TGIF August 2009: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
K 2
K J 8 5
A 10
10 9 6 5 2
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| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 90
|
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2NT
| 1
| 30
|
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2
| 0
| 0
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Moderator: It's tempting to pass with a five-card club suit and hope for a reopening double. Your values are in the other three suits, however, and that screams offense. If you double and partner bids 2, you can retreat to 2.
Kerri Sanborn: Pass. I am willing to try for the penalty if partner can reopen with double. If I hear anything else, I will make up for lost time on the next round. I don't have enough (values) to guarantee game, so this could be our best plus.
Barry Rigal: 2NT. This is a tough hand to evaluate. I'm going to take a middle course and try to win the event on the next deal. If I pass and partner doubles, I might pass and catch him with 6-4-3-0 shape.
Lynn Deas: Dbl. I don't want to defend with only one trump trick and all of my values in the other three suits.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Negative double is the easy part. What comes next could be interesting.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. It's either that or double. 2* will not play well for declarer.
David Walker: Pass. See what develops.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Not sure I'd really do this at the table... what if partner doesn't reopen? Even w/ no club honours we should set this 1 or 2 on raw strength. If 4/3NT is making, they will go for 800+.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. Duh.
Susan Peters: Pass. Looking for a double from partner.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Can't see anything other than a negative double. To pass for penalty with weak clubs is way too deep. 2 could make with 7 cold. Simple problem really: attempt to find a fit first, penalize second.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. Show values and stoppers, deny spade support.
Mike Hamilton: Dbl. I have 11 working HCP and 4 cards in the unbid major, the textbook minimum for a negative double.
Julien Levesque: Dbl. Not the most elegant option, but should pard hold the heart suit we will find it, if not with some extras in the pointed suits this could be converted to penalties or either a slow road to a NT game, but it is a freely given multi purpose double, showing the 4 hearts.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. 2NT over 2, 3 or pass over 2, 3 over 2. Anything else is masterminding.
Kees Schaafsma: Dbl. After Pass-2, I'm stuck; After Double-2, I will bid 2NT.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. Not likely to get rich in 2-x. Better to look for game in hearts, spades or NT.
David Gordon: Dbl. Long clubs but not very good ones. Start with the negative dbl. If there is a 4-4 heart fit then it will play well.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Same problem after pard's X: show hearts or pass for penalties?
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. While it's tempting to wait for partner's reopening double, I have a good hand with 4 hearts and a chance to show them before partner leaps to 3 with her good 6-4-2-1 hand.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. Showing hearts on the way.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
3
A K 3
A 8 7 6 4 2
K 6 4
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| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1NT
|
Pass
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2
| |
|
Pass
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3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 6
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 90
|
|
5
| 2
| 70
|
|
4
| 3
| 60
|
|
4NT
| 1
| 20
|
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Pass
| 0
| 10
|
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3
| 0
| 0
|
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Moderator: All the experts reevaluate the hand during the auction. Most of them insist on game and several try for slam. The bid you make over 3 depends on whether you want to engage partner in the final decision and which bid (3 or 4) gives the best information.
Don Stack: 4. This is a fantastic hand on this auction. Partner has one or no diamonds and seven or eight clubs. A splinter in spades showing slam potential with controls in the lower suits gets this message across.
Allan Falk: 5. This should be a great contract, and no one gets to 5 at matchpoints. It's tempting to bid 4NT and then slam if partner has one key card. The advantage of a direct 5 bid is that you don't tell the opponents how to defend.
Jill Meyers: 3. I will bid 4 over partner's 3NT. That should show this hand. I would consider splintering to 4 directly, but I would rather have better diamonds.
Steve Robinson: 4. Partner should have long clubs with a weak hand. He might have Q 8 7 6 9 5 Q J 10 8 7 2, where 4 might be the limit.
Maurice Ormon: Pass. Partner has clubs - hush up.
Eugene Chan: 3. This should imply a club fit. Best move going forward.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Things are looking up. I'm certainly going to 5 but we could have a magic slam and one that's biddable too.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. This can't be constructive. Partner knows what I have and he doesn't like diamonds.
Aidan Ballantyne: 5. Diamonds aren't good enough and too much in hearts to splinter in spades. I'll go for concealment. If I bid 3 and hear 3NT I won't know what to do anyway. Too good for simple 4 raise.
