TGIF July 2025: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
|
A K 10 7 5 4
A 8
A K 9 4 2
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
3
|
Pass
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 6
| 100
|
|
5NT
| 5
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 60
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The panel notes the departure (with due thanks) of Steve Weinstein, as well as the introduction of three new panelists: Radu Nistor of Aventura FL, Sheri Winestock of Las Vegas, and famed Jeopardy! champ James Holzhauer of Seattle. This problem set starts with a big two-suiter.
Amber Lin: 4. I don't actually want to play in 4 because my hand needs nothing for slam, but I'm betting that the bidding won't end, so I can bring in diamonds and find our better fit. Can't double because I'm too scared of partner's pass.
Josh Donn: Dbl. . . pulling 4 to 4, of course. I am sure I will miss some slams, but other times I won't get too high, and I should have a good chance at playing in the right suit. If partner passes the double? Maybe that's good for us. Maybe ...
Roger Lee: 5NT. . . pick a slam. Tough hand, but this is the only practical way I can get diamonds into the picture, which is important despite the form of scoring.
Kerri Sanborn: 5. . . then convert hearts to spades. It's the route to showing a huge two-suiter. I think starting with 4NT could work, but it might not show quite this much.
Craig T. Wilson: Dbl. I will then bid 4 over pard's bid. There could be a possible slam here.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. 4 is too unilateral. Double gives us the flexibility of bidding 4 if partner bids 4.
Christopher Diamond: 5. Correct 5 to 5 and hope he figures out how little he needs in the right places. 5NT is an aggressive option.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Slam is possible. Let's start a conversation.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. I plan on bidding 4 over 4 by partner.
Paul McMullin: 4. 4 will make if partner has the Q and two small spades; the question is what to do over 5?
Lars Erik Bergerud: 4NT. Shows a major and a diamond suit since 5 is available for a very strong hand with both majors.
Louk Verhees: 5. Double will go often all pass as with 334/3 he will quite frequently pass. Tough one!
Kf Tung: Dbl. . . and then spades.
|
| 2. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
6 3
A Q 10 4
K J 9 7 2
10 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 10
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 70
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: It may be a bidder's game, but not for the majority of the panel.
Steve Robinson: Dbl. This should be a balancing double and doesn't promise a great hand. I'll correct 3 to 3 to show diamonds and hearts.
Sheri Winestock: Pass. I prefer more when entering a live auction, though being able to get in there now could reap big rewards.
Michael Dimich: Pass. West still has a bid as does your partner.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. It is nice to compete when they could both be bidding on junk but this is too light to step in on a live auction.
Gabor Sandi: Dbl. Will bid 3 if partner bids 3.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Trusting partner to balance if 2 gets passed.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Sometimes it is their hand!
Paul McMullin: Pass. Partner will balance if doing so is right.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Pass. But it is not likely that pard can balance if opps stay in 2, so it is a now or never situation.
Louk Verhees: Pass. Obviously it could be right to double.
Kf Tung: 3. To play or lead a diamond please.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
Q 4 2
A 8 7 6
J 5 2
J 10 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 8
| 100
|
|
4
| 5
| 80
|
|
3
| 3
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: It's hard to evaluate this modest collection. Some panelists bid game. Some panelists sign off in 3. And the majority make a countertry with 3.
August Boehm: 3. Charles Goren advised deducting a point for 4-3-3-3 distribution. Listen to Goren.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. With two working cards and a partial fit in clubs, I will bid game.
Radu Nistor: 3. I have a minimum for 2, but I like my clubs and I have two other cover cards holding the trump queen and A.
Michael Dimich: 3. I have a trick for partner.
Christopher Diamond: 3. The 10 and an ace are tempting but we are shapeless and nonvul at MPs.
Gabor Sandi: 3. Minimal hand, no ruffing value.
Larry Meyer: 4. I've got support for partner's second suit, so accept the invitation.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Nothing to see here! Between the shape and the values, I think we are too high already.
Paul McMullin: 3. Nope! No club help here!
Lars Erik Bergerud: 3. Return Game-Try - Fair values in the black suits and a side ace, but flat shape and only 3 trumps. 8 hcp is between 3 and 4. However, 3 may mislead pard because the A is always a good card.
Louk Verhees: 3. Assuming 3 is a natural try (not helpsuit) it feels like I have just too much too sign off. Not sure if 2 was already constructive.
Kf Tung: 3. Grab 140. AQ, 4333 is not calling for a game.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
Q 8 3
K 5 2
7
A K J 9 6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
2
|
3
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 7
| 100
|
|
4
| 5
| 90
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 70
|
|
Moderator: The plurality bid 4, suggesting it shows only 3 hearts.
Janice Molson: 3NT. Hate this hand. Many things could be right, but I'll use Bob Hamman's rule and bid 3NT.
Daniel Korbel: 4. I'm not enough of a feral beast to try 4. Partner can still offer a five-card heart suit here on the way to 5 if he would like. 3NT is absolutely suicidal. My second choice is pass.
Jill Meyers: 4. Partner is forcing me to bid at the four level, and even if partner only has four hearts, I will take my shot.
Michael Dimich: 5. I need very little to make game.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. Could be horrible but I'll blame it on Hamman.
Larry Meyer: 4. That club suit is worth a rebid.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I don’t think a Moysian plays well here. 3NT is out of the question.
Paul McMullin: Pass. Is it too late for me to take back my 3 bid?
Lars Erik Bergerud: 4. Pard has typically 5 hearts along with a diamond suit or at least a reasonable doubleton in clubs.
Louk Verhees: 4. Not a 3NT bidder though could be right.
Kf Tung: 3NT. 3N is one of the choices!
|
| 5. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A J 4 2
7 2
Q J 8 3
Q 10 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
| |
|
1NT
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 70
|
|
Moderator: This question is more about style and mindset than about system or judgement.
Josh Donn: Pass. I love competing, but this is not a fit auction, and that makes it inherently dangerous to act. Just like Problem 2, you might come in at matchpoints while holding your breath.
James Holzhauer: Dbl. Let's not make it too easy on the opponents.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. If you don't balance you are a timid mouse according to Robert Burns.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Stretching but just enough to compete.
Gabor Sandi: Dbl. Will pass any bid by pard.
Larry Meyer: Pass. My queens and jacks are poorly placed in front of the NT opener.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. There is no indication that we would have a fit. They may not be making and I'd hate to give them 300 against air.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I do not feel compelled to step in with this quacky flat hand; if our side has 22 HCP, they'll probably go down more than we can score by bidding.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Dbl. Takeout. I have about what pard will expect. Game is not inconceivable, especially since finesses are likely to make.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Only at these colors. It is quite feasable there is a double partial swing.
Kf Tung: Pass. You cannot lose too much with a pass.
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