TGIF April 2010: Scores
| 1. IMPs. Both vul.
|
Q 9 8
7 6
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Q 9 8 7 5 4 3 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 10
| 100
|
|
5
| 5
| 70
|
|
4
| 2
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 30
|
|
Moderator: How many clubs should you bid? Ten experts choose to bid 3. Some say they are worried that partner may have a strong hand with diamonds.
Allan Falk: 3. Partner is likely to have a hand too good to overcall 2. If I leap to 4 or 5, partner will trot out his diamonds and we'll be in the soup, so I am going to stay low with 3.
Brad Theurer: 5. I'm anticipating West bidding 4 or at least making a game try, so I'll put him to the test right away. A 5 contract might make or be a cheap save. Occasionally partner may have a hand without decent club support. If so, too bad.
The Sutherlins: 4. We choose 4, the middle-ground bid. Bidding 5 is too much.
Michael Dimich: Pass. If West has the power hand and bids 4 then you can take the 5 sack. If North has a strong hand with 6 diamonds and 4 spades, then the subsequent auction can be controlled.
Eugene Chan: 3. 5 appears too impulsive with two heart losers and bad trump suit.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Despite the two small hearts I bid 5. It could be cold on the right minimum from partner and LHO may be faced with an unpleasant guess.
Peg McShane: 4. I will set up the spades.
Martin Henneberger: 5. Going through my options to pass or bid 3 or 4 seem terrible, so I will punt 5 and pray nothing bad happens.
Steve Ottridge: 3. Will cue bid diamond void next.
Mike Hamilton: 4. A normal takeout double gives our side at least 11 clubs and 7 spades. Or partner has the strong-hand double. A bid that suggests a long suit caters to either. Two working queens, an 8-card suit, and a void are enough for a jump-response.
Ronald Kuiper: 5. Has to be preemptive, and I am sacking against 4. Give pard AK or AJ in both black suits and it might even make.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. 8 trumps or not, this hand is full losers. If partner has a rock-crusher he will bid again.
Larry Meyer: 5. Force opponents to make a guess at the 5-level.
Mike Roberts: 4. This must be weak...if the minors were reversed I'd still bid this! This hand shows the downside of 'equal level conversion'.
Perry Khakhar: 4. What do you call an 8 card suit? Trumps! Either LHO or partner has a big hand, so the auction isn't over. In any case, free bid of 4 gets my suit into the picture for both constructive or sacrificing situations.
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. 5 could easily be right or dead wrong when pard has diamonds. Anything else is too encouraging.
Merv Adey: 2NT. This is why we play Leb in this sequence... I hope. I want to compete with a poor distributional hand.
Chris Buchanan: 3. I want to leave room just in case partner has a strong hand with spades.
John Gillespie: 5. I expect a diamond lead after I double 5 (I hope).
David Gordon: 5. 2-way shot.
Chris Diamond: 3. Opposite a classic 4-1-4-4 I want to bid 5, but I suspect a strong hand with long diamonds and secondary spades instead. I don't want to find out about that at the 5-level vulnerable.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. I have this funny feeling that partner has a big hand with diamonds, but bidding just 3 is silly.
Brian Zietman: 5. Partner wants to hear my suit so here it is!
Paul Hardy: 4. If partner raises to game, they are either making 4 or we're making 5. :)
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A K 10 6
A K 10 9 7 2
A Q 10
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|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
5
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
|
|
6
| 4
| 60
|
|
6
| 2
| 40
|
|
5
| 1
| 20
|
|
5NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The majority recognize they don't have a clear-cut way to show their shape, so they choose double. It may not work out, but it's in the right ballpark.
Jill Meyers: Dbl. If I bid 5NT and partner bids 6, I won't know whether to pass or bid.
Steve Robinson: 6. I need very little from partner to make slam. There is no way to show this hand without misstating my major-suit length. I don't want partner to choose spades with three spades and two hearts.
The Coopers: 6. If we double, partner will pass and we doubt that this is right, so we go for a better score. If we're wrong, it's only a board.
Eugene Chan: 6. Bid what I think (hope) I can make.
Joel Martineau: Dbl. According to Bob Hamman, all powerful hands begin with DOUBLE.
Stephen Vincent: 6. Should get us to the right strain at least.
Martin Henneberger: 6. I will bid what I expect has a reasonable shot. Partner will pass a double too often when its not right and 6 just tortures partner.
Mike Hamilton: 6. Over a 5-level minor-suit pre-empt, “pick a slam” becomes a takeout bid while the cue-bid shows a major 2-suiter. This hand is off-shape on both counts. I prefer the focus of the cue-bid and if partner can bid 6, waiting, I can be the closed hand.
Ronald Kuiper: 6. Too tough a problem for me, willing to take a flyer at slam in partner's longest suit. All finesses should work, hope pard has a couple of queens for entries.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. Chances are we can set them at least 3, whereas slam may be 50% or worse.