Martin Henneberger: 3. Wow my hand just got a lot better! This hand could be great for 3NT, 5 or 6. It could also be bad for 3NT. Playing matchpoints 3NT pays big so I will not decide for the partnership but cooperate with 3, and cue bid spades if pard bypasses 3NT.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Pard is weak and long in clubs, so this is a great parking spot.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. Partner is showing long clubs in a limited hand. Although the bidding has improved my hand, I don't think we have quite enough for game in clubs.
Julien Levesque: Pass. Too many soft cards on the side in diamonds. I pass 3 expect to maybe make 4, but no game is in the cards vs a 1NT response.
Mike Roberts: 5. This hand just got huge. Pard needs a spade stopper AND running clubs for 3NT to be right (via 3). I want to give as little info as possible.
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Definitely worth a try, showing the heart fragment is the way to do it.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Showing cards with a club fit.
David Gordon: 3. 3 should be showing a maximum 1NT with long clubs. There might be game there. Show where you live.
Chris Diamond: 4. This hand got huge. Opp's silence suggests pard has a good hand with three spades. On a good day we could make a GS in clubs.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. 5 seems to be the only reasonable game.
Amiram Millet: 4. Looking for a club game or slam.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
A J 7 5 4
6
A K J 6 3
K 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
2
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 9
| 100
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
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Pass
| 4
| 50
|
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3
| 1
| 20
|
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3
| 0
| 10
|
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4
| 1
| 10
|
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Moderator: You have a strong hand, but you don't have a fit with partner. The majority go the penalty route.
Larry Cohen: Pass. I pass and greedily hope for more bidding. If so, I'll start with the red cards.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3. This is a difficult problem, and I hope to find a spade fit or a very good heart suit from partner.
The Sutherlins: Dbl. This is an ugly matchpoint double. We have four tricks and need a little help from partner.
Eugene Chan: 3. Same call regardless of conditions. High probability partner has 3 spades.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. It's matchpoints: go for the magic 200. I probably have 4 defensive tricks and partner should have something over there, even at this vulnerability.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. 3 should make opposite most disciplined pre-empts, and we will usually set 3 if partner has the A. The vulnerability tips the scales. If they push to 4 I will double and lead a diamond.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. Can't pass 3 as this would end the auction (LHO is likely weak). Double is best of bad lot but not so great if LHO runs to 3NT (what would double of 3NT mean?). Second choice 3 as I can bid 3 over 3.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. I've been wrong before but 200 in matchpoints is golden. I'm risking a penalty double. I can't envision any game for our side and we are making at least 110 so I have to gamble with the hammer for 200.
Larry Meyer: 3. Searching, perhaps our best contract is 4.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. Could be silly, but I'll try for +500 (or +200 vs partscore), since I have no other easy bid.
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Forcing, but frankly I don't care if it's passed out. 3 catches 4 way too often.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Partner has warned me not to go on a fishing trip here. Opps might get in to trouble if I pass.
David Gordon: 3. Drive to game.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. I hate this answer, but they're vul, it's MP's and I don't know if we can make anything.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. With some partners, this is a clear penalty double, but I know what preempts in this situation look like nowadays.
Amiram Millet: 3. On the way to the best contract.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
A 7 6
9 4
A K 8 7 6 5
8 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 6
| 100
|
|
2
| 5
| 90
|
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Pass
| 5
| 60
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|
Moderator: The panel divides into three camps. Partner may have a trap pass, so six panelists double. Five panelists rebid the six-card suit. With a weak opener, five experts pass. The aggressive bidders double.
Mel Colchamiro: Dbl. Live by the sword, die by the sword. I am short in clubs, so I double. A good rule in these situations is to double if you would sit for partner's (old days) penalty double. I will bid 3 over a 2 bid.
Larry Cohen: 2. I usually try to reopen with a double, but if partner has a trap pass, we can possibly play in 3NT anyway. When in doubt, I hate to sell out cheaply. Partner could easily have something useful like Q J 4 3 J 5 3 2 Q 4 3 7 5.
Karen Walker: Pass. I have no tricks, no major suits and no negative double from partner. I have nothing to gain by walking back into this auction. There's no obligation to 'protect' partner by balancing on air, especially at this vulnerability.
Maurice Ormon: Pass. Where are all the majors?
