TGIF December 2023: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
|
Q 4
K J 10 8 4
---
A Q J 10 8 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
2
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) 2NT asks feature; 3-level bids are forcing.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 6
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 80
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 60
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 2
| 60
|
|
Moderator: The panel make a move towards game, but which game isn't exactly clear.
Larry Cohen: 4. Facing some sound partners, we might have slam on a finesse. Facing some unnamed partners, we might not make 4.
Barry Rigal: Pass. I have no idea who can make what, and while we might have a fit in hearts or clubs, the odds are we don't. We don't have the high-card points for game so I'm going very low.
Daniel Korbel: 3. How bad can it be to start with my long suit? I'll pass 3.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3. I want to play in hearts if partner has a fit. If no fit, I will bid 4 and hope for the best.
David Waterman: 4. The practical bid.
Michael Dimich: 3. What else should you bid at matchpoints? You can always raise spades to game if there is no heart fit.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Probably our best spot. Not enough for higher.
Nicholas Adamski: 4. Not making slam, probably making game.
Stephen Vincent: 4. No need to mess about and reveal information about partner's hand.
Larry Meyer: 4. Q x should be adequate trump support.
Perry Khakhar: 4. The pass by RHO was somewhat unexpected. Not waiting for LHO. Let them come in at the 5-level!
Paul McMullin: 4. Partners who preempt with A-A-K or A-K-K will have to accept responsibility for missed slams.
Allan Simon: 4. Slam is unlikely so why help the defense?
Earle Fergusson: 3. Looks like 4, but let's explore a bit.
Kf Tung: 3. If you have a slam it will be 6. Otherwise the hand will be 4 or 4. They are vulnerable and you may get 500 if they bid 5. Start the ball rolling with 3.
Louk Verhees: 3. Nice those freak hands. 4 may not play so great. Could go for a tactical bid because I don't want them to have a takeout Dbl.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. Canadian game try, eh?
Timothy Wright: 2NT. I don't want to get crazy here in case partner has some 6-2-5-0 hand.
|
| 2. IMPs. None vul.
| |
9 7
K Q
J 8 7 6 4 2
A 6 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Bridge Bulletin Standard plays Lebensohl over reverses.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 80
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
3
| 0
| 50
|
|
3NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
4
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The Lebensohl treatment with a weakish hand paves the way for other calls to be game forcing. The panel are split between raising hearts or showing the long diamonds.
Amber Lin: 3. Reverse auctions can get messy, so I like to keep things simple. Show the preference with nice hearts and establish the game force. Side note: I've been told not to call the 2NT convention Lebensohl because it doesn't necessarily force 3; it is just a hand that could be weak and can initiate a nonforcing sequence.
Jill Meyers: 3. I know my suit is ragged, but wouldn't it be nice if partner held A K x x A x x x x A K x x?
Steve Robinson: 4. Partner could have a minimum for his bidding and 4 is cold.
David Waterman: 3. My first job is to confirm the trump suit. I hope to be able to cue my A later.
Michael Dimich: 3. You have a game forcing hand.
Christopher Diamond: 3. K Q looks as good as 3 small. GF with some ambition.
Nicholas Adamski: 3. I'm assuming we're ending in 3NT, but 3 should give partner a chance to show shape if needed.
Stephen Vincent: 2NT. 3 excellent cards: a little too good to just bid 4. You might even find a miracle 6.
Larry Meyer: 4. K Q shoud be adequate trump support.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Hope this makes!
Paul McMullin: 4. I cannot imagine that 3NT is right.
Allan Simon: 3. I honestly can't think of anything besides 3.
Earle Fergusson: 3. Cuebidding clubs next.
Kf Tung: 3NT. Do not give the opponents a map to defend. If partner has 6 hearts, he will choose 4.
Louk Verhees: 3. Let's see what partner does over that. A x x x A J x x x A K x x is a (nearly) cold slam.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. Hopefully 2 honors is enough. Slam isn't out of the question and 3NT could be terrible.
Timothy Wright: 3. This is why they have lebensohl over reverses.
Gareth Birdsall: 3. I suppose this is forcing if 2NT is leb.
|
| 3. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A K
A 10 6 5 2
A K Q J 10 9
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
(1)
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
3
| |
|
Pass
|
3NT
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Bridge Bulletin Standard plays Lebensohl over reverses.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 4
| 100
|
|
6
| 4
| 90
|
|
4
| 2
| 60
|
|
5NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
5
| 1
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 50
|
|
Moderator: With this monster, the panel continue towards slam.
Mel Colchamiro: 6. Most common after opener's reverse is 'cheaper of fourth suit or 2NT as potentially a weak hand to stop in a partial.' Partner's 2 here is five-plus spades and a one-round force. Anyway, I'll just take a stab at slam, as science won't get us anywhere. I wish my 9 were lower so that there would be a chance to reach dummy in diamonds.
August Boehm: 4. I'll leave the rest up to partner. Despite my massive strength, game is far from certain. Partner may have only five spades, and 5 could lose three red-suit tricks when partner has two baby hearts and a singleton diamond.
Roger Lee: 4. I'd rather not confuse the issue with 4, especially since it will telegraph a trump lead if we end up in diamonds. But tell me how to get to 7 opposite Q J x x x x x x x Q J x x?
Kerri Sanborn: Pass. I'm out. I can't picture a slam here. Partner must be 5-2-2-4 or the like. I guess slam could make facing K x, but not any other holding.
Zachary Grossack: 5NT. . . hopefully to offer partner some sort of logical choice between diamonds, spades and notrump. I would like to just place the hand in 6, but we could easily belong in spades if partner has, say, really good spade intermediates and not many entries to their hand.
