TGIF November 2009: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
J 10 8 6 3
A K J 2
K J 2
K
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
1NT
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 8
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 6
| 70
|
|
Dbl
| 3
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Players have learned that it's desirable to nudge the opponents out of 1NT when reasonable. Therefore, 11 of the 17 panelists bid.
The Gordons: 2. This is a guess, but passing could result in a bad lead for our side, and that persuades us to risk bidding. We wish there were a way to bring diamonds into the picture, but unfortunately, there's not.
Jeff Meckstroth: Dbl. I will give partner a chance to leave it in for penalties. I can always bid 2 over 2.
The Sutherlins: Pass. They have more points, we have poor position. In addition, we are vulnerable with no known fit. Competing for a part score has its limits.
Eugene Chan: 2. Easy pass at IMPs. I'll take another call at matchpoints.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. This is unlikely to play well for either side.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. This is my best chance for the smallest minus. Even if pard has hearts (a big if) the opps might compete in a better 3 contract.
Larry Meyer: 2. Show extra values and bid out shape. Don't want to sell out to 1NT.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. The passed hands are weak and the value of my hand has been diminished by West sitting behind me with equal strength and spades stopped. My diamonds are vulnerable and my black-suit honours likely worthless. This is no time to compete.
Kai Zhou: 2. Feels like a trick-taking hand in hearts.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. I'm not a glutton for punishment.
Mike Roberts: 2. Yeah, this might turn out badly. I'll take my chances, though.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Because everything else is worse!
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. I've learned that a new suit shows 5-5.
John Gillespie: Dbl. Hope partner makes an intelligent bid.... not so sure about mine but I'll scramble to something red over 2.
Ben Ong: Dbl. If partner bids clubs, then correct to hearts.
Chris Buchanan: 2. 1NT will most likely make and I have an offensive hand, I will try to win the contract in a major.
Brian Zietman: Pass. Cannot bid 2 or 2 because one down doubled gives the dreaded -200. Partner could not bid after the 1NT so he must be weak.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. Yes, partner could have a lousy 1=2=5=5 hand, in which case 2 is better, but 2 caters to a lot of real possibilities.
Bill Treble: Pass. Bidding could turn right, but I don't think the odds favor it. If partner has most of the rest of the tickets we could beat 1NT, maybe a couple of tricks. I see too many -200 or -500 scenarios in bidding.
Joel Forssell: 2. If I double and pard bids clubs, what to do?
Amiram Millet: Pass. Not tempted to go on.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A K 8 2
Q J 8 2
K
K J 7 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1NT
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 9
| 100
|
|
2
| 2
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 50
|
|
3
| 1
| 30
|
|
Dbl
| 3
| 30
|
|
3
| 0
| 0
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: South would like to double 2 for takeout, but in Bridge Bulletin Standard (BBS), it's for penalty. The majority choose to raise to 2NT as the most descriptive bid.
Barry Rigal: 2. This is a fascinating problem. I'm going to give up on penalties, and just bid my suits up the line.
August Boehm: 2NT. Double is penalty and the risk is not worth the return because the opponents are not vulnerable.
Larry Cohen: Pass. If double were takeout, sign me up, but presuming it's penalty, I'm a bit short in the diamond department. Bidding two of a major would require at least a fifth club. I hope I can produce this pass in tempo, so as not to ethically hinder partner.
Eugene Chan: 2NT. Feels right on values. Might have opened 1NT in the first place.
Stephen Vincent: 2NT. You have probable values for a game and 3NT, despite the overcall, remains the most likely one, particularly if LHO underleads the A at trick one.
Gilbert Lambert: 3. Partner has clubs!
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. A classic example of why modern doubles are takeout. Certainly don't want to defend 2 unless partner does doubled, and if not we should play 3.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Show extra values.
Mike Hamilton: Dbl. If partner has denied a 4-card major, he might have minors. He could be balanced, have a weak 4-card major, club support, or a diamond suit. We have over half the deck, so I request another bid.
Kai Zhou: Dbl. Takeout in case pard bypassed his 5-card diamond suit.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Partner's 1NT bid implies the high end of a minimum hand, so 3NT could be a good spot (especially if East underleads his A). Otherwise we play our 4-3 fit.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. It's penalty, but what else is there? Partner has 4 (or will pull this to 3).
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. Many of my partners by-pass 4 or 5 (rare) long diamonds in this situation. I would have raised 1NT to 2NT without the interference. This says the same thing with more options!
Kees Schaafsma: 3. 1NT shows clubs, doesn't it? If so, we can still end in 4, if not...
