TGIF April 2009: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
A Q 10 5 4
A
A J 9 8 7 5 3
---
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 80
|
|
5
| 0
| 50
|
|
Dbl
| 3
| 40
|
|
4
| 2
| 20
|
|
6
| 1
| 10
|
|
3
| 0
| 0
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: There's a reason why players preempt. The opponents often want to compete, but have less room to describe their hands. Seven panelists felt strongly that 4, showing diamonds and a major, was the best description, even though it's not part of BBS.
Jill Meyers: 4. I play that 4 is diamonds and a major, but I doubt that is BBS.
Allan Falk: 3. What's the problem? It's almost impossible for the bidding to die here. 4 is not leaping Michael's in BBS.
Richard Freeman: 4. That should show a strong two-suiter. Although unlikely, if partner bids 4, I'll bid six. Over 4, I'll bid 4 showing spades and diamonds, although it doesn't show the disparity in length.
Eugene Chan: 3. Without prior discussion with partner about the meaning of a jump to 4, I will start with 3 to allow maximum opportunity to follow up with a spade rebid.
Stuart Carr: 4. After partner's expected 4 bid, I'll bid 5 and hope partner gets the picture!
Stephen Vincent: 3. Perhaps I will have a chance to complete the hand description later. Perhaps not.
Aidan Ballantyne: 5NT. Pick a slam. Will correct clubs to diamonds. Extra shape, bid 'em up. Glad to hear weakness by my opps, improves odds of making slam. If nothing else, the meaning will be clear.
Martin Henneberger: 4. This hand isn't as much a first round bidding problem as a second round issue. I believe most experts cue bid 3 level preempts to show any good 2 suiter. Over the expected 4 response by partner I will risk a 5 bid to invite slam in diamonds or spades.
Mike Hamilton: 3NT. Showing an unspecified two-suiter. Over a heart response by partner, I can correct to spades, and he will know I have spades and diamonds. I have enough strength to push either suit contract to at least game.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. My swiss cheese is not going to make slam without some spade support from partner. Let's check that first. I am ready to compete with 5 later.
Craig T. Wilson: Dbl. .. then diamonds if partner bids hearts.
David Breton: 6. The scientists will try to convince you *their* system will get *you* to the right spot. Well, I ain't no scientist.
Larry Meyer: 3. Bid my longest suit first.
Mike Roberts: 3. I hate this, but double acheives nothing, and any other number of diamonds gives up on spades. Pray for a chance to rebid.
Bob Todd: 4. Strong 2 suited hand!!! I hope he doesn't think it's just the majors.
Paul Mcmullin: 3. SOMEBODY will bid again, and I'll show the spades.
David Gordon: 3. Is 4 diamonds and a major? I do not think it will go all pass so I will bid naturally.
Chris Buchanan: 4. I want to bid 4 showing a strong hand with diamonds and a major but that is hardly standard. I will bid 4 for lack of anything better and correct hearts to spades. Partner should get the idea.
Chris Diamond: 3. I don't think (hope?) that this will end the bidding, in which case I hope to try and get my whole hand in.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. Yes, this is the hand featured in the ad for top and bottom cuebids. At least I'm strong enough to move over 3 or 4.
Amiram Millet: 3. .. intending to call 4 later.
Brian Zietman: 4NT. If partner bids 5 I will bid 5 and he will know my 2 suiter is spades and diamonds.
|
| 2. IMPs. None vul.
| |
K 5
A K J 10
Q J 10 7
8 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
1
|
2
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 11
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 40
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Although you can raise partner or Pass to see what develops, most of the panelists choose 2NT.
Larry Cohen: 2NT. With a guarded king in the opponents' suit, I go out of my way to get notrump whenever possible. It's sort of a variation on Hamman's Rule (when in doubt, bid 3NT). Hamman told me about this adjunct, so if it's wrong, I'll blame him.
The Colchamiros: 3. We would have opened 1NT, not 1, treating the connected 10s as an upgrade to 15 points. Bidding 2NT now is too narrow a target, especially with no club honor. 3 doesn't preclude 3NT.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Minimum opener. Weak trump support. Dubious spade king. Hand getting worse with each bid! Partner's next action will aid re-evaluation.
