TGIF January 2009: Scores
| 1. IMPs. None vul.
|
Q 4 3
K Q J 10 7 6
4
A 9 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Dbl
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 10
| 100
|
|
2
| 2
| 60
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
4
| 3
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 30
|
|
Rdbl
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Passing is too conservative, but bidding game or making a game try is too aggressive. The panel majority takes the middle road by bidding 3. This takes up one level of bidding with little risk.
Larry Cohen: 4. I want to make it hard on the opponents by bidding 4. If we buy the contract, I'm happy with either +420 or -50 a trick.
Steve Robinson: 2. I'll make a 2 game try. If partner has K-J of both black suits, we can make game.
Lynn Deas: 3. I am competing to 3 anyway, so I will make it more difficult for the opponents by doing so immediately. My hearts are so good that I'm not worried about being doubled.
Eugene Chan: 3. 3 trumps, singleton and a side ace represent fair defence against a spade contract.
June Pocock: 3. I'll show a 6th heart and let partner decide.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Not a game try: just making life difficult for the opponents.
John Hurdle: 3. Resist the urge to do something foolish.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3. May help us decide what to do over 3 and/or 4. Blocking with 3 may simply propel opps into cold 4. Pass followed by 3 over 2 is second choice as this often buys the hand.
Martin Henneberger: 3. We could make game opposite partner's magically underbid 10 count. A more realistic scenario is that the opponents also have a place to play including 3NT. 3 is not a game try but rather an obstructive room blocker.
David Schmidt: 4. With the right cards in partner's hand, this could make. Alternatively, the opponents surely have a game.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. I was just a little too strong to open 2 myself. I have a minimum opening and partner has given a limited response. My spade fragment is of unknown value. West and partner each have another bid. My solid hearts give us a chance for an 8-trick game.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Partner would need a perfect hand for 4 be making. Pass and let the opps overbid.
Larry Meyer: 4. Upgrade hand due to length and strength in my supported trump suit.
Maurice Last: 4. They have spades, maybe 4 keeps them from finding them.
David Breton: 4. I never know how to handle those at IMPS, it seems it always goes 4-4-X. -690.
Mike Roberts: 3. Even if this isn't just competitive, I doubt partner will go to 4 with such bad trumps.
Perry Khakhar: 3. 1-2-3 stop! Try and eat up as much room as possible. I have less defense now than I did before the bidding started.
Bob Todd: 3. 4 will just push them to 4.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Tough to come up with many hands that we can make game on so I am preemptively raising to 3 in an effort to shut the opponents down.
Paul Mcmullin: 3. I considered 3, but if we have a 'double fit' then they do too, and we can't outbid them.
David Gordon: 3. Competitive.
Cliff Gillis: Pass. Auction is not over yet.
Brian Zietman: 4. Intending to push on to 5 if necessary.
Chris Diamond: 3. Pard probably can't have enough for game so I'll raise the preempt.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. Someone more clever than I will probably bid 3 either for the lead or for a game-try, and find that it is right, but I am too afraid of a 3 call so I wimp out with 3.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
K 10 4 3
8 6 4
4 2
10 9 8 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
3
(1)
|
Pass
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Weak.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 9
| 100
|
|
5
| 8
| 90
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: You have no attractive call and the panel is divided down the middle between bidding and passing. Most agree that you are probably going for a minus either way.
Grant Baze: Pass. There is some hope for a plus (by bidding) and it's better than a large minus.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. A very tough problem. I don't want to pass without some defense.
Kerri Sanborn: 5. We might be able to set them, but it is likely that we have a cheap save or perhaps a make in 5. When I think about partner's shape, I see that he will often have six clubs.
The Coopers: Pass. We hope to beat it. It's easier to take four tricks than 10 or 11.
Eugene Chan: Pass. No place to run or hide. Partner should have contract beat in hand.
June Pocock: Pass. I can't see a plus score if I bid. Partner sits behind bidder.
Steve Ottridge: Pass. Let's get 500 on 2 down.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Even if you do bid and find a lucky fit, the contract could easily go down on defensive ruffs.
John Hurdle: Pass. Too close for comfort but the alternatives don't appeal.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Not clearly a TO double. Bidding is consistent with pard having a very strong (perhaps balanced) hand. If 3 was a splinter we cannot recover and there should be an adjustment.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. 2 things come to mind here. First east my have psyched a 3 bid in which case we have a spade fit. 2nd east may only have a 6 card suit and west ran out of fear in which case theyre in trouble. I'm not rescuing anyone here: Pass.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. East and I are both weak. West has pushed to the 4-level, vulnerable, without pre-empting. Partner’s second double is for penalties because the opponents have not yet found a fit. Partner has cards and is sitting behind the opener.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. I expect partner has 20 pts hand and at least one trump trick. 4 won't be fun if the opps cross-ruff spades & diamonds.
Larry Meyer: 5. Bid my longest suit as again requested by partner.
Maurice Last: 5. Partner wants me to bid, so I am. We're not setting 4.
David Breton: Pass. Either 3 is a psych or partner has a huge hand. I'm hoping it's the latter for a bigger-than-game plus.
