TGIF April 2024: Scores
| 1. IMPs. None vul.
|
J 10 9 8 6 4 2
A 9
9 4
A 10
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1
| 8
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 80
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Mainly a preempting-vs-opening question, largely a matter of style.
Amber Lin: Pass. I follow a Michael Rosenberg rule: 'You can't preempt with two outside first-round controls.' Opening/preempting style is very subjective, though.
Larry Cohen: 3. I'd prefer to be vulnerable, but at least I am in second seat where partner will expect I sort of have something.
Jeff Meckstroth: 1. This doesn't really qualify for a preemptive opening and I surely don't want to pass. I have two aces for defense, so I feel good opening one.
David Waterman: 1. Enough playing strength to open at the 1-level, and partner won't be disappointed with my defence in a competitive auction.
Stephen Vincent: 1. Tempting to channel my inner Walter the Walrus but it may be too hard to catch up later.
Christopher Diamond: 1. Doesn't really fit anywhere. But probably a sound 1 in today's world.
Michael Dimich: 1. Nino and the Ebb Tides would have sung Automatic Reaction if they were given this problem, so I will go along with them and bid 1.
Robert Sauve: Pass. Holding the master suit allows me to set the trap.
Larry Meyer: 2. Too weak for 1. 2 aces are too strong for 3. So open with 2.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. It's either 1 or Pass. If the suit was hearts, I'd be tempted to open, but I can't be preempted out of spades.
Allan Simon: 1. Second choice is pass. I won't preempt with 2 aces outside.
Harjinder Ajmani: Pass. Board will not pass out. You will always get to bid the spade suit at any level.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I have the master suit and two primes, but bidding here will cause us more trouble than them.
Bruce Rogoff: 1. The easy rebids and aces make me comfortable opening at the 1-level. A 3 opening seems off with two side aces.
Kf Tung: 2. Enter 2 before it is too late.
Louk Verhees: 1. Will be a united panel.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. This won't get me much of a score, with 1 being the choice I bet.
Timothy Wright: Pass. Too many aces for 3, and partner won't be happy with my 1 opener.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
Q 9 6 2
10 5
5
K Q J 7 6 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1NT
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 5
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 5
| 90
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
5
| 1
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: The panel sense East has the goods and dodge 3NT.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. I trust East. He's got solid diamonds or one-loser diamonds and an ace, otherwise he'd have bid 3 on the first round. Besides, even if partner has a diamond stopper, who says we can run nine tricks? So a 'gambling' 3NT is no guarantee. Pass is out because that sounds like I have a garbage Stayman hand, and double is for players who like to torture partner and love to play the blame game.
Steve Robinson: 3. Hopefully 3 shows exactly four spades and a game-forcing hand without a diamond stopper. If I had five spades, I would also have four hearts and would have raised to 3 or 4.
Kerri Sanborn: 3NT. . . and pray. I've shown the four spades and I'm not bidding 4 to force to the five level. Pass is crazy and double is worse. I'm happy it's matchpoints ... just one board.
David Waterman: 3NT. Could be a disaster, but I am endplayed.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. What I really want to do is bid 3. That should show 4 spades and another place to play.
Michael Dimich: 3. Bid your 4-card spade suit. If you didn't double the 3 bid you are showing long clubs to go along with 4 spades.
Robert Sauve: 3NT. I have a source of tricks.
Larry Meyer: 4. Bid out my shape.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Not selling out! I planned on bidding 3 over partner's 2, so I will stay on that path. This should show 4-6 in the blacks.
Allan Simon: Pass. Let's see what partner thinks.
Paul McMullin: Pass. If partner ventures 3 I will raise to 4, but being more active here seems wrong.
Bruce Rogoff: Pass. Partner should assume I have at least invitational values, since the weak short-clubs hand is now almost impossible. Maybe partner will find something smart to do if I stay out of his way.
Kf Tung: 3NT. The field contract.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. You can't pass. Dbl is most flexible, takeout the way I play it.
John McAllister: 4. Should be non forcing.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. Who knows what Dbl shows? I'll force to game, but if partner doesn't have diamonds stopped we will have a problem.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
K Q
A 6 5 2
A J 4
A Q 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
(1)
|
1
| ? |
| (1) Not discussed, but partnership agreement is 'when in doubt about the meaning of double, assume it is not penalty'.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 8
| 100
|
|
1NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 2
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 40
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The panel nearly mutiny over this sort of 'when in doubt' agreement. But most opt for the flexible cuebid.
Roger Lee: 2. . . to get some clarification about what's going on. To me, there is not much doubt about the meaning of this double in standard bridge --- it's penalty of diamonds.
