TGIF February 2010: Scores
| 1. IMPs. Both vul.
|
J 9 6
K Q J 9 7 6
Q 3
10 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1NT
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 11
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 4
| 60
|
|
2
| 2
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 1
| 30
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Most of the panel bid 2, assessing trick-taking potential rather than just to count high-card points. When your hand is weaker than your partner's, consider playing in your suit rather than his.
Mike Lawrence: 2. I'm guessing they have a home in a minor, so I'm giving up on penalties. One reason against bidding 2 is that they may lead a spade and get some ruffs.
Jeff Meckstroth: 2. Doubling 1NT could get a big dividend, but could also be a disaster. If we go minus 180 instead of plus 140, that's an 8-IMP loss. Also, we could have a game, and bidding hearts gives us our best chance to get there.
The Sutherlins: Dbl. Dummy has virtually nothing, which makes double more appealing. Declarer will have to lead everything from his hand. We will probably be collecting a big number.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Going for the jugular. Expecting a big number.
Stephen Vincent: 2. The chances of setting up and running the heart suit aren't good enough to justify a double and the hand contains too many losers to look for game.
David Walker: 2. Must also be happy with spades.
Martin Henneberger: 2. My ideology on these hand types are to support 1st penalize 2nd. I would have bid 2 had East not bid, and will do the same now. To double for penalty here is a gamble I don't take, and 2 hides spade support.
Julie Smith: Dbl. I don't think they can make it. I lead a heart.
Mike Hamilton: 2. Our best partscore is in spades, and the first priority is to confirm a fit. Ignoring the Q, I have only 7 working HCP, not worth more than a simple raise in competition. If West bids and it’s passed around to me, I might try 3.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. East has a spade stopper and probably the A. I don't like our chances of game. OTOH, my J could be useful as an entry to the heart suit on defense.
Larry Meyer: 2. Even though we have an 8-card spade fit, we probably belong in hearts.
Mike Roberts: 2. I doubt there's a game, and I doubt that they'll play 1NT doubled. I bid 2 so I can compete with 3 afterwards.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. I would like to transfer to hearts and bid spades as a game try. But since no tools are available, I will settle for 200 or 500. Hope partner can double the run out.
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Pity about the spades, yet South's hand shouldn't be dummy.
Merv Adey: 2. Probably no game...might need the lead.
Brian Zietman: Dbl. A heart lead will destroy East for a big penalty. West has a maximum of 3 points if east is lucky.
David Gordon: Dbl. Start with a dbl to show values.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. 2 a close second here, but with a good lead and spade support I will risk a double.
Birol GüVenç: 2. 8+hcp and least 5 cards suit enough for my 2 bid.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. Got a lead and probably not enough for game opposite a minimum opening bid so try for what might be a substantial penalty.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. An immediate raise could work here, but it looks right to mention this suit.
Paul Janicki: 2. When I double these contracts, they take the A and 6 club tricks; when I get doubled, it is -800!
Amiram Millet: 2. Not good enough for a double which might also help them find a better spot in a minor.
|
| 2. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A 3
K 8 6 4 3
K 7
8 7 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 10
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 7
| 80
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 40
|
|
Moderator: There are two schools of thought on this deal. One is to pass with your meagre collection. The other is to bid 3: as a passed hand you cannot overstate your values.
Mel Colchamiro: 3. The preempt improved my hand. Being a passed hand makes 3 an easy bid. Being short in clubs, partner likely has some hearts.
Don Stack: 3. My 10 points are all prime, and I'm a passed hand, so I must bid, even though the heart suit is not robust. Partner rates to be short in clubs so I should find some heart length in dummy.
Karen Walker: Pass. I can't find any reason to be stampeded into a huge overbid with this sparse hand. If we have game, partner will reopen. If he passes it out, I'll be glad I didn't hang him for opening in third seat.
The Joyces: Pass. A 3 bid could find partner with a doubleton club and a doubleton heart - yuck! If partner reopens with a double, then we can bid 4.
Eugene Chan: Pass. Will try 4 if partner reopens with a double. Otherwise will be content with any plus score.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Horrible. Double leaves you fixed over the inevitable spade response and the hand is too good to pass although that could well be right. Hearts should play well on crossruff lines if partner can produce three of them: the failure to open 2 limits the suit length.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. With no guaranteed fit I don't feel the need to bid 3. Pard is almost surely short in clubs and will reopen with double, 3 or 3. Let's hear from them before bidding.
Julie Smith: 3. I call the director. I don't like the opp's bid. :)
Mike Hamilton: 4. My jump-bid in competition shows a maximum passed hand. The bidding and vulnerability mark partner with a good hand. Being short in clubs, he is odds on to hold 3+ hearts. With no waste in clubs, all my values are working in a heart contract.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. A little bit of a stretch, but all my points are working. Hope partner doesn't have a doubleton club.
