TGIF December 2025: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. None vul.
|
9 7 6 4 3
A K J 2
---
J 9 8 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
2
|
3
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 6
| 100
|
|
5
| 5
| 90
|
|
4NT
| 4
| 80
|
|
6
| 2
| 70
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: This hand, which appeared at the Charlotte Regional, opens up a wide range of possibilities. On the actual hand, played at IMPs, partner raised 5 to 6 and chalked up +1370.
Larry Cohen: Dbl. . . but it really worries me. Not only do I fear a leave-in, but how will I know that 4 will deliver four of them? What would partner bid with, say: K x Q 10 x x x A K Q 10 x x? The tap is in the wrong hand. But, I am dreaming of 4 by partner. Matchpoint greed. I would bid 5 at IMPs.
Barry Rigal: 6. Even if the defenders have two spades to cash (partner holding something like: Q x Q x x Q x A K x x x x), they haven't done so yet. And they do not know if I have a source of tricks or even a diamond void for sure. Faint heart never won fair lady.
Steve Robinson: 5. I expect to make it. If I double, partner might have Q x x and pass, and we beat it only one or two tricks. If he bids 4 over my double, he might have only three.
Radu Nistor: 4NT. I'd like to bid 4NT if that shows a slam try in clubs. Otherwise, it's close between 5 and 6. I don't want to double since partner might pass.
Michael Dimich: 5. How else can you show that you are really interested in slam?
David Waterman: 5. Unlikely pard can bid 7, but can't hurt to try.
Christopher Diamond: 6. I'm not going to discourage a diamond lead and on a non spade lead we probably have a decent play.
Gabor Sandi: 5. At least we have a fit.
Larry Meyer: 5. Support with support, especially with a void in the opponent's suit.
Paul McMullin: 6. Maybe the opponents will continue bidding.
Lars Erik Bergerud: Dbl. You want partner to take another call. I may convert 4 to 5.
Louk Verhees: 5. Could be right to bid higher.
Hendrik Sharples: Dbl. Try get the majors in play. If I was still young I'd bid 6.
Bob Todd: 6. Double might work.
|
| 2. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A K J 8 6 2
K 10
K 7 5 4
6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 5
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 4
| 80
|
|
3
| 0
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Our panel is split on how to handle this second-round bidding decision.
Daniel Korbel: 3. If partner passes, it will be OK. We may lose the diamond suit, but bidding in Standard American or 2/1 auctions has always been very tricky. I don't think double means takeout in this auction type.
August Boehm: Dbl. After a game-forcing 2/1, doubles are penalty. When non-forcing (here), doubles can be the DSI variety (Do Something Intelligent). Hope pard and I are on the same page.
Zachary Grossack: 3. This should be natural and one-round forcing. I am hoping to get partner to bid 3 with six or 3 with two of those. If double were takeout (as it would be in Italy), I would have a perfect double! Alas, I play double is penalty, and likely so does BBS. If 4 were a choice-of-games bid, that would be perfect! Alas, I do not play those. Nor does BBS. Likely not even a disaster if partner passes 3, though I hope they do not!
Michael Dimich: 3. Milk the bidding.
David Waterman: 3. Tempting to blast 4, but we can still get there and 3 keeps spades alive.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Keep it rolling and cheap. Could have slam in any of 3 suits.
Larry Meyer: 3. We're in a game force, so I can bid out my shape and keep our options open.
Paul McMullin: 3. I am hoping that partner can take over if we have slam chances after I tell him I have extra length.
Lars Erik Bergerud: 3. No Drury so 2 shows a decent 5-card heart suit, near opening and at most a doubleton in spades.
Louk Verhees: 3. Tough one. Best would be Dbl if for takeout.
Hendrik Sharples: 3. I like Dbl as takeout here but don't know that's standard.
|
| 3. IMPs. None vul.
| |
K J 9 7 5 4
J 3
Q J
K 8 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 9
| 100
|
|
2
| 8
| 90
|
|
2
| 0
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: The panel are nearly evenly split between Dbl and 2.
Amber Lin: 2. I'm downgrading. My Q J values are unlikely to be useful on offense, and my partner denied three spades by not making a support double.
Josh Donn: Dbl. Happy with anything partner does. If they can pass, great, and they can always bid 2 on a doubleton after not making a support double.
Michael Dimich: 2. I can show my doubleton heart and partner if interested in further action can show if they have a doubleton spade.
David Waterman: Dbl. No need to commit to spades or hearts. Double keeps all doors open.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Discount the quacks in diamonds. He's probably got a minimum balanced hand with less than 3 spades. Don't want the headache of bidding over his 2.
Larry Meyer: 2. This hand will take more tricks if spades are trump.
Paul McMullin: 2. Maybe partner can upvalue A x or Q x in his hand.
Lars Erik Bergerud: 2. No Support Double and no 2 over 2. Wasted values in diamonds mean the low road.
Louk Verhees: 2. Dbl could be better, but don't think so.
John McAllister: Dbl. Something imperfect.
Hendrik Sharples: Dbl. A blame transfer at its finest.
|
| 4. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
K J 10 4 2
A 7 5 3
2
K 4 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 10
| 100
|
|
5
| 4
| 70
|
|
5
| 2
| 60
|
|
4NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Facing a tough high-level decision, a majority of the panelists opt to go low.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. The preempt makes it impossible to know what to do so I will take the plus score. I picture: A Q x x K x x x x A Q x x, a sound double and slam is hopeless.
James Holzhauer: 5. . . planning to pass partner's 5M bid. I'm concerned that any missing heart honours will lie unfavourably for our side, but I must make a try.
Harrison Luba: 5. Should just be a general slam invite here.
Michael Dimich: 4. One probable diamond loser and another loser or more (maybe) in the wash.
David Waterman: 4. I cannot bid more in safety, especially with the expected bad breaks.
Christopher Diamond: 5. After a 4-level vul takeout we should be close to slam. Decision time over 5. Probably going to slam despite the crappy spots. Might actually play better in hearts if he's slightly off shape.
Gabor Sandi: 4NT. Go to 6 if partner shows 2-3 Aces.
Larry Meyer: 5. Too strong for a minimum bid. Try to keep both majors in play.
Paul McMullin: 4NT. I believe I have enough to get us into trouble. Let's go!
Lars Erik Bergerud: 5. Double of preempts is takeout up to 4. We want to be in slam and need to find the best strain.
Louk Verhees: 4. Of course it could be right to bid higher.
John McAllister: 4. To quote Meckstroth, 'Easier to win IMPs plus 480 than minus 50'.
Hendrik Sharples: 4. Partner doubled under a lot of pressure. Slam might be cold but that's why they preempt.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
A 7 6 3
A
J
A K Q 10 8 6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 12
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 4
| 70
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 40
|
|
Moderator: A majority of the panel opts for the practical approach with this collection.
Roger Lee: 3NT. I tend not to be too scientific with hands like this. 2 could work well though.
Barry Rigal: Dbl. . . putting off till tomorrow what I cannot do today. With any luck, I may find out a little more before the next round of torment.
Michael Dimich: 3NT. Everybody except a dead monkey would bid 3NT.
David Waterman: 3NT. Unanimous.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. Hamman, you SOB.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Bid the most likely game.
Paul McMullin: 2. Clubs, clubs, clubs until they double me!
Lars Erik Bergerud: 3NT. A problem that invites creative responses, but 3NT stands out. Can also serve as a preempt.
Louk Verhees: 3NT. I would say ... what else?
John McAllister: 3NT. What else?!
Hendrik Sharples: 3NT. Mabe we are cold for 6 and 3NT is down 1?
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