Larry Meyer: 6. Ask pard for his best suit, plus show 1st round control.
Mike Roberts: 5. Yes, we could be cold for 6, and partner will pass. But breaks will be unkind.
Perry Khakhar: 5NT. Clearly this is take out. Correct 6 to 6. Double will get +500 at most. Whereas, a decent 7 count from partner will make slam.
Kees Schaafsma: Dbl. A sim shows that North has 2 cover cards 37% of the time, not enough for a slam(try) and 5 won't be raised.
Chris Buchanan: 6. Pick a slam. They have made me guess so I will settle for whatever partner says.
John Gillespie: 6. Will convert 6 to 6 and pray.
David Gordon: Dbl. It will likely go pass but partner might surprise you.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. Double wins the contest, but the right bid is 5NT-pick a slam. If 6 shows the majors then pulling 6 to 6 shows hearts with secondary spades. Could be trading cold 7 for a minus so maybe double is right.
Tim Francis-Wright: 6. If partner comes back with 6, I have a tough decision next round, but I'm hoping she has 4 cards in either major.
Brian Zietman: 6. Partner choose your slam.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A 10 8 6 4
10 9 8 4
8 6 4
7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
1NT
|
Dbl
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 13
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 5
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: After North's takeout double, the majority chooses to bid their major suit.
The Gordons: 2. We think 2 is unlikely to succeed, but double doesn't feel right and will lead to a poor result if the opponents can scramble at least seven tricks. That thinking leads us to bid 2, which is likely to make or might just push the opponents.
Karen Walker: Pass. One trick and four weak hearts isn't enough to enter this non-fitting auction, especially because we may not have an eight-card heart fit. Partner can bid again if he's loaded.
Eugene Chan: 2. No reason yet to take drastic action.
Stephen Vincent: 2. I'd rather defend than play but hopefully this will get the opponents up a level.
Martin Henneberger: 2. Partner doubled as takeout for spades. My 1st instinct was to bid 2 then the warning bells said this is a potential misfit disaster if pard has only 3 hearts and 2 spades with a 5-1 break in hearts looming. Ah it's only matchpoints: I'm a bidder.
Mike Hamilton: 2. The auction marks partner with hearts, so I’ll “raise” in competition with 7 dummy points in support. It looks like suits are breaking badly and that West may have hearts also. That and my modest hearts argue for bidding cautiously.
Ronald Kuiper: 2. Expect pard to have 4 hearts for sure and probably 4 clubs - 3 diamonds - 2 spades or something. On the auction I can not have many points, so with my shaped hand I can eke out 2.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Tough one. 2 by them might be down 1. And 2 could have decent play if partner has the right hand. OTOH it would be really nice if I just passed and West gave a preference to 2.
Larry Meyer: 2. Compete to 2-level becuase of 8-card fit.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. By far the most interesting one of the lot. 2 will be a disaster (lead a club), if LHO isn't void in spades, and hearts won't play very well on a diamond through.
Perry Khakhar: 2. If LHO raises diamonds, I am considering 4. This hand should play quite well on a cross ruff. But for now, a free bid should suffice.
Kees Schaafsma: 2. I expect this scores 110 and don't see that 2 doubled gets 300.
Chris Buchanan: 2. I hate to bid here but the temptation to play in a major partial is too great.
John Gillespie: 2. +110 beats +100?
David Gordon: 2. This should play well.
Chris Diamond: 2. Doubling 2 could be right but they're white. The A is good offensively and if the NT bidder bids 3 I won't be entirely happy sitting for pard's double.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. It could be right to pass, but it's easy for them to wind up in 2NT or 3 and us to miss our heart fit if I don't pipe up here.
Brian Zietman: 2. Only 4 points but partner must be short in spades and I have a singleton club.
Paul Hardy: Pass. They might correct 2 to 2.
|
| 4. Board-a-Match. N-S vul.
| |
A Q 10 6 3
6
A 5
A K 10 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 13
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 50
|
|
1NT
| 2
| 40
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The hand is too strong to pass. Doubling or overcalling 1NT, however, rates to hear partner bid or transfer to hearts. Most panelists choose, therefore, to bid 2.
Mike Lawrence: 2. If you have a fit, you might have a slam. If you pass because some silly book warns you against bidding when you have their suit bottled up, you may find yourself defending against 1 undoubled.
Jeff Meckstroth: 1NT. Crystal clear to me.
Michael Dimich: 2. This looks like the 1st problem in February. If I bid 1NT then West will bid 2 and I can double for +200. Nah, I'll bid 2.
Eugene Chan: 1NT. NT is a frequent winner at BAM. If partner transfers, then 3 should clarify an off-shape NT.
Eurydice Nours: Pass. Real difficult hand to bid, if I pass, trust that partner will re-open with a X, then, I'll convert it into penalty.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. These are my 'I'm in the minority' hand types. I still pass.