Stephen Vincent: 2NT. If we end up in 3NT as is quite likely, it's important to play it from the right side.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3. Can always get to 3NT if pard bids 3. No hurry to show my stopper. Show fit first, particulary as they may carry on in spades.
Martin Henneberger: 2NT. 2NT describes my hand entirely so this is an easy problem for me.
Mike Hamilton: 3. By not making a negative double, partner can bid a feature. Lacking the top diamonds, I’m not sure a no-trump contract could survive a second spade lead. I don’t yet know how partner can help, so I’ll temporize by raising his clubs.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2NT. Show the spade stopper now. If partner has Q x x then 3NT may be the best spot.
David Breton: Dbl. With no long suit and just one ace, I'm in no hurry to bid NT.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Need more shape or strength to bid at the 3-level.
Mike Roberts: Pass. Nothing exciting to say. Don't want to encourage partner without a club honor. He promises another bid.
Bob Todd: Pass. No need to rush in.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. No rush to rebid this minimum.
David Gordon: 3. Better show support straight away. If partner bids 3 I will raise to 4. If partner bids 3 I have an easy 3NT bid.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Show support first, the bid NT later if asked to.
Chris Diamond: 2NT. Is this the time where 2NT never natural in competition gets you? Probably going to get to 3NT anyway.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. I really need help from partner for no trump to make sense.
Amiram Millet: 3. My hand is weaker now.
Brian Zietman: 2NT. Is the 2 forcing? We may have a heart fit but I do not want partner to bid NT if we don't. If partner is not strong he can happily land in 3.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
K
Q J 10 8 7 3 2
K
J 6 5 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 12
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 80
|
|
2
| 2
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 40
|
|
1
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: The distribution of this hand looks like a preempt. But holding two singleton kings argues against that.
Barry Rigal: Pass. I'm not sure I can beat 7 or 7 on my assets, and I don't have the boss suit (spades), so I'm done. I'll collect my 33% score and try to persuade partner, but he won't be listening.
Allan Falk: 2. Vulnerable against not, this is not a 3 bid. Because it is not a 3 bid, I choose 2, which is a much better description than pass. I predict that most will bid 3 and I'll be one of either one or two 2 bidders.
Steve Robinson: 4. With 7-4, bid more. Let's make everyone guess.
Eugene Chan: 3. Textbook pre-empt at unfavourable vulnerability.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Neither fish nor fowl.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Second choice 2. Odds are with them if they have spades, no matter what I do.
Martin Henneberger: 3. Wow another easy problem for my bidding requirements. 3 stands out so clear I wouldn't even consider any other action and probably couldn't be convinced of one either.
Mike Hamilton: 3. Maybe half a trick on defense. Give partner his mathematical expectation of 10 HCP and I judge enough support to collect 5 trump tricks and 2 or 3 outside tricks, enough for a 3-level pre-empt at this vulnerability.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Wrong vulnerability, mediocre suit, wasted values in 2 suits. Nonetheless, it looks a 2-level preempt won't disturb the opponents one whit. Luckily it's MPs so the worst I can get is a 0.
David Breton: 3. Not enough defense for a 1 opening.
Larry Meyer: 3. With 2 stiff kings, not upgrading this hand to be a 1-level opener.
Mike Roberts: 3. It doesn't feel right for defence, but feels about right for offence.
David Gordon: Pass. I like to have a better suit to pre-empt in front of partner. Not good enough to open 1.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Is this a trick question? What am I missing?
Chris Diamond: 3. Pre-empt with hearts, with spades I'd think twice.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. Partner will expect at least one of the kings to be in my suit for a red-on-white preempt. No thanks.
Amiram Millet: 1. Too strong to preempt in this seat.
Brian Zietman: 1. In first position I do not want to preempt partner.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
J 5
K
K Q J 10 9 8 7
A 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 13
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
4
| 1
| 40
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Experts realize that if the opponents preempt, 3NT is often a good contract. Because of the auction, declarer can often play along double-dummy lines. Furthermore, the preempting hand can usually be isolated.
Don Stack: 3NT. With the trick potential of diamonds, I will go for the biggest payoff. Hamman's rule is in effect.