John Gillespie: Dbl. This one is almost a lock for something good to happen isn't it?
Ben Ong: Dbl. If partner has diamonds stopped and bids 2NT, on to three it is! Another option is probably 2.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. I am happy if partner passes and satisfied if they take it out.
Brian Zietman: 3. If partner has a stopper in diamonds partner looks to be well placed for 3NT. If he has no stopper I am happy in 4.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. I'm sure that some of the panelists play Dbl as takeout here. The problem is that it's not. I'm going to try to show my suits.
Bill Treble: Dbl. Partner rates to have four diamonds, and if he has five clubs he should pull.
Amiram Millet: 3. Expecting some support.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
9 8 7
A Q 7 4
2
K Q J 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
|
3
|
4
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4NT
| 7
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 7
| 90
|
|
5
| 2
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 20
|
|
5
| 0
| 20
|
|
6
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Half of the panelists play partner for short spades and bid on. The other half acknowledge that partner was under pressure and pass.
Mel Colchamiro: Pass. It's admittedly a conservative action, but partner was under the gun, and I don't want to go minus.
Kerri Sanborn: 4NT. I pay off to the four-card overcall and bid Keycard Blackwood. I don't need cooperation, just answers.
The Coopers: 5. Partner made this bid under pressure, but we still have a great hand, and slam should make when he has a spade control, so let's ask for it. We expect he has a stiff.
Eugene Chan: 5. Too good to pass. Invite slam if partner has spade control.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Partner may have strained to bid 4 but even so, a hand like 2 K J x x A K x x x x A x x and slam is close to laydown. But most heart slams will require a 3-2 break so it's not clear to continue. 6 may be a better spot so I bid 5, well prepared to win the post-mortem.
Gilbert Lambert: 5. Pard, can you keep our spade losers to one? Or less (*_*)
Stephen Ottridge: 4NT. 7 is there if he has the aces of clubs and diamonds.
Martin Henneberger: 4NT. I need to risk that pard is short in spades to bid keycard, as a 5 cue bid will have me guessing next anyway. 4NT allows us to stop off 2 keycards or bid the grand with a club suit trick source. If the opps overcalled a 4-card suit well done.
Larry Meyer: Pass. 4-4 fit on a distributional deal. Afraid slam would fail due to bad breaks.
Mike Hamilton: 5. Natural. With no wasted values in spades, I make one move towards slam by showing my good side suit. We have a heart fit and complementary shortages in spades and diamonds. Partner must have something in clubs for his sound first-seat opener.
Kai Zhou: 4NT. Pard can easily have 3 keycards.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Despite my extra values, we only have 4-4 trumps and no secondary fit. Missing 4 key cards, there is no need to stretch for a marginal slam at MPs.
Mike Roberts: 4NT. Let's assume partner has a stiff spade. 2 K x x x A K x x A x x x gives us 6. I'm safe from a 5 response, because I have the Q.
Perry Khakhar: 5. Blackwood will not disclose a potential severe duplication in diamonds. Also, it may be wiser (matchpoints be damned!) to play in 6 (or 7!) if partner is 1444.
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. Too dangerous to act. 5 could easily go down on a club ruff, pard having 2 J x x x A K Q J x 10 x x.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. I have an extra king, but the shortness in partner's suit isn't exciting.
Ben Ong: Pass. Wish I could bid on.
Chris Buchanan: 5. Preempt has helped us here. We can make slam if partner has a singleton spade, K of hearts and both minor suit aces. I will risk it but want confirmation on the singleton spade.
Brian Zietman: 4NT. All I need is a singleton spade and 2 minor suit aces for the slam. Is this too much to expect?
Tim Francis-Wright: 5. I have to make a slam try here with a much better hand than partner might expect.
Bill Treble: 5. General slam try. Should deny a spade control or the A (which we'd have cuebid if we had it).
Joel Forssell: 4NT. Pard only needs 2 K J x x A x x x x A x x for slam to be a good bet.
Amiram Millet: 5. Willing to check for slam. Usually, 5 will not be too high.
|
| 4. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
A 5 4
8 7 6 2
7 5 4
A K 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
2
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 30
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 10
|
|
3
| 1
| 10
|
|
Moderator: There is no good call. This problem is a matter of picking the best of a bad lot.
Barry Rigal: 3. This is a well-known and impossible problem. Sometimes I go high, sometimes low. Today, the roulette wheel came up red, not black. I'll drive to game. Even -200 will beat defending 2 doubled for -670.
Steve Robinson: 2. Passing is too big a gamble. Because I could be playing a 3-3 fit, I'll go conservative.