Julien Levesque: Pass. First time around is "talk to me pard"; the second is the old "gotcha on my own". Pass and hope pard has it all.
Mike Roberts: Pass. Too weird. West is void in spades, but partner knew that.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Are you sure that 3 wasn't a splinter? Okay it may be that partner has a 2-4-2-5 very strong hand. But may be you can make 5! Same hand will get you 800 with a trump lead most of the time. I am willing to gamble that we can't make any slams! :)
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Sigh. This could be wrong but I like nothing else.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. I have 1/2 a trick and the club spot cards for backup; surely partner has 3 1/2 or more.
David Gordon: Pass. 3 a psyche? I guess part has a stronger then 1NT balanced hand.
Cliff Gillis: Pass. Who is sitting West? Do I have a trick? Probably not but my partner has 4.
Brian Zietman: Pass. My K 10 x x is my only feature which should help defence.
Chris Diamond: 5. Yuck!! West could have 10 tricks in his own hand and this is going to play brutally for us. Pard might have bid 4 with 5 good ones, lets hope he has 5 clubs.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. I suppose that 5 could be making here, but it really looks like they're in trouble.
|
| 3. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
A 5 4
8 7 6 2
7 5 4
A K 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
2
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 90
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 60
|
|
3
| 2
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: The panel chose four different actions on this unfriendly problem. Sometimes you just don't have a good call.
Allan Falk: Pass. This might be disastrous, but we rate to nip 2 a trick. I have no other bid that does not risk 300 or more. Hoping to scrape up six tricks seems our best shot.
Richard Freeman: 3. Passing 2 is too big a position.
Mike Lawrence: 2. I hate to leave the double in because East is a favorite to have six heart winners, and two more may exist.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Tough decision. Hope I can pass without break in tempo.
Stuart Carr: Pass. I hope to go plus, not sure if we have game.
Anssi Rantamaa: 3. Pick a suit partner!
Steve Ottridge: Pass. Thanks for at least another 500.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. You have 3 top tricks and not much offense. Risky certainly but so is bidding. And what would you bid? 3 forcing to game and finding partner with a minimum 4-1-4-4 has its own dangers.
John Hurdle: 3. This promises values (Lebensohl) without overly committing to strain and leaves partner room to bid if appropriate.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3. Pray for something good to happen, perhaps 3NT from pard's side.
Martin Henneberger: 2. An underbid on values, yet an overbid on potential. Clearly can't pass with these hearts, and forcing this auction would be suicidal.
David Schmidt: 3. This should ask partner to bid a major if he has one. If not, I can support a game in diamonds.
Mike Hamilton: 2. 3 quick tricks over a balancing double, vulnerable, no shape, and no strong hearts. If I have to lie, I’ll do it as cheaply as possible.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Think of it as a limit raise w/ 3 trumps & no heart stopper.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. Choosing the bid that misdescribes my hand the least.
David Breton: Pass. Moysians lose their appeal when it is likely the suit won't break, especially with the tap in the _long_ hand, so even though it looks like they have at least 6 tricks I opt to defend.
Julien Levesque: 3. Please bid 3NT pard.
Mike Roberts: 2. I would pass at matchpoints, but I just want to go plus at IMPs.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Easier at matchpoints! If we are playing lebensohl (are we?) this shows values. I do not pass 8 trick doubled contracts in IMPs without more in trumps!
Chris Buchanan: 2. Way too risky to pass and 3-4-3-3 shape needs to be downgraded. I should know what to do on the next round of bidding, if any.
Paul Mcmullin: 2. If I pass, we'd probably hold declarer to six hearts and an outside honor, but with three prime cards and partner short in hearts, I'm afraid of choosing to defend when partner may have doubled with a monster. I hate this hand.
David Gordon: 3. Hope I play Lebensohl and 3 shows values.
Cliff Gillis: 3. Dont punish partner for protecting. 3 should ask for more info.
Brian Zietman: 3. Partner choose 3NT or your suit for game.
Chris Diamond: 2. Who thinks these up. No good answer, let's hope we can make 2 or that pard bids again.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. This is a version of the Advancing Death Hand Over Weak Twos, where you would like 2NT to show invitational strength. On the other hand, 3 by me shows real values, so I will try it.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
Q 6 5
A K 3
J 3
A K J 6 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 12
| 100
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 4
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 10
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: The vast majority opt for the flexible double.
August Boehm: 3. I doubt that double shows this hand in SAYC. 3 opens the door to 3NT. If partner raises to 4, I have a comfortable correction to 4.
Richard Freeman: 3. .. the least of evils, unless we are playing support doubles at this level.
Jill Meyers: Dbl. Double shows extra values with no direction.
Eugene Chan: 3. Again hoping to do so without break in tempo.
Stuart Carr: 3. See if partner can bid 3NT.
June Pocock: 3. Will correct to 4 if partner raises hearts.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Most flexible option. If partner bids 3NT now it'll be played from the right side and I can convert to spades if necesssary.
