit in a minor.
Paul McMullin: 4. Is someone thinking of looking for 6 of a minor?
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. Thanks Bob!
Perry Khakhar: 4. One less Queen, and I take my chances in 3NT. But, a logical natural bidding sequence here.
Kf Tung: 4. Natural. Usually you bid 5 or 6 on the next round and partner can choose correctly.
Louk Verhees: 4. Cannot bid 3NT. Could be cold for 7 of a minor. However depending how you want to proceed you choose which minor you bid. It seems like you need a better diamond fit. The advantage of 4 is partner can make a move below 4. You can also go all out and bid all suits.
John McAllister: 3NT. Tough problem.
Timothy Wright: 3NT. I don't want to play partner for a perfect maximum.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
---
K 8 5
K 9 5 4 3
K Q 10 7 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
(1)
|
Pass
|
4NT
(2)
| |
|
Pass
|
5
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Takeout, convertible values.
| | (2) Two places to play.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 9
| 100
|
|
6
| 3
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Almost every panelist commits to slam. The majority try for the grand.
Larry Cohen: 5. Just a guess. That's why they preempt. Might as well bid this instead of 6 in case pard can bid seven with, say, J x x A Q J x A Q x x A x.
Barry Rigal: 6. It's only matchpoints. I've been wrong before (and doubtless will be wrong again). If we go one down in slam facing K x Q J x x A x x x A x x, maybe they will make 4 doubled in the other rooms.
Michael Dimich: 5. I was going to slam anyway so I may as well share some information.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. If I was going to bid more I'd have guessed it before.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Partner's lack of interest in clubs means my club holding may not be very useful.
Earle Fergusson: 6. She will deliver at least 2 aces and the 2 key queens.
Allan Simon: 5. This can't hurt on the way to 6.
Paul McMullin: 6. Sometimes you STAY preempted.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. Guess I'm not bidding 3NT this time.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Hope we didn't miss slam!
Kf Tung: 6. Let opponents guess, including what to lead. 12 tricks are a favorite; 13th is the bonus you look for.
Louk Verhees: 5. Where are all the spades? I am not passing. Can I bid 5? I think so. Enough room.
Timothy Wright: 5NT. This should be pick-a-slam.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A K Q J 10 6
A J
K 9
A Q 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 4
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 90
|
|
4NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 60
|
|
6
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: A dead heat between 4 and 5 with this monster.
Mel Colchamiro: Dbl. . . because I don't know what else to do. If partner passes, so be it. And if partner removes to 5 or 5, that shows 'cards' and length; I'll go to the hoop with 6NT.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. No way to look for slam and still stop, so I'll take the plus score.
Jill Meyers: 4NT. . . and then 5. Partner could have a Yarborough and we could be going down in four for all I know.
Steve Robinson: 5. If partner has the A and the K and some extras, he'll bid 6 and we'll get to seven.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. If partner has nothing they will pass and if they bid we will be in some slam.
Samuel Krikler: 6. Hoping that pard has a high card in clubs or diamonds.
Christopher Diamond: 5. Probably scoring zero but hoping it says 'bid 6 with a trick'.
Larry Meyer: 5. Too strong to overcall or double.
Earle Fergusson: 5. 4 is too little and 6 too much. He needs both minor cards or one with a stiff heart, and he will raise with those.
Allan Simon: 4. This is my month for timidity.
Paul McMullin: 5. Hopefully partner will advance if looking at any prime cards.
Hendrik Sharples: Dbl. Going to be hard to describe this hand.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I have to play from my side to protect the minors. Might consider 5, but 10 tricks could be tricky opposite a potential bust!
Kf Tung: 4. 620 is more common than 630 or 650. 200 or 500 will be bad score.
Louk Verhees: 4. Truly a tough problem at any form of scoring. The problem is you are not even certain to make 4! Could Dbl and correct to 5. Sometimes partner sits it. I take my loss.
Timothy Wright: 4. I need several cards from partner to make slam and no good way to find about about them.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
A 10
A K Q 8 7 5
---
A 9 8 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
4
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 11
| 100
|
|
5
| 1
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 60
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
6
| 1
| 40
|
|
Moderator: An near unanimous vote for 4.
August Boehm: 4. I wouldn't be shocked to find that pass or even 5 is best facing the likes of x x x A J 9 8 x x x x x x, with no entry to the A playing in a heart contract. But to suppress these hearts is more than flesh can bear.
Michael Dimich: 5. If we were vulnerable, I would bid 6. But we aren't and they are so I am giving partner some leeway.
Samuel Krikler: 4. I will pass 5.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Maybe he can ruff a club.
Larry Meyer: 5. Counting on partner to provide 6 diamond tricks to go with my 5 tops.
Earle Fergusson: 4. . . and hope.
Allan Simon: 4. This seems obvious, am I missing something?
Paul McMullin: 6. Every bid is a guess.
Hendrik Sharples: 4NT. Though with some partners I'd pass and hope to make it.
Perry Khakhar: 6. One loser trump suit?
Kf Tung: 5. Your hand is a good dummy for 5, even 6. You will be rich in 5-X, but you will be poor if you bid 4 now and then get doubled everywhere you run.
Louk Verhees: 4. Cute one. A little bit about style. But I feel I am forced to bid 4.
Timothy Wright: 4. I know what Al Roth would say about these guess-what-to-do-after-the-preempt hands.
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