TGIF February 2024: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. None vul.
|
Q 7 4
A 6
8 4
K Q 10 7 4 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
3
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 13
| 100
|
|
5
| 1
| 70
|
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4
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Bob Hamman is one of the all-time bridge greats. Hamman's rule asserts: If you have a choice of reasonable bids and one of them is 3NT, then bid it.
Larry Cohen: 5. I don't like punishing partner for balancing, but I have too much for only 4. I'd be more tempted to try 3NT with K x x. Picture: A K x x x A x x x J x x x. Also, 5 keeps 6 in play moreso than would 3NT.
Jill Meyers: 3NT. I would like to have a third heart to hold up on hearts, but I think 3NT is the practical bid. Hopefully partner has the A.
David Hooey: 3NT. Hamman's rule.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. Don't like it but Hamman's Rule.
Michael Dimich: 3NT. 3NT is the matchpoint bid.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. If 3NT is a reasonable option, you should bid it.
Paul McMullin: 5. Too many values for 4, wrong shape for 3N or 4.
Bruce Rogoff: 3NT. Last chance, so often the right contract. Hope partner has a doubleton heart!
Earle Fergusson: 3NT. Did you say matchpoints?
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. 3NT is never the winning bid in contests, even though we know the panelists will bid it every chance they get!
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. Hamman's rule!
Kf Tung: 3NT. 3N makes more often than 4.
Louk Verhees: 3NT. A no-brainer to me.
Timothy Wright: 3NT. It's between this and some number of clubs.
|
| 2. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A J 5
10
Q 7 4 2
J 9 7 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
3
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 5
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 90
|
|
4
| 4
| 90
|
|
4
| 2
| 60
|
|
Moderator: This deal was posted on Bridge Winners by Phil Clayton on December 2. Despite Hamman's Rule, most of the panelists veer toward a diamond game.
Daniel Korbel: 4. Pard is under pressure in this auction, and I don't know for certain that he will always deliver spade length and club shortness. In any case, my hand is minimum with bad trumps and I'm ready to give up.
Mel Colchamiro: 5. Even though my hand just barely (if at all) qualifies for a raise to 3, the auction has developed well for me. Opposite: K x x A K x x x A K x x x, we should be able to scramble 11 tricks. If I had a fifth diamond, I'd try 4, but as it is, 5 is enough. If we were nonvul or if it were matchpoints rather than IMPs, I would have passed 2 and maybe settled for 4 over three.
August Boehm: 4. . . in case there is a super-fit slam facing: Q 10 x A J x x x A K J x x -.
Josh Donn: 3NT. We do have the stoppers that partner may need, so why not?
David Hooey: 3NT. Deja vu.
Christopher Diamond: 4. Not doing 3NT with only the J and since nothing's wasted, I might as well cue on the way to 5.
Michael Dimich: 4. The 4/3 spade fit is our best shot for making game.
Robert Sauve: 5. Have a max for my 1NT.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. If 3NT is a reasonable option, you should bid it.
Paul McMullin: 3NT. Was 3 asking about spades or clubs?
Bruce Rogoff: 4. Was minimum for 3. Give partner K x x A K x x x A K x x x and game is marginal. If he's 3-5-5-0 he'll bid game anyway.
Earle Fergusson: 3NT. Would've passed 2.
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. See comment on problem #1.
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. It appears that partner is looking for a club stopper.
Kf Tung: 5. Slam is too high, 5 is the game of choice.
Louk Verhees: 4. I raised on limited values. I would like to make a return game try with 4, but I think 4 is enough.
Bob Todd: 4. My hand would be great with a fifth diamond.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
K Q 8
K Q 9 8 7
8 5
10 4 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1NT
| 7
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 90
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
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Pass
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: An old contest-panel chestnut.
Janice Molson: 2. Hate it, but 1NT will not score well in this panel.
Zachary Grossack: 1NT. I have seen this one come up so many times. We mustn't pass; 2, 2 and 1NT are all choices. 1NT at matchpoints has usually served me best. But 2 is my second choice (and could be my first choice in a different lunar cycle).
Christopher Diamond: 2. Just can't ignore spades this good. Expect to be punished by the Moysian haters.
Michael Dimich: 2. North still has the option of right-siding a NT call. I will bid where my values are.
