TGIF September 2025: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
|
A K Q J 9
A 8 4 2
Q 8 4 2
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
3
|
Dbl
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
6
| 12
| 100
|
|
Rdbl
| 2
| 70
|
|
7
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
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Moderator: This hand occurred during the final of the Life Master Pairs at the recent NABC in Philadelphia. Though many of the panelists recalled the hand, they bid 6 anyway, despite knowing that bid didn't work out at the table.
August Boehm: Rdbl. I want to see what develops. Second choice would be 6, but if it's laydown (opposite a singleton diamond), the opponents probably have a cheap save in 7. I'm hoping redouble will slow down the auction.
Sheri Winestock: 7. Roll the bones. It's just one board. Top or bottom, depending on what they lead.
Barry Rigal: 6. Seems about right on values and shape. Partner rates to have a diamond control even if they lead one.
Michael Dimich: 4. I will probably be pushed to the five level and if am lucky will be doubled and make it.
Christopher Diamond: 3. What I'd really like to do is bid 5 exclusion to stop the diamond lead against slam. But they're not going to be that flamboyant in a public forum. So 3 and hope pard can cuebid a diamond control eventually.
Robert Sauve: Rdbl. Will cue bid later.
Larry Meyer: 5. Bid to the level of the fit while making it harder for the opps to find a sacrifice in clubs.
Allan Simon: 7. Let's roll the dice. Bridge should be fun!
Paul McMullin: 6. Should make if pard has both red kings, or if they lead the wrong suit.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Rdbl. Shows overall strength. Later support, directly or indirectly, to show slam interest in hearts: will bid 5 over 4 and 5 over 5.
Perry Khakhar: 4. New suit is still forcing right? We may have 12 tricks if diamonds aren't led.
Kf Tung: 4. Do not invite a sacrifice by making any bid other than the dull 4.
Louk Verhees: 4. I don't think there is really anything you can begin with.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A 10 5 4 3
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3 2
A J 8 7 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 6
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 6
| 90
|
|
5
| 2
| 50
|
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Pass
| 1
| 50
|
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Moderator: There isn't much to this problem, the crux of the issue being whether or not 3 is forcing. (We sure would like it to be.)
Larry Cohen: 5. With 2NT natural, I will bid a practical 5. If partner has to guess where the Q is, it sure will be easy!
Josh Donn: 3NT. The problem here is that 3 really should be artificial, not natural. I am a little worried about a heart lead, but I will hope that part is OK, and that my clubs combined with partner's stopper will provide the requisite tricks.
Daniel Korbel: 3. It's hard to imagine the auction going this way when I hold this hand. I have no idea what to do because I don't think 3 can be passed, but I think I might have a good enough chance at 5 to keep bidding clubs until partner passes.
Michael Dimich: 3NT. It looks like my club suit will be a source of tricks if North can bid 2NT.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Who knows? I tend to use 2NT as a specific spade raise but if it's natural maybe our best spot is in clubs.
Larry Meyer: 3. Bid out my shape.
Allan Simon: 3NT. 2NT is a narrow target. The clubs should come in for 6 tricks.
Paul McMullin: 3NT. Maybe pard can set up the clubs? I will not rebid these spades.
Lars Erik Bergerud: 3. So what does it really mean? Probably a probe for the best game (perhaps with short clubs) or maybe 4+ clubs and 6 spades or ...?
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. Might make! Sure feels like a lot of flimflam going on here. But 3NT has a better chance than anything else.
Kf Tung: 3. Natural.
Louk Verhees: 5. I don't think there really is a way to figure out where you belong. 3N can be a really stupid contract or the best spot. You could start with 3 (cuebid) and if partner bids 3 then settle for 3N.
Bob Todd: 5. Can't possibly be exclusion.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
3
K Q 9 7 5
K J 9 8 4
6 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 7
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Many of the panel make a Michaels cuebid, but the plurality are uncomfortable committing to the 3-level.
Amber Lin: 2. I don't want to bid Michaels and force to the three level when the major has a premium at matchpoints. If the points are evenly split and my partner doesn't have a fit, they'll bid 2NT over 2, and then I can bid 3.
Kerri Sanborn: 2. Why not try describing 10 cards? Not enough defense for double, and Michaels shows my shape.