The Colchamiros: 3. No A, no 3NT.
Karen Walker: 3NT. The third club gives me the ability to hold up twice, and that talks me into it.
Eugene Chan: 3. At matchpoints I will KISS. 4 at IMPs. KISSing makes partners happy!
Stephen Vincent: 3NT. If partner has neither red ace, this could go down a lot but 3 will be passed too often when game is cold.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3NT. Percentage shot as I can control the club suit and pard likely to have a red suit ace to allow me to enjoy the diamonds after club leads knock out my ace. 3 is too conservative.
Martin Henneberger: 3NT. Hamman's rule if 3NT appears to be in the picture bid it. Ok I will. Guessing to bid a non forcing 3 certainly has to be worse than guessing to bid game.
Mike Hamilton: 3NT. Partner has values, maybe no suit, and another bid. I have 7 tricks in a no-trump contract giving up the lead once. If partner has the diamond ace, I have 8 running tricks and a chance for a 9th in the majors before they can take 5. Worth a shot.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3NT. Partner needs to have the A or the A or we're screwed (but that's pretty likely given the bidding). An easier choice at IMPs.
David Breton: 3NT. In tempo. This could be really bad but at least if I go down, I go down like a man.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. No guarantees, but seems like a worthwhile gamble.
Mike Roberts: 3NT. If I bid 3, how can partner ask for a club stopper?
Paul Mcmullin: 3. 7 cards worth rebidding.
David Gordon: 3NT. It's all about the ace of diamonds.
Chris Buchanan: 3NT. This should have an above average chance of coming home.
Chris Diamond: 3. Can't really think of another call at MPs. Maybe 3NT but I could get a shot at this later.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. Sure, 3NT could be right here, but 3 is not a drop-dead call. If partner has a dead minimum, we're not making 3NT.
Amiram Millet: 3NT. Intending to make it.
Brian Zietman: 3. Just have to show my hand. They will go down but that is not worth a vul game or slam for us.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
J 9
Q
A Q J 10 6
A 10 7 3 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
4
|
4
|
5
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 12
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 90
|
|
5
| 1
| 50
|
|
6
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: Once again preempts have given you a problem. The majority of the panel Pass the decision to partner, and no panelist believes that Pass is forcing.
Mike Lawrence: Pass. This is not forcing because 4 was bid under pressure.
The Sutherlins: Dbl. Partner should know that double is not based on trump tricks. He can pass or pull to 5 with a seven- or eight-card suit. Partner was under pressure over 4, so we need to give him some slack.
Andrew Nalos: Pass. Forcing pass ... over to partner.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. More KISSing! Hope for a plus. 3 tricks appear more likely than 11 (or 12).
Stuart Carr: Pass. Forcing.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. Partner may have stretched a bit: let's not hang him.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Encouraging pard to bid on without committing to that. You need some discpiline and partnership in these auctions or you just get pushed around.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. I truly believe that I don't have a call to make here, why would I feel I need to do something?
Mike Hamilton: 5. The opponents are risking a number, so they must think we have at least game. The 5 raise is problematic, but my J-x is adequate spade support in this auction, so I'll tell partner and let the clubs go. Pre-empts preclude more delicate bidding.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. There is no guarantee we can make 6. 5 x-2 won't be very profitable, but we will beat anyone who goes down in spades (or defends 4).
David Breton: 5NT. A two-way bid. Partner: pick a slam, Opps: it's your turn to guess.
Larry Meyer: 5. In context, we have good trump support, plus we have controls.
Mike Roberts: Pass. An 'in between' hand. Partner can be very wide for 4. Forcing!!!
Bob Todd: Pass. I don't want to prevent partner from bidding should that be his inclination.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. I don't know what to bid; this should be forcing.
David Gordon: 5. Lets take the pressure off partner.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Good old fashioned forcing pass! I like partner to make the decisions!
Chris Diamond: 5. Good hand for spades, in fact I could be seriously underbidding, but pard may be stretching.
Tim Francis-Wright: 5. This is a pretty good hand for partner.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. Taking the best route to a plus score.
Brian Zietman: 5. Tough decision we may have a slam on here.
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