TGIF August 2026: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
|
Q
9 8 4
Q J 10 8 3
K Q 8 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
|
|
4NT
| 3
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 60
|
|
5
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: Are we beating this? Much of the panel don't know for sure, but double anyway.
Josh Donn: Pass. My tricks aren't sure enough, and three small hearts seems like a lousy holding here.
Daniel Korbel: 4NT. I could double, but I have enough of a hand that I'm comfortable committing to offense.
Steve Robinson: Dbl. I think I have more chances to beat them than to make five of a minor. He can always bid again with a weird hand.
Michael Dimich: 4NT. I have 2 places to play.
Christopher Diamond: 5. On a bad day they make 4 if you Dbl. Pass is cowardly and would rather play a 5-4 than give a choice and play a 4-4.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Not going to voluntarily play at the 5-level with 7 losers!
Robert Sauve: 4NT. Cannot be natural. Pick best minor.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Wrong vulnerability to force to the 5-level with a weak hand.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I will not be surprised if they crossruff for 11 tricks, but do not see us improving our score on the 5-level.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Unclear if we can make something at the 5-level. Partner needs a pretty good hand.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A K Q 10 9 8
A Q J 2
3
8 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 12
| 100
|
|
2
| 4
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: This hand was played at a recent tournament by moderator Aaron Jones. The 2 bid chosen at the table was passed out and 11 tricks were taken (via one finesse).
Amber Lin: 2. I'd like to be able to shape out and find the best contract. Small risk we might miss game if partner passes.
Janice Molson: 3. My initial thought was 2, but a wise old bird pointed out that the K with partner is probably enough for game. I would bid 3 if we play the jumpshift gadget.
August Boehm: 3. Need so little for game, why pussyfoot?
Michael Dimich: 3. A four-loser hand.
Christopher Diamond: 3. Outside chance that a heart slam is on. K x x x x and the A. Can still get back to spades.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. Seems practical.
Robert Sauve: 3. Will force to game.
Larry Meyer: 3. Bid out my shape and show my extra values.
Paul McMullin: 3. . . should about show these values; I will pull 3NT to 4.
Louk Verhees: 3. Too much power. 3 could work however we may belong in hearts. Gazzilli would be nice.
|
| 3. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
9 6 4 3
8 3
K 7 3
K 8 6 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 8
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 80
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: A really lousy problem with no good answer. Most would probably think a double has more values in spades, but the more modern style where these doubles are flexible may be more palatable than raising with two.
Barry Rigal: 3. Really not sure what to do, but raising partner shows a fit and values. Arguably I have that.
Kerri Sanborn: Dbl. Do something. We try not to double lefty at the two level, so this should be showing some extras with no clear direction.
Radu Nistor: 3. Two kings opposite a power double should be enough for game, so I'll let pard decide between 3NT and 4. I'd prefer to double over 3 but not sure what that would mean.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. I didn't bid 1NT so partner should lean towards me having 4 spades and some values outside.
Samuel Krikler: Pass. 2 is equal level conversion. Pard could cuebid if he was strong.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Got quite a lot. Should be cards but if we end up defending we still have a chance.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. I've got a hair too much for just 3. I'll take the blame if we are too high.
Robert Sauve: Dbl. Did not pass 1, so this is an optional dbl, competing.
Larry Meyer: Pass. I can not raise hearts, and I have no spade stopper nor a suit worth showing.
Paul McMullin: Pass. I have flat distribution with poor heart support; I will bid 3 if partner does not pass 2.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Should just show some values. Not penalty. Second choice 3.
Bob Todd: Pass. I'll happily pass if partner doubles again.
|
| 4. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
J 9 5 4 2
A 8 3 2
7
K Q 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 9
| 100
|
|
3
| 7
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
2
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: In an age where opening nearly all 12-point hands is common, playing 2NT with a minimum opposite a misfitting 10 seems dubious, but much of the panel asks an important question: What else?
Larry Cohen: 2NT. A compromise that averages out all the things I want to express.
Sheri Winestock: 3. This hand is not good for an invitational notrump opposite a minor-oriented hand. I would be delighted to raise if I knew partner was 5-5. Despite not knowing, I think I have to make some positive move with this hand.
Michael Dimich: 2. How delightful, I get to make a false preference to my singleton.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Overbidding, but maybe a sequence where 4th suit forcing shouldn't always be a GF since 2 is just so much better than 2NT.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3. I owe a club but about right on strength. I will bid 3NT next if partner bids 3.
Larry Meyer: 2. I can not raise either of partner's suits, so make a non forcing rebid of my 5-card suit.
Paul McMullin: 3. Should be invitational/cooperative.
Louk Verhees: Pass. Obvious classic problem. Could be last plus score or we miss a game.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
Q J 8 7 3 2
K 3
9
A K Q J
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 6
| 100
|
|
4NT
| 3
| 80
|
|
5NT
| 3
| 80
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
6
| 1
| 50
|
|
6NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: This problem is a continuation of last month's problem where the panel was unanimous in their 2 rebid. But the panel's opinions diverged over opener's 3 call.
Amber Lin: 3. I think this is my best chance of finding slam. Even if partner has great hearts, it will be hard to set up or ruff diamonds if hearts are trump. If that doesn't work out, I'll settle for 4.
Josh Donn: 4. Some kind of good heart raise, as slam is likely but can't really be played in notrump. I suppose my theme this month is raising hearts with a doubleton.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3NT. When partner shows 6-5 they don't have to be super strong.
Jill Meyers: 4NT. . . invitational. I think partner has five hearts and six diamonds and not necessarily substantial extras or she could have bid 4 over 2. I think I have a little much to sign off in 3NT.
Zachary Grossack: 5NT. Partner should be promising five hearts and six diamonds for this bidding. I have no clue where we belong, even though we have no fit so to speak, 6NT may well be off the first two spade tricks, but we just have so many points, my hand is likely worth a slam. 5NT asks partner for the more solid of their two red suits, I hope.
James Holzhauer: 6. Maybe this will be cold, maybe it will make because they don't lead a spade. I don't want to bid 4 because LHO's failure to double may dissuade a club lead.
Michael Dimich: 4. Another bidding problem that partnerships need to have discussed.
Samuel Krikler: 5. Asking pard to bid 6 if there is only 1 spade loser.
Christopher Diamond: 3NT. If I thought 4NT was quantitative I'd do that. Could possibly get there with 4 but it'll get messy so take the MP escape.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. Classic advance cue for last bid suit. I owe a heart. My debts are mounting.
Larry Meyer: 4. Keeping the conversation going - new suit by responder is forcing.
Paul McMullin: 4. 5 almost certainly asks for controls in clubs, so maybe I can advance cue-bid and follow with 5.
Sandy McIlwain: 4. Wish I had bid 3 last time. Oh, I did!
Louk Verhees: 4. Tough one again. In between 3N, 4 or 4. It feels like if pard has no spade honor you have a loser less in 4.
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