Larry Meyer: 3. Show my longest suit and a few values.
Mike Roberts: 3. Hate this, but if I double, what over 3? At least it's not forcing....
Perry Khakhar: 3. Opposite most 3rd seat openers we may have game if it's a 30 point deck. I am a passed hand already, so I need to bid immediately or there will be too much pressure on partner.
Kees Schaafsma: 3. At least this is NF, clubs to weak to pass.
Bob Todd: 3. Yuch!
Merv Adey: 3. Please don't be 4252 pard..
Brian Zietman: 3. Natural and forcing.
John Gillespie: Pass. The real problem is how many hearts to bid IF pard reopens with double. Four for me.
David Gordon: Pass. If partner can't make a move over 3 then probably no game.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Dbl is problematic as partner may leap to 4 with 4-3-5-1. Too much to pass so 3 has to be the most reasonable action.
Chris Diamond: Pass. UGH! passing only delays the problem. If pard re-opens with a dbl, I'll guess 4.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. We know partner is short in clubs--if she can't double or bid 3, we don't want to bid here.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Partner opened in 3rd seat and I have nothing better to suggest here.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
Q J 6 3
---
K Q J 6 5
A Q J 10
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 13
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 3
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 50
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 30
|
|
1NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: You have values, but no convenient bid.
Jill Meyers: 2. This violates my general principle by overcalling at the two level with only a five-card suit. I have so many high-card points and such good suit quality in the minors that I don't feel I can pass.
August Boehm: 2NT. After bidding 2NT, I'm going to follow with 3 to try and picture this awkward hand.
Eugene Chan: 1NT. Overcalling 1NT is right on values and promises spade stopper. If partner transfers, will bid 2NT!!
David Walker: Pass. Ready for anything but Pass from partner.
Martin Henneberger: 2. I'm always in the minority with these hand types but my style is to pass. That being said I believe 2 will be the bidding contest winner so 2 it is.
Julie Smith: 2. My biddable five card suit. Maybe more later.
Mike Hamilton: 2. This hand is not quite shapely enough and has too much in the opponents’ suit for a 2-suited bid. Fortunately, I’m strong enough to show both minors in separate bids. I will need that second bid over a heart response by partner.
Jacky Wang: 2. . . then 3.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. I'm not a fan of trap-passing with hands this strong. 2 is more constructive than 2NT, which would shut out our likely 3NT game.
Larry Meyer: 2. Show my best suit and a few values - wrong distribution for double.
Mike Roberts: 2. This actually makes it easier for them to get to hearts, but it's too rich to pass.
Perry Khakhar: 2NT. I may be a little strong for this gadget, but the very real possibility of misfit suggests that I get all of my bids in at once.
Brian Zietman: 2NT. Strong unusual. Wonder who has the hearts?
John Gillespie: 2. Somebody will bid hearts. If pard, some number of notrump on my balanced hand.
David Gordon: 2. Overcall your best suit. Not quite good enough to dbl and bid.
Birol GüVenç: Dbl. Take-out.. 16 hcp. and four losers are sufficient for T-O double.
Chris Diamond: 2. Ugly, but pard may not have enough to reopen if it gets to him. May make it harder for opps to find a heart fit if they can't bid 1NT forcing.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. Nothing else looks appealing. At all.
Amiram Millet: 2. I prefer Michaels to a Dbl.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
8 6 4
A J 7 2
7 5 4
A Q 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1NT
| 8
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
3
| 5
| 60
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
2
| 2
| 50
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Bidding 1NT understates your strength. Jumping to 2NT with three low in the unbid suit is unappealing. Raising partner with three-card support could be a disaster. When the experts vote for five different calls, it means it's a tough problem.
The Gordons: 3. This hand is an advertisement for playing 2 as forcing only to 2NT. We'll settle for 3.
Mike Lawrence: 2. I am upgrading this hand and bidding 2. I'm hoping my club suit will provide us with notrump tricks.
Kerri Sanborn: 1NT. All bids are flawed. We don't really have trick-taking potential, so will go the low road with 1NT.
The Coopers: 2. We raise freely with three-card support to solve this type of problem. We deduct one point for 4-3-3-3 distribution and only three trumps and call it 10. A simple raise, therefore, is fine. If partner passes, this is usually a good matchpoint result.
Eugene Chan: 1NT. Slight underbid but unlikely to miss game. Maybe the opps will balance!
Stephen Vincent: 1NT. No intermediates and no diamond stop outweigh the two aces and nice holding in partner's first suit.
Martin Henneberger: 2NT. Right or wrong I'm bidding my shape and strength with 2NT. Guessing to underbid with 2 or jumping to 3 has to be equally as flawed if not worse. Who said pard cant have K Q x?