Robert Sauve: 3. Would have liked a 6th heart.
Larry Meyer: 1NT. With clubs wide open, take the low road.
Paul McMullin: 2. 1NT if one of the spade honors was in the club suit.
Bruce Rogoff: 2. 4-3 should play well. We're in good shape should the auction continue, or stop.
Earle Fergusson: 2. A compromise.
Hendrik Sharples: 1NT. I like 1 to show an unbalanced hand, so expecting 4-1-5-3 shape in partner's hand (for now).
Kf Tung: 1NT. Balanced and 10 points. No 8-card fit in sight yet.
Louk Verhees: 2. Choices are: pass or 2. Cannot bid 2/1NT. That may look really silly.
Timothy Wright: 2. 2 is game-forcing, and this hand is not GF.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
K Q J 7
---
A K
J 10 9 8 7 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 7
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 90
|
|
1NT
| 0
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: This was a two-horse race between 3 and 2.
Amber Lin: 2. I think I would go low at matchpoints but bid 3 at IMPs, trying to get to a light, higher risk 3NT. My choice might depend on how strong the defenders are, too. Even if partner has a club card, we may need to lose the lead twice to set up clubs. The spades are a slow entry and it might be obvious to the defenders which red suit to attack after dummy comes down.
Steve Robinson: 3. I don't like jumping on a jack-high suit, but the hand is too good to bid 2. Also 3 makes it difficult for the opponents to find their nine-card heart fit.
David Hooey: 2. Going slow for now. There will be more bidding.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Am I supposed to pass? 7-card suits should be rebid. Not enough for 3 and slightly weakened positionally.
Michael Dimich: 2. If partner has a good hand they will bid again and we will get to 3NT or a club game or slam.
Robert Sauve: 2. Almost enough to pass. Setting the trap --- hope they bid 2.
Larry Meyer: 2. Tell partner that I really have some club length.
Paul McMullin: 2. Even poor seven-card suits are always rebiddable.
Bruce Rogoff: 3. Too much playing strength to bid less. Can't conceive of another action.
Earle Fergusson: 2. Can't defend at the 1-level and can't bid NT.
Hendrik Sharples: 2. I'll make up in quantity what I lack in quality. Don't like it, but passing seems extreme, and no other bid makes sense.
Perry Khakhar: 2. It's matchpoints, but I don't like bidding NT with a void in hearts if I have an alternative.
Kf Tung: 2. Go slow, and enjoy the scenery.
Louk Verhees: 3. Cannot pass, but 3 is far from ideal. Maybe a conservative 2?
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A 10 5 3
K J 8 2
---
K Q 6 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
(1)
|
3
| ? |
| (1) Shows 4-4 in the majors.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 10
| 100
|
|
4
| 0
| 80
|
|
4
| 2
| 80
|
|
3
| 1
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 70
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Another hand sourced from a Bridge Winners poll, this time from John Diamond.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. I want to be able to ruff diamonds with small trumps.
Kerri Sanborn: 3. Probably not popular, but I'm planning to bid 4 if 4 comes back undoubled.
Barry Rigal: 4. This isn't the problem; it is what to do over 4 of a major (and I suggest you inquire of my colleagues). I would pass 4 of a major. Give me the Q instead of the 3 and maybe I do more. Probably not.
Brad Bart: 4. The real problem will be over 5.
David Hooey: 4. Ask partner to pick a major.
Christopher Diamond: 4. A little weak but we'll find the right fit.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. Double lets partner bid at the 3-level. A diamond cue bid by me would show interest in further bidding.
Larry Meyer: 4. Asking partner to pick his better major.
Paul McMullin: 4. I plan to raise either major suit by partner to the 5-level.
Bruce Rogoff: 4. Willing to commit to game, so let partner pick the suit. Sometimes she's 5-4.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. Leaving room to bid 4 if opps bid 4. I'd like to bid 4 here, but there's a good chance pard will bury me if I do.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Pick your best major, Pard.
Kf Tung: 4. I have 4-4 majors too!
Louk Verhees: 4. I am going to play in spades. 4 seems like an overbid but need like perfect 10/11 HCP.
Timothy Wright: 4. There is less chance for an early defensive ruff if hearts are trumps.
Bob Todd: 4. Not sure what 4 buys me.
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