Karen Walker: Pass. Partner could be stretching too far to protect at IMPs, so I'm not going to risk playing a silly 3-3 fit. I expect at least +200.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Take our plus. Lead trumps at every opportunity.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. This might have come out of one of Larry Cohen's books. And if 2 is based on a 5-card suit, as seems to be fashionable these days, the case for pass is even clearer.
Gilbert Lambert: 3. Tough call!
Stephen Ottridge: Pass. I like 800 for a score.
Martin Henneberger: 2. This problem is from the January bidding contest to test our memory..lol. My answer is still 2.
Larry Meyer: 2. If pard has his promised 4=1=4=4, they are in their 8 card fit at the 2-level, can't play it doubled. Try to get out low.
Mike Hamilton: 2. I expect the other major. I have too much strength for a simple response, but too few spades to make a jump response. I make the cheap response because with this hand and this auction, I want the bidding kept as low as possible.
Kai Zhou: 3. A small lie since 3 should usually gurantee 4-card spade, but 3NT might be the best spot.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. Not expecting this to make, but defending against 2-x could be a bigger disaster. I expect almost any contract will play at least a trick better from partner's side of the table, so if doubled I will rebid 2NT for takeout.
Mike Roberts: 2. Horrible problem. Pass at MP, but I can't bring myself to do it here.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. PLUS 200 is better than MINUS 100! The upside is really quite limited on offense (3NT for 660?). Whereas on defense we can get any where from +200 to +800 with careful play. I don't think about the -670!
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Lebensohl-ish, constructive, not forcing. Don't have the guts to pass.
John Gillespie: Pass. If partner has matchpoint balancing-itis, this will cure it. I'll be moderately happy with down 1 though.
Chris Buchanan: 2. I pass at matchpoints but -670 hurts too much at IMPS. I have to downgrade for the 4-3-3-3 shape and I will know what to do if partner takes any further action.
Brian Zietman: 3. I am maximum so if partner has a heart stopper then we play in 3NT if not he chooses which suit contract we play.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. ... and lead a trump.
Bill Treble: Pass. What the heck, I'll go for the gusto. It'd be nice if righty chose to open a five-bagger.
Amiram Millet: 3. Looking for a game or more. It's IMPs and we're Vul.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
Q 6 5
A K 3
J 3
A K J 6 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
|
|
3
| 3
| 70
|
|
3
| 2
| 30
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 10
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: South has a very nice hand, but no clear direction. The panel majority chooses to double, even though this is penalty.
Allan Falk: Dbl. I think almost all experts play these doubles with extra values. If North takes it as penalty, I do have four quick tricks and some additional values. Readers who use the announced bidding system - BBS - cannot get a perfect score.
Mike Lawrence: 3. A support double would be useful. I will bid 3 and would consider bidding 4 if the J was the J.
Eugene Chan: 3. Raise is permissible with weaker hand and 4 trumps or a better hand and only 3 trumps.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Well prepared for whatever partner does.
Gilbert Lambert: Dbl. Meaning, partner I don't know what to do!
Stephen Ottridge: 3. 3NT is there if pard has diamonds covered.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Another January problem and my answer still remains double.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Show extra values, deny diamond stopper.
Mike Hamilton: 3. With extra values, I make a temporizing bid, a one-round force that keeps the bidding below 3NT. If partner has a diamond stop, my J-x won’t hurt.
Kai Zhou: Dbl. Even if the agreement is to play supportive doubles up to 2, double is still value-showing and stopper asking.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. Nominally showing 4 hearts, but partner's rebid should clarify whether we belong in 3NT or 4.
Mike Roberts: 3. I'll push a little.
Perry Khakhar: 4. I think that this bid shows the extra values and emphasizes the 2 quick losers in their suit!
Paul Mcmullin: Dbl. Gotta show values somehow.
Ben Ong: Dbl. I'm running out of double cards today!
Chris Buchanan: 3. I am looking for 3NT. Worst case scenario, partner raises to 4 in which case they are marked with 5 spades and 4 will play well.
Brian Zietman: Dbl. I hope my partner plays support doubles because this is the ideal hand to use it.
Leo Weniger: Dbl. Double if it is card showing, if not 3.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. 4 could be right, but it's not going to help much. (What's partner going to cue-bid that she couldn't over 4?)
Bill Treble: 3. Right on values. Sorry, pard... I mixed up a club with my spades is going to be my excuse if he makes a fuss about my not having the fourth trump.
Joel Forssell: 3. Hoping to hear 3 from pard.
Amiram Millet: 3. Not sure where we belong. 3NT may be best. Might show spade support later.
|
|