Julie Smith: 2NT. Invitational to 3NT.
Mike Hamilton: 2. A flat hand, no diamond stopper, and not quite enough to force game. Partner could be 5-5 but I can’t be sure, so how good are my 3-card supports? A least-of-evils 4th suit forces another bid which I’m hoping will help.
Jacky Wang: 2. . . forcing to game.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 1NT. I have 11 points, but no enthusiasm to invite game.
Larry Meyer: 2. Not willing to commit to game unless pard can bid again.
Mike Roberts: 1NT. Assuming 2 is game forcing, and that 1 doesn't promise four clubs (I'll bid 3 if it did).
Perry Khakhar: 3. Notrump should be played by partner. I am not willing to raise spades with xxx. So, I will try to reach game if partner has the right hand (bidding 4333 this way is insane). Going down in 3NT from that hand may be the same score as any 2 level bid.
Kees Schaafsma: 2. The 9 losers are in the way of bidding stronger.
Bob Todd: 2. Argh!!!
Brian Zietman: 2NT. 10-12 points no fit.
David Gordon: 3. Not quite enough to game force.
Chris Buchanan: 1NT. Not a big fan of four ripple three's and I downgrade this hand at matchpoints.
Birol GüVenç: 2. Fourth suit forcing. Try to get to 3NT from the other side.
Chris Diamond: 1NT. Spades too weak to raise and clubs too short to jump. So heavy 1NT with no diamond stopper seems like the best MP lie.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. If 2 is game-forcing, then hopefully partner has a sense of humor.
Amiram Millet: 1NT. A little heavy but a flat hand and nothing in diamonds.
|
| 5. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
A Q 10 6 4 3 2
K J 8 6 3
---
Q
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
2
(1)
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Michaels cuebid..
|
Do you agree with South's 2?
| | Votes | Award
|
|
Yes
| 14
| 50
|
|
No
| 4
| 30
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 10
| 50
|
|
2
| 7
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 25
|
|
3
| 1
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Bidding either 2 or 3 shows a strong hand with longer spades. Which you choose depends on how aggressive you want to be.
Larry Cohen: 3. My plan after bidding 2 was to bid spades next, so it is just a question of how many. Because we are vulnerable at IMPs, I will do more than bid 2 by bidding 3.
Jeff Meckstroth: 2. By bidding 2, I am trying for game with at least six spades and five hearts. This gives partner a chance to keep us low if he has 1-2 in the majors.
Eugene Chan: 3. Diamond tap could create problems in hearts. Spades will be best contract if there is an extreme misfit.
David Walker: 3. I prefer spades, partner, but if you really do have 3+ hearts bid 4.
Martin Henneberger: 3. I like the Micheals bid because it can allow you to show a much better/ longer spade suit at 2nd turn. Bidding 1 then some number of hearts could never show that. Now I need to invite game with 3.
Julie Smith: 2. Belatedly, I bid my seven card suit.
Mike Hamilton: Pass. This hand is good enough to overcall 1 and rebid hearts. Now I’m stuck with following the Michaels convention and passing partner’s sign-off bid to keep his trust. If this turns out badly, it’s my fault.
Jacky Wang: 2. At least forcing to 3.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. I don't play Michael's this way, but there is a certain logic to it. I would take 2 as showing a disparity in the suits, and 3 as partner's only non-forcing rebid.
Larry Meyer: 2. Yes - give pard a decent description of my hand in one bid / 2 - Pard could be broke, so go slowly, tell him I like spades better.
Mike Roberts: 2. This has got to show a good 6-5 or 6-4. I have a little extra, but I don't think I can risk 3 here.
Perry Khakhar: 2. Agree Michaels because it is forcing. Since Michaels is weak or strong, 2 shows the stronger hand. If partner bails to only 3, I will be satisfied to simply raise to 4.
Kees Schaafsma: 2. Running from a (presumed) fit is forcing, hope to bid 3 in the next round which should get the message across.
Brian Zietman: 3. If partner has 2 of: A A K, then 6 looks a good prospect. Another cue bid now.
David Gordon: 2. This should show extra length and a reason not to pass 2.
Chris Buchanan: 2. These hands are best described with an overcall as opposed to a Michaels. Michaels should be weak (0-9) or strong (15+); Since I did Michaels, I bid 2 to show game interest with extra spade length.
Birol GüVenç: 3. South's hand is very strong: 4 losers. Therefore 3.
Chris Diamond: 3. Stupid problem. If you think Michaels was horrible with this kind of suit disparity (I do) how are you supposed to bid your way out of it?
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. I really need help for partner to make game, and staying low lets partner bail to 3 with the 0=3=5=5 hand I half-expect here.
Amiram Millet: 3. I have a self-sufficient suit. I'd overcall 1 and not Michaels.
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