TGIF July 2009: Scores
| 1. IMPs. Both vul.
|
K 10 2
A 3
K Q J 7 5
K Q J
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
3
| ? |
Do you agree with South's double?
| | Votes | Award
|
|
Yes
| 14
| 50
|
|
No
| 2
| 20
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 14
| 50
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 20
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 0
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Dick Freeman died recently. To honor him and his regular contribution to this panel, only his comments are included.
Richard Freeman: Pass. No reason to think you can make anything at the four level.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Both doubles should be routine.
Ewa Gwiazda: 4. Dbl only makes sense if followed by a cue-bid.
Anssi Rantamaa: Pass. Tempted to double but partner may pull it to hearts (a disaster).
Stephen Vincent: Pass. For all its 19 points, this hand isn't going anywhere.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. At the table I would pass taking the view that we don't have game, ergo I should just go for a plus. But pass will not be common in this contest, so I choose what I think will be a more popular call. Pard should pull w/ shape (possibly to a cold 4).
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. One of the tougher problems this year. I suppose south doubled planning to bid some number of NT next round, however 3NT seems a little rich on tricks now. Some souths may have downgraded the club holding to make an 18 point 1NT overcall originally. I will double now.
Mike Hamilton: 3NT. A Hamman’s Rule gamble, but I think this contract will be on the VuGraph in the other room. Holding only one ace, I might have to give up the lead once too often to make 3NT against repeated spade leads, but my chances improve if partner has one.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. To make 3NT, I need partner to have a spade honour and an outside ace. Not likely on this bidding.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Yes, too strong to overcall. Double to ask for pard's opinion on where to play.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. Extra values, denies 4. I have much admiration for pass, anything else is sick.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. We don't have game anywhere. Any action by us will precipitate in disaster for our side.
Kees Schaafsma: 4. Non-forcing but keeping 4 in the picture.
Bob Todd: Pass. After this turn of events a heavy 1NT might have been prudent!
Maurice Ormon: 3NT. 1NT first is better. Yes I know it's too heavy, but better than double.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. We're close to setting him; this is IMPs, and I'm not going to make this the 'match hand'.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. Maximal values and no heart fit.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. The X put you in this position. Since you were likely to be forced to bid 2NT, start with 2 or a heavy 1NT.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. Double is fine. The 3 call from opener is unexpected, but not unwelcome. They're in trouble and we might not make any game.
Brian Zietman: 4. Good big double - too strong for 1NT. A bit wimpish to bid 4 but cannot risk 3NT at IMPs.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Not enough Aces to go on. No real chance for 3NT.
|
| 2. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A Q 5 4
A Q 8
10 7 2
K 6 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
Dbl
| |
|
1
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 8
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 4
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 30
|
|
3
| 2
| 20
|
|
4
| 1
| 10
|
|
Richard Freeman: 3NT. I'm willing to gamble on a diamond stopper from partner.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Does not appear partner has a diamond stopper. He knows I have spades.
Stuart Carr: 3. I should go for the gusto and bid 3NT, but I'm worried about the diamonds.
Anssi Rantamaa: 3NT. My tenaces seem well placed.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. 3NT will be thin at best.
Martin Henneberger: 3. I have an ace and a king more than I promised in balancing seat. Pard is showing values so I will try for 3NT by bidding 3 here, inferring a diamond problem.
Sharene Jansen: Pass. Odds are you'll get another chance to bid.
Mike Hamilton: 3NT. When one hand holds most of the opponents’ strength, a no-trump contract often plays one trick better. My major-suit tenaces are protected from the opening lead, and I’ll chance on this auction that they can’t run diamonds and I can run clubs.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Tough hand. I don't want to bid 3NT w/o a diamond stopper, but partner may worry about hearts & spades.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Not enough shape or strength to bid further.
Mike Roberts: 3. When they've shown two suits, cuebids show, not ask.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. I think that we need partner to hold A Q x x x x and the K to make game. If he had that he would have overcalled already.
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Showing the spade stopper.
Maurice Ormon: Pass. Where are the hearts?
Paul Mcmullin: 3. Should be 'western cue' asking for diamond stopper.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Showing my stoppers. Partner should bid 3NT with diamond cards.
David Gordon: 3. There are 2 cuebids available. I believe this should be showing.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. The only problem with getting partner to bid 3NT is that everyone will see what I deemed to be a takeout double.
Brian Zietman: 3NT. If they double I escape to 4.
Amiram Millet: Pass. If partner has: 7 x x 7 x 6 x A Q 10 9 x x this is our top score here.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
K J 2
K Q 5
K Q 10 9
K 10 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 15
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Richard Freeman: Dbl. Let's try for 800.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Standard Stayman response in interference denying a 4 card major.
Anssi Rantamaa: Pass. Partner is in charge and will know I don't have a four card major.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. I have good defense against diamonds partner.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. Top of range with 3 trump tricks. What more do I need? Pard can always pull. And please don't tell me this is take-out!
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Neat problem for agreements here. Even though I never play doubles as penalty here, I suppose this should be 1 of those rare exceptions.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. I rule out a penalty double against experts at this vulnerability. With no 4-card major, that leaves a pass, a one-round force. I have almost everything except aces, so if partner has HCP for his response, he rates to hold two and we’ll find a game.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. Penalty oriented, but probably safe even if partner takes it out.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Penalty - show the defensive nature of my hand.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. Do I need to wait for a 5th diamond?
