TGIF August 2024: Scores
| 1. IMPs. Both vul.
|
K Q 9 5 4
10 5 4
2
K J 8 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Game try methods are natural here.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 10
| 100
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: This problem was posed by Ron Smith in June 2022 on Bridge Winners. It boils down to whether to bid game, invite game or pass; and if you invite game, how?
Amber Lin: 3. Going for the red game.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3. Try for game, maybe stop a heart lead.
Steve Robinson: 4. I know that if partner has all his points in diamonds, such as A J x x x x x x K Q J x A (which is a 3 bid) 4 will not make.
Josh Donn: 3. In the system we are given, 3 shows a natural game invitation or better. Why not show what we have and bid to the level we are worth? Game could be making easily or have no play at all.
Michael Dimich: 3. Just in case partner wants to try 3NT instead of 4.
Larry Meyer: 3. With an invitational hand, issue an invitation.
Joel Forssell: 3. Natural invite.
Paul McMullin: 3. A natural game invitation?
Bruce Rogoff: 3. Easy, honest game try, leaving room for partner to counter with 3-red (I'll bid game over 3 only).
Kf Tung: 3. Invite, and I have clubs.
Bob Todd: 4. Bid game, make game, win! Less info for opponents this way.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
K J 10 5
J 9 7 4 3
3
K 6 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 6
| 100
|
|
1
| 5
| 90
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 40
|
|
1
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The panel are split between getting in there with their marginal hand, or passing.
Larry Cohen: Pass. It's not that I'm afraid of going for a number, but starting with 1, really the only alternative to pass, could hurt us in finding spades and also could get partner off to a disastrous opening lead.
Mel Colchamiro: 1. I'm not proud of my 1, but we're nonvul and I have a singleton diamond. Besides, the obviously poor lead-inducing aspect of 1 is reduced because I have four spades, which makes it less likely partner will be on lead. Bidding gets the ball rolling for our side, and being nonvul means usually good things will occur from 1, not poor ones.
Michael Dimich: Pass. Havoc matchpoints is one style that eventually loses your partner's confidence in your bidding.
Larry Meyer: 2. White vs red, so stretch a little to show both majors.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I can get active if partner enters the auction.
Bruce Rogoff: Dbl. Get in there while it's cheap and favorable.
Kf Tung: 1. Convenient.
|
| 3. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
K J 6
A 6 3
Q J 10 9
A 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 5
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 90
|
|
4
| 2
| 70
|
|
4NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
Moderator: Most apply Hamman's Rule and settle for 3NT.
Steve Weinstein: 4. 4 keeps every suit in play. We could be missing a slam with such a heavy hand, but this also lands us in any 5-3 major fit. If partner bids 4, I know I have a good hand and we could really be going places. In the worst case of a 4-3 fit in a major, my hand should be good enough to survive.
Daniel Korbel: 4NT. I believe I have just enough for this. May miss a slam opposite a perfecto such as: Q 10 x x K x x A K x x x x.
Kerri Sanborn: Pass. I can't imagine this making. I have no tricks for 3NT, although a lot of high cards. I can easily see plus 800 or 500 our way. Either is acceptable if game makes in 3NT. If I thought my 15-count had a 4NT bid in it, then I would try for the slam. But it's not quite the right hand.
Jill Meyers: 3NT. While it is tempting to pass, I would rather be declaring 3NT. Give partner something like: x x x K Q J x A K x x x x.
Michael Dimich: Pass. Optimist counts their HCP and drives to slam. Pessimist thinks we are getting at least +800 by passing.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. If 3NT is a reasonable option, you should bid it.
Paul McMullin: 3NT. Would 4NT be natural and slam-invitational?
Bruce Rogoff: 3NT. Can't imagine how someone will justify another call, but I suppose I'll find out.
Kf Tung: 4. A is golden opposite a singleton. 3N is not attractive when you have 4 or 4.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A 7 6 5 3
10 9 8 4 2
Q
4 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
1NT
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 8
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 30
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
|
3
| 0
| 10
|
|
3
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The panel try to find a playable partscore.
Amber Lin: Dbl. I think I only want to compete to the three level with a nine-card fit, so double should achieve that.
Barry Rigal: 2. I do not have a way to do anything but double for takeout, which might work but might well be awful. So 2, then bidding again is plausible.
Michael Dimich: 2. I am worth a suit bid.
Larry Meyer: 2. Can not stay quiet with such a distributional hand.
Joel Forssell: 2. To play.
Paul McMullin: 3. Forcing to the ill-fated 22-point game?
Bruce Rogoff: 2. Too weak for 3, and can't double without club tolerance, so must guess a major. Bidding spades has the advantage of allowing me to show hearts if the opponents bid more diamonds.
Kf Tung: 3. Do you have a 4-card major?
Bob Todd: 2. While I'd like to double, 3 by partner may be deadly --- especially if I correct.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A Q J
Q 8
7 6
A K Q J 8 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 5
| 100
|
|
2
| 5
| 90
|
|
2NT
| 2
| 70
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The top marks go to 3NT. Many would have opened 2NT to avoid this problem.
August Boehm: 3NT. Not lovely. Perhaps opening 2NT is preferable, anticipating rebid problems.
Kerri Sanborn: 2NT. I abhor a 2 reverse on two low diamonds, but it could work. I'm pretty sure the panel would open this 2NT as I would.
Josh Donn: 2. 2 might be more effective at the table, but it will only win me a booby prize in a bidding contest.
Michael Dimich: 2. A flawed jump shift. You really want North to either bid 3NT or 3.
Larry Meyer: 3. Let the diamond lead run into partner's hand for 3NT, instead of through it.
Paul McMullin: 2NT. No diamond honors, but how do I recover if I reverse to 2 to show these values?
Bruce Rogoff: 3NT. Automatic. Can I request a spade lead?
Kf Tung: 3. Forcing, partner will describe his side strength.
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