Mike Hamilton: 2. My spades lie behind the bidder and are full value. Being 5-5 in the blacks, I would have opened this hand 1 anyway. A 2 overcall is a good lead-directing bid and I am strong enough to bid spades twice to get across my strength and distribution.
Ronald Kuiper: 2. The answer probably will be double, but I hate double here on principle, can't be takeout with my short suits and 5 spades, and club suit is not strong enough for double and bid. Pass is an option, but what if opps find their red fit before I get to bid?
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. This hand is way too good to gamble on a trap pass red vs. white.
Larry Meyer: 2. Downgrade because most of my strength is in opp's suit and in a short suit, which makes this hand too weak to double.
Mike Roberts: 2. Not enough to double, too much to pass.
Perry Khakhar: 2. Decent suit, good values, what is the problem? I will not start with a double and later try to convince partner that I don't have hearts. Pass could be awkward whether partner balances (red suit) or passes.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. We will wait and see what develops here. I doubt this auction is over.
David Gordon: 2. Your partner is short on spades. If partner can't take a call, game is unlikely.
Chris Diamond: 2. Yeah, yeah. I'm supposed to pass but they're white again and I can't see getting to defend 1 doubled.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. The problem with a trap pass here is that it's not going to trap anyone most of the time.
Brian Zietman: Pass. Trap pass.
Paul Hardy: 2. I have points and a suit, so I bid it.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. Too strong for any other call with 9 playing tricks.
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
---
K Q 4 2
J 5 2
A 10 8 7 5 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 10
| 100
|
|
4NT
| 4
| 60
|
|
5
| 2
| 40
|
|
6
| 1
| 30
|
|
Pass
| 1
| 30
|
|
5
| 0
| 20
|
|
6
| 0
| 20
|
|
5NT
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The South hand looks good for offense, so most experts decide against passing 4 doubled. Should you bid your four-card major or your six-card minor or try something else? Most of the panel choose to bid 5.
Mel Colchamiro: 4NT. . . followed by 5NT. I'm going to force to slam, but why didn't I open 1 in the first place?
August Boehm: 5. Taking out to 5 should be bidding to make, so maybe partner can act.
Brad Theurer: 6. The preempt has taken away valuable space, so I have little room to explore. If I simply bid 5, North will never play me, a passed hand, for these values.
Michael Dimich: 4NT. Respect Larry Cohen's shipboard lectures. Double is takeout. Bid 4NT for 2 places to play.
Eugene Chan: 6. 6 might be a better slam but I will take my chances in my long suit. I play partner's double as takeout.
Robin Hart: 5. I play double here is for takeout. Pard should have 4 or more hearts.
Stephen Vincent: 4NT. Showing an unspecified 2-suiter. Partner should have values not a trump stack.
Eurydice Nours: 4NT. Slam may be possible, ask partner to choose a suit.
Yue Su: 5. Slam is likely but risky because opps need one red ace and a singleton to set it.
Martin Henneberger: 5. I'm going to bid slam so I might as well trot out 5 along the way.
Steve Ottridge: Pass. I assume dbl was for penalties and I have 2 tricks.
Mike Hamilton: 5. I expect partner to solidify my clubs, hold 4 hearts, and have diamond strength. The cue-bid shows spade control and a “top-and-bottom” 2-suiter with an implied longer minor. This should be played from partner’s side.
Ronald Kuiper: Pass. Over 4, double is penalty and 4NT is T/O. I trust pard, and I probably bring 2 tricks.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 6. Not much room for science here. If the slam is better than 48% then bid it.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Pard doubled for penalty - trust him.
Mike Roberts: 5. It's lazy, unproductive, and gets me by a round of bidding. What more can I ask for?
Perry Khakhar: Pass. I wasn't invited to this party, and I have better than expected defense. Let us try to not convert a guaranteed +800 or better into a potential minus.
Merv Adey: 5. Lots of hands in this set seem to need agreements. I hope pard agrees. :-)
Chris Buchanan: 5. Dbl is values. I prefer to play in my 6-card suit and I also like a lebensohl type agreement in these situations. With that agreement, 5 would show this hand very well.
John Gillespie: 6. Still a takeout double in my partnership.
David Gordon: 5. North's dbl is semi-balanced.
Chris Diamond: 5. Spade void says don't pass. Not willing to commit to slam vs good balanced hand with spades. IMPs says find the safest contract, auction may not be over. Tough set, don't think anyone's acing it.
Tim Francis-Wright: 5NT. Holy Culbertson, did my hand get better! Pick a slam, partner.
Brian Zietman: 5. Choose your slam partner.
Paul Hardy: Pass. Double here, is penalties, not takeout: I expect partner to have a trump stack. Look for spades breaking 7-6 or 7-5-1. If partner wants me to bid he would have bid 4NT.
Amiram Millet: 5NT. Pick a slam partner.
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