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. What is the issue?
Paul Mcmullin: Dbl. If partner was on a 'comic' hand, he should pull.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. Partner can look at the vulnerability and bid 3NT if it is right.
David Gordon: Dbl. 2 ways to deny a 4 card major: Dble shows good diamonds; pass does not.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. Suggest a penalty to pard with a defensive hand.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. Oh, please do keep overcalling 2 on A J x x x x and out.
Brian Zietman: 3NT. Can't miss a vulnerable game. Hope we don't play garbage Stayman.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. For penalty with 4 cards in the enemy suit. No 4 card major.
|
| 4. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
K 9 7 5 3
Q 9 5 4
7
K J 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 16
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
2
| 0
| 0
|
|
2
| 0
| 0
|
|
2
| 0
| 0
|
|
3
| 0
| 0
|
|
Richard Freeman: Pass. A good hand for 2 over 1 to show 5-4 in majors.
Eugene Chan: 2. Too good to pass but no better rebid available.
Stephen Vincent: 2. The least of evils.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Pass and go for plus at this vulnerability. Hope that pard doesn't have extra or has manufactured a rebid in clubs with something like: 2 A K J x A J x x x Q 10 x. I've seen that one before.
Martin Henneberger: 2NT. To underbid or overbid that's the million dollar question. Pard's 2 has a very wide range here: 11 to a non game forcing 18. For that reason I strive to keep these auctions open. I will try 2NT because of the 9 and club fit. 3 is my 2nd choice.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. I can’t rebid these spades and a heart bid would be the 4th suit. That leaves pass or a club raise. Partner has a minimum with at least 9 minor-suit cards and I have 9 major-suit cards. We’re in the best fit we have right here. I’ll bid 3 if pushed.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. The least of all evils.
Larry Meyer: 3. Set the trump suit, let pard make the next move.
Mike Roberts: 2NT. There's a common convention (Meckwell) for this type of hand. This is why.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Need miracles for a non-vul game. This is not the hand to push!
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Pard has plus values or 5-5 in the minors most of the time, a 0454 would be unlucky. A minimum 5/4 should rebid 1NT.
Bob Todd: Pass. Yuch!! This why I play an initial 2 = 5, 4 and 9-11 HCP.
Maurice Ormon: 2. What's the problem?
Paul Mcmullin: 2. I may surprise partner by passing his next bid, but 2 was a minimal rebid, wasn't it?
Chris Buchanan: 3. I am not a huge fan of this decision but what else can I do?
David Gordon: 2. Pass is not an option with 9pts.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Very close to bidding since pard can have a good hand, but NV, missing game isn't tragic.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. At matchpoints, I'm passing, but at IMPs it pays to see if partner has extra values.
Brian Zietman: 2NT. Maybe we have 3NT. I am too strong to pass or bid 2 or 3.
Amiram Millet: 3. It's IMPs and game is still possible.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
---
K Q J 10 7 6
A K 6
K Q J 9
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
4
|
5
| |
|
5
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5NT
| 6
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 80
|
|
6
| 4
| 30
|
|
6
| 1
| 10
|
|
Richard Freeman: Pass. No reason to play partner for a rounded ace.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Take our plus. Would be a tougher problem at IMPs.
Stuart Carr: 6. A somewhat greedy bid, as we may well collect 1100+ on defense.
Anssi Rantamaa: Pass. Take the plus and hope partner doesn't have either of the aces I need.
Stephen Vincent: 5NT. Hope partner has an ace and it isn't in spades.
Stephen Ottridge: 6. North better have one of the A or A.
Aidan Ballantyne: 5NT. Pick a slam (the double is card showing). Got to bid out the hand. Pass is ridiculously chicken.
Martin Henneberger: 6. I'm betting we have a slam somewhere if pard can double to show some values. My hearts are so good even opposite a void I will risk a matchpoint 6 contract.
Mike Hamilton: 6. Partner is warning against bidding on. However, I have a powerful 3-loser hand, and the pre-emptive nature of the opponents’ bidding should preclude them from holding two aces. Therefore, partner must hold two, and that reduces my losers to one.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 6. Would East bid 4 with two outside aces? Would West bid 5 with an outside ace? I'm going to guess no.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Respect pard's opinion and take the sure plus.
Mike Roberts: 5NT. Pick a slam. I'll pull 6 to 6.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. It would appear that partner has warned us off bidding. I pass and wait for a plus rather than bid for a minus! Funny set of hands, I passed 4 out of 5! Who is going to believe that!
Kees Schaafsma: 6. 6 has too many chances, I don't know how to try for the grand.
Bob Todd: 6. Hopefully partner has cards and not the A.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. Sometimes I listen when partner warns me off.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. This was a forcing pass situation and partner has told me what to do. I do not like it but I must be content to sit for the double.
David Gordon: 6. Partner should hopefully be doubling with an ace. If partner has an ace then 6 is cold.
Leo Weniger: 5NT. And then convert 6 to 6, but pass 6.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Can pard have an ace? He doubled in front of you suggesting a non-offensive hand, so pass.
Tim Francis-Wright: 5NT. Do something smart, partner.
Brian Zietman: Pass. Is this double a variation of DOPI? Well if the pass does not work I can always blame partner.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Partner suggests penalty. I'm done.
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