David Waterman: 4. I will pass 4NT, but if he bids 4 we are in a diamond slam.
Michael Dimich: 4. Picture bidding --- Alvin Roth.
Eurydice Nours: 4. Slamming in diamonds. Cuebidding is next.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Pattern out. Maybe he can see the value of relatively good spades. Probably going to have drag him kicking and screaming if I want to go to slam.
Nicholas Adamski: 6. Partner likely has a solid spade stop, which means slam in spades should be pretty safe. Maybe I could ask for a heart control with 5, but 6 seems the most fun.
Gabor Sandi: 6. I don't have a way to check whether partner has the Q, let alone Q J (which would virtually guarantee 7).
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Why didn't I open 2 with this monster? Tempting to bid 4 to pattern out, but partner needn't have more than 5 spades and communications could be a real problem in spades. If he has Q J 10 x x x and a stiff heart too bad.
Larry Meyer: 4. A K should be adequate trump support.
Perry Khakhar: 6. No way to figure out if this is logical, but partner has shown values and long spades. Might make 5, 6, or 7. I'll go for a 1 loser trump suit.
Paul McMullin: Pass. Maybe I should have started with 2?
Allan Simon: 6. Partner seems to be 6-1-1-5. Entries will be a problem in 6 or 6NT.
Earle Fergusson: 4NT. Not Blackwood.
Kf Tung: 7. Partner cannot imagine you have 9 tricks. The lead should be a spade, and this is welcome.
Louk Verhees: 4. Of course you have at least a trick extra. What comes across best? Pass is an easy 400. Suppose partner has Q J x x x x x x x A 10 9 x. He will prob bid 3NT, so not clear. 4 has the advantage partner can bid 4.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. Can't force slam but partner can have a bunch of hands where he was endplayed into bidding 3NT.
Timothy Wright: 4. 3NT could fail if (say) partner's Q 9 x x is not a real club stopper. I want to give her a chance to decide which game makes the most sense.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
---
A K 3
A J 10 9 6 2
Q 10 6 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Dbl
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 12
| 100
|
|
4NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
5
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The vast majority double, playing it as showing extras with no clear direction --- a double of the 'do something intelligent' variety.
Larry Cohen: 4NT. Can't be Blackwood, so I look forward to partner's decision on which minor. He will expect something like this, since with five clubs, I would just bid clubs. Yes, slam is possible, but facing a passed hand, I'll be practical and settle for game.
Josh Donn: Dbl. Not ideal, but the alternative of 4NT to find the proper minor rules out hearts. I am not willing to rule out hearts because partner can easily have five here.
David Waterman: 4. I am willing to bypass 4 with this enormous hand.
Michael Dimich: 4. Matchpoints rewards 4 of a major versus 5 of a minor.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Since everyone is into this new fangled law of total tricks partner probably has 4 spades. Doesn't leave him many minor cards but I want to compete.
Nicholas Adamski: 4. . . or whichever of 4/4NT doesn't show slam interest in hearts. I think 4NT is Blackwood so 4 is my bid?
Larry Meyer: 4. A K x should be adequate trump support.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I have a logical bid to make. Let's see what Pard does.
Paul McMullin: Pass. Sometimes, the opponents' preempts work!
Allan Simon: 4. If partner has 5 hearts he will bid 4. I hope.
Earle Fergusson: 4. Finding our best fit and getting to game at least.
Kf Tung: Dbl. Partner is left to bid 4, 3N, 4, 4, or 4 with a big hand.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Don't like doubling with void, but don't like alternatives.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. I'll leave 4 to the geniuses.
Bob Todd: 4NT. Hopefully showing 6-4.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
A 3
K 5
A Q 8 6 3
Q J 7 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 7
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 4
| 80
|
|
3
| 4
| 70
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Many pairs play an extension of Stayman called garbage Stayman. Opposite a 1NT opener, responder's weak hand is unsuitable for play in notrump, so they bid 2, planning to pass opener's response holding club shortness.
Steve Weinstein: Pass. Looks like partner is using garbage Stayman, so we might have a diamond fit. But they could just be weak with the majors. They didn't move over 2 and we're unfavourable with my K in front of the heart bidder. I'll let it go.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3. Defending 2 undoubled doesn't feel like a good result. Partner's pass isn't forcing, but if they were bidding weak Stayman, they were prepared for a 2 response.
Zachary Grossack: 2NT. Natural? Or for the minors? Don't know, don't care. A thoughtful bid from a thoughtful guy. I'm not passing.
David Waterman: Dbl. If he bids 2 I will bid 2NT.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. Do something partner.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Same good NT I started with. And pard could still be near broke.
Nicholas Adamski: Pass. Looks like partner bid garbage Stayman. I see no point bidding on.
Gabor Sandi: 3. Show a good 5-card suit.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. I have described my hand.
Larry Meyer: Pass. I opened 1NT, so partner is the captain --- don't override his decision.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. This heart suit can't be that good. Flexible action double. May end up in 3 if partner has a garbage Stayman. Should have a play.
Paul McMullin: Pass. We ARE vulnerable, reducing my appetite for a three level bid.
Allan Simon: Pass. I've been playing for 60 years but can't remember seeing this auction.
Earle Fergusson: Dbl. We do own the balance of power, so let's keeps all disasters in play.
Kf Tung: 3. Thank West for the opportunity to bid out your hand!
Louk Verhees: 2NT. This totally depends on the meaning of doubles. Even not sure if this is nonforcing?! Anyway 2NT seems like a 2-way shot.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. Why would I bid?
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