John Hurdle: Dbl. Extra values, flexible hand, automatic in modern bridge.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. I owe a spade but this is right on values. Doubling may only get 300.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Since I play doubles everywhere not as trump suit penalty, here's yet another example of where to use one.
David Schmidt: 3. Pass is not an option so I'm stuck with a choice of bad bids.
Mike Hamilton: Dbl. The most flexible bid. It shows extra values (otherwise I pass) and doesn’t raise the auction. A two-way action. If partner elects to defend, we can beat this on power for a good score. Otherwise, I have enough support if he can rebid his suit.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Make a game forcing bid, but denying the ability to bid 3NT.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Show extra values but no clear direction.
Maurice Last: Dbl. Help me out partner!
David Breton: 3. Even with the 10 seconds skip bid warning, I may have tempo problem on this one. A hard set for me this month.
Mike Roberts: 3. Gives up on 3 doubled, but keeps all other options open. If partner raises hearts, 4 is ok.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Yes I know I only have 3! But it is the only logical way to force! Especially when 3NT might be the best contract. I see no reason to commit us to a Moysian as yet. I can always catch up if pard supports clubs!
Chris Buchanan: 3. Trying to get to 3NT or 4.
Paul Mcmullin: Dbl. I don't care if double here is 'support' or 'value showing'... I have to do SOMETHING.
David Gordon: Dbl. Strong takeout.
Cliff Gillis: Dbl. Whether playing support doubles or not.....
Brian Zietman: Dbl. Hope partner plays support doubles ....
Chris Diamond: Dbl. Any reason not to use a support dbl? Well I suppose pard'll be stuck if he doesn't have 5 spades.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. Time for partner to admit to her diamond stopper.
|
| 5. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A Q J 10 3
A K J 10 2
3 2
2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
3
|
4
| |
|
4
|
5
|
5
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 8
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 7
| 80
|
|
5
| 2
| 40
|
|
5NT
| 1
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Most of the experts either double or pass. What's the difference between these two? The normal meaning of double (at the five level) is that you have two quick losers in the suit bid. In this auction, however, partner has already forced to the five level, so most of the experts felt that didn't apply.
The Colchamiros: 5NT. .. pick a slam. We couldn't come up with a hand that partner would commit to the 5-level without 6 or 6 being safe. We think 5NT should show equal length in the majors.
Betty Ann Kennedy: Pass. Partner chose to cuebid 5, so the question in my mind is not whether we are safe at the five level, but whether we have a slam. I pass and leave it up to North to clarify.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Forcing pass should apply. Hence double shows diamond losers.
Stuart Carr: Pass. Forcing, implying clubs controlled although would like to have 1st round control.
June Pocock: Dbl. Hope this shows good hand with 2 diamonds.
Anssi Rantamaa: Dbl. Partner heard my 4 bid didn't he? With nothing I expect him to go to his best major.
John Hurdle: 6. Notwithstanding my diamond losers, partner rates to have a singleton club, else why 5 or 5?
Aidan Ballantyne: 5. Nothing in their suits, clear preference to keep going.
Martin Henneberger: 5. Since I am never going to defend 5 with both sides having a potentially huge double fit, I am bidding 5 now, understanding that passing then pulling partner's double is a slam try, and doubling myself is a reason I'm not familiar with.
Mike Hamilton: Dbl. East pre-empts in clubs and I cue-bid clubs. What does partner’s 5 mean? If East has at least 10 minor-suit cards, then partner has to have at least one of the majors and I’m begging him to show it.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 6. Slam will make often enough to justify the gamble. I don't have a preference between hearts and spades and neither does partner, so just pick one.
Larry Meyer: 5. Can't bid 6 with 3 fast losers in opponents' suits.
David Breton: Pass. We are probably in a forcing auction and whichever suit we play in, it can't be wrong to play it from the other side.
Julien Levesque: Pass. A pass would show to pard that I do not have anything outside of the majors, let pard pick and choose.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. For a hand that has bid 4, my minor shape is too bad. Discourage partner.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Can partner have any less than K, Q, K, a void in clubs and a big Major suit fit for this auction to make any sense? Anyway we are in a forcing pass auction and I intend to pass and pull. I like my hand oppoosite any hand that can bid 5!
Chris Buchanan: Pass. I like pass here to show 2+losers in the sacrifice suit. We are in a forcing auction and partner must have more than just the K and Q.
Paul Mcmullin: 5. I have all the honor cards in the majors, so I have no idea what partner's 5 bid meant - how can he have values to bid past game?
David Gordon: 5. I guess partner has no preference. I have a minimum.
Cliff Gillis: 6. Toss up. 4 can (and prob is) a fit showing bid so pard doesn't need to have stiff diamond. 5 should show first round club control so I'm bidding 6 to right side K x, and pass the buck.
Brian Zietman: Pass. We may have 2 top losers - partner you decide. :)
Chris Diamond: Dbl. I think passing would show a diamond control. I'd like to bid more but partner's still alive if he has the club ace and a stiff diamond.
Tim Francis-Wright: 6. Each side has a double fit, so it's time to pass the buck back to partner.
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