Eugene Chan: Dbl. North and East are strangely silent despite my 11 HCP opener. My partner is likely to have some values. I can always rebid my diamond suit later.
Stephen Vincent: 2. But with slight misgivings: will this enable them to find a major suit fit they might otherwise have missed?
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. This one seems a bit like hand #1 viewed from the other side. I have a sneaking feeling -90 may be our best score on this board, yet I still feel the need to protect partner's hand.
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. There is a case for passing as they may be cold for a major suit game but at Matchpoints that action is too unilateral.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. Neat problem. Either pard has a club stack, no convenient bid, or the opps are missing their major suit fit. This smells fishy and I'm betting reopening here will lead to the opps finding something better than 2. Pass!
Larry Meyer: 2. Show minimum strength and 6-card suit.
Mike Hamilton: 2. I have 6 playing tricks in diamonds, so I'll balance to show a real suit.
Julien Levesque: Pass. Bad conditions, and to reopen is a dangerous proposition at best with a lack of extras I'd rather give -90/110 vs the possible -200 or worse and maybe a chance to beat the contract.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. Hate it. But just in case partner has the hand from problem 1.
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. Pard knows the score too, on a heavy penalty pass notrumps is a serious option.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Partner is not likely trapping at this vulnerability and 2 will likely not score well at matchpoints.
David Gordon: 2. Dbl is wrong with no hearts support and a minimum hand.
Chris Diamond: 2. Sigh! Don't want to but almost forced to bid something. Maybe pard has a hand that looks something like the first problem.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. Yes, partner, I know you have a club stack. No, I cannot double.
Amiram Millet: Pass. It's probably their game and they might have a better one.
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
Q 10 9 8 4 3
K Q 9 7 3
---
A 10
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 10
| 100
|
|
5
| 5
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 30
|
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5
| 0
| 10
|
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4
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: 4 seems clear-cut, but we admire 5 because it tells partner we have more than what a 4 bid would show. Partner was under pressure, as often happens after preempts, and we know that he has few options at this level to let us know he has a good hand.
August Boehm: 4. To remove a penalty double at this level describes a very distributional hand. Even if partner has four diamonds, we have an eight-card fit somewhere with a good chance for a vulnerable game.
Betty Ann Kennedy: 5. Partner obviously has a great hand, and I need to tell him about mine.
Mike Lawrence: 4. . . a craven, wimpy bid that gets us to game. Pass could work out. I considered 5, but partner might have wasted diamond values. Still, 5 could be right.
Eugene Chan: 4. Opponents have made slam explorations impossible. I will settle for game.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Partner's showing values, not necessarily a trump stack.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. At matchpoints I would bid on because we will may set them only 3 and we probably have a game somewhere. But at IMP's I'll take my +500 to the bank and hope our teammates can also go plus. [Odd: pass was my 1st or 2nd choice on every hand this month.]
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. What's pard supposed to do with balanced 19 HCP including J x x? I'll show general nature of my hand. However, 4 could be the winner as pard may not otherwise figure me for 6-shooter. Pass for plus may also do well. Tough problem.
Martin Henneberger: 5. If partner can double opposite my known 6 count then I feel any bid at the 4 level is an underbid. Cue bidding 5 is ambiguous as to why we are choosing that bid so I will make an invitational jump to 5.
Larry Meyer: 4. Follow through with original plan to bid spades, then hearts.
David Schmidt: 4. I see too much of an opportunity to score a vulnerable game to pass.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. With no suit agreement, double suggests a penalty. Lacking info about partner's major-suit holdings, and lacking sure playing tricks in my hand, I elect to defend and exact a little revenge against all these TGIF preempts.
Julien Levesque: 4. 4-x is still for a takeout so we bid our secondary option to shape-out at 5/4 or better.
Mike Roberts: 5. Maybe an overbid, but it won't be misunderstood.
Kees Schaafsma: 4. I'll take the blame.
Chris Buchanan: 4. This could be wrong but not as often as passing is.
David Gordon: 4. Natural bidding.
Chris Diamond: 4. Pard must have a good hand. So do I, but they might not fit very well.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. I know of a partnership that ALWAYS pulled doubles of 4, because it always made. Here, I'm sure enough that we have at least +620 somewhere else.
Amiram Millet: 4. Partner will bid on with extra values.
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