Janice Molson: 4. My call totally depends on what partner's double means, and frankly, the explanation makes it more confusing. So if partner's double is penalty, I bid 2NT; if takeout for the majors, I bid 4.
Kerri Sanborn: 1NT. I would never play partner's double as anything other than penalty. My double followed by 1NT shows a hand too strong for a 1NT overcall, so this fits.
David Waterman: 3NT. Should be unanimous.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Maybe he knows what he has.
Michael Dimich: 2NT. I am torn between 2NT and 3NT, but I will be getting a spade lead so I invite.
Robert Sauve: 2. Our only possible game is in hearts.
Larry Meyer: 3. Expecting partner to have at least 4 hearts and enough values for us to be safe at the 3-level.
Perry Khakhar: 2. This is not very clear. So when in doubt, cue bid. I'll decide what to do at my next turn. Seems we need to be in game of some description.
Allan Simon: 1NT. I don't have a source of tricks.
Paul McMullin: 4. I think this describes my hand. Am I supposed to be cue bidding here?
Bruce Rogoff: Dbl. If partner has the responsive double he's supposed to have, I'm happy to keep doubling.
Kf Tung: 2NT. Balanced 20 points.
Louk Verhees: 2. First inclination is 3N. But 4 may play a trick better.
Hendrik Sharples: 1NT. I can't think of another call.
Timothy Wright: 2. Maybe this time partner will bid a suit.
Gareth Birdsall: Pass. If partner makes an undiscussed double there is no chance they will pass them out at the 1-level. Pass gives us a chance of a penalty with a backup plan of getting to game.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
J
---
A K 10 9 3 2
10 9 7 5 4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
2NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 12
| 100
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
3
| 0
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
5
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The panel probe for slam.
Amber Lin: 4. Because I have denied four hearts, this should clearly be shortness (or exclusion for some).
August Boehm: 3. Still probing. Assuming 2 was a support cuebid showing a limit raise or better, 3 is forcing because I've bypassed the 3 safety level.
David Waterman: 3. We could be cold for 7 or have no play for 5. A lot of guessing here. I will pass 3NT.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Seems like a good time to describe most of my hand.
Michael Dimich: 3. You cue bid, then bid diamonds then you will show your massive club fit. Slam beckons baby!
Robert Sauve: 3. Don't like my original 2 bid.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. That's where the money is.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Should pinpoint the heart issue. I'll pass 3NT. But I'm not sure I'll bid 5 over 4 because it's matchpoints!
Allan Simon: 4. As close as I can get to show this freak.
Paul McMullin: 3. A new suit after a cue bid is forcing, right?
Bruce Rogoff: 3. Looks right to go slow, see what partner wants to do. I'm hoping to hear 3!
Kf Tung: 3. . . and then bid clubs on the next round. Partner, do you have those cards I want?
Louk Verhees: 5. Partner seems loaded in the majors (4-4-2-3, say). 4 at IMPs could be right if we find partner with right hand.
Hendrik Sharples: 5. I would have bid 3 first time, fit-showing.
Timothy Wright: 5. Bidding what I hope we can make.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A J 7
6
A J 10 6 5 2
9 7 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 8
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 80
|
|
4
| 2
| 60
|
|
Moderator: The panel are split: half see a 'must act' situation; the other half Pass.
Daniel Korbel: Pass. Not enough tickets or spade length.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. Anything but pass is an overbid. I have the stiff heart. Plus, passing just feels wrong. How to proceed is another matter. Double? 4? For the umpteenth time I'm going to lean on the late, great Edgar Kaplan: 'When in doubt, bid your long suit.'
Zachary Grossack: Dbl. Follow the stiff. With shortness in their suit, be aggressive to enter the auction.
David Waterman: Pass. Staying fixed. Again, a lot of guessing is required.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. I'm big on acting with shortness but this seems a bit of a stretch.
Michael Dimich: Pass. One more spade and one less club and everybody would double. Sometimes a little caution is the right way to think.
Robert Sauve: Pass. I have a partner; bidding will get us too high.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Maybe double with only 1 flaw, but here there are 2: not enough spades and not enough HCP.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Can't make myself pass! Tough for partner if you do.
Allan Simon: 4. The hand with shape acts.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I bid this entire set like a scaredy cat. Why stop now?
Bruce Rogoff: Pass. Too easy to turn a plus into a minus by acting now. So many losers!
Kf Tung: Pass. Not your business at this moment.
Louk Verhees: Pass. It is a stretch to act; could be right as always.
Hendrik Sharples: Pass. Slowly. :-)
Timothy Wright: Pass. I am not nearly good enough for either double or 4.
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