Radu Nistor: Dbl. Seems more flexible. Keeps 1 doubled in play, and 1NT too. If partner bids 2, I'll correct to 2.
Michael Dimich: 2. Matchpoints means you sometimes have to take chances.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Overbid but we should at least find the right suit. Even if both of mine suck.
Larry Meyer: 2. Showing hearts and a minor.
Kevin Strangway: 2. Only because I don't think BWS uses equal level conversion.
Allan Simon: 2. Michaels applies in 4th seat.
Paul McMullin: 2. I am not ready to correct a club response by partner to a red suit, so I might as well bid one now.
Lars Erik Bergerud: 2. . . since I will compete with 3 over 2 (or 3) anyway. To bid 2 in the hopes for all pass out and a nice score is a small target.
Perry Khakhar: 2. Could be disastrous!
Kf Tung: 2. This is a time when the simple 2 bid works better than your conventions.
Louk Verhees: 2. Double, 2 or 2 could all be best. The major advantage of 2 is when LHO bids again partner at least knows something. Maybe at matchpoints we are too light for 2?
|
| 4. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
J 6 4 3
Q 8
A J 4 2
8 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
1
|
1
| |
|
Dbl
(1)
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
| (1) Support double: three hearts.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 10
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 4
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 50
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Is your hand good enough to bid on? The vast majority say no.
Roger Lee: Pass. It's probably imperfect, but I think double puts too much pressure on partner. I expect him to bid 2 over 2 (almost) whenever he has four spades anyway.
James Holzhauer: Dbl. I would have doubled 1 if I had a pure penalty hand, so partner should pull this without defensive values. Plus 200 could be a huge score ... but so could -670.
Michael Dimich: Pass. My hand is too flat to compete in diamonds.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Maybe he won't lead spades if I do this. Maybe it will hide the Q. Maybe it is just wrong.
Robert Sauve: Pass. Too many losers.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Not enough shape or strength to make a free bid at the 3 level.
Kevin Strangway: Pass. I might try double playing with a partner that makes sound takeout doubles.
Allan Simon: Dbl. Do something intelligent, partner!
Paul McMullin: Pass. I am content to defend if partner is.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Pass. Pard can redouble with 3 spades and a nice hand and he will compete with 4 spades. Should we go for 2-X when opps easily may have the balance of power?
Perry Khakhar: Pass. I think we can defend this quite well.
Kf Tung: 3. They will pass 3, or bid 3 for you to double.
Louk Verhees: Pass. It could be right to double (for takeout), but they maybe playing 4-3 fit and if partner has 4 spades he should bid 2 usually. The hand looks more defensively orientated.
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
10 9 8 6 4
K Q 5
K 10 8
A 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 7
| 90
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The panel are presented with unpalatable choices. They are split between 3 and 3NT ... some mentioned they would change their votes to pass at matchpoint scoring.
August Boehm: 3NT. . . not happily, hoping for a source of tricks or extra high cards. Still, 3 risks playing there on a 4-3 fit, and pass may result in an inadequate penalty or minus 470 on a bad day.
Zachary Grossack: 3. At matchpoints, I would pass without a second thought, but that's too risky at IMPs. If partner had, say, a 2-5-1-5 hand with 9 points, 4 might have play and 3 doubled might have play, too.
Michael Dimich: 3NT. Partner is marked with club length and 4 hearts so 3NT has a good play.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. Possible it will go down less than everything else and not attract a double. 3 might get 4 and a trump stack double.
Robert Sauve: 3. Don't want K lead from partner.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Show my diamond stopper, and suggest the most likely game.
Allan Simon: 3NT. I'm pulling because I fear partner's spade lead. I'd rather come back with minus 100 than with minus 470.
Paul McMullin: Pass. Can I take back my 1 bid?
Lars Erik Bergerud: 3NT. I see no reasonable alternatives.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Cross ruff nine tricks? I think the least of all evils.
Kf Tung: 3NT. This is what partner wants.
Louk Verhees: Pass. A classic problem with no good solution. Passing can easily be the big winner. 3 I can't get out of my throat. 3 can be right, but if it gets raised then can easily be the wrong spot.
Bob Todd: 3. Ridiculously hard problems.
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