TGIF April 2011: Scores
| 1. IMPs. N-S vul.
|
A Q 6
Q 10
J 10
K Q J 10 7 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 8
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 4
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 40
|
|
5
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The panel is divided into four camps - each call having flaws.
Barry Rigal: 3NT. In a bidding contest, it's easy to be a paper tiger and bid 3NT, isn't it? I want all my partners to know I'd never do this at the table, but bear in mind that even if East has the A K, my partner may have jack third or maybe they won't lead the suit.
Allan Falk: Pass. This looks like too many losers to go venturing to 4. Partner could produce two aces and a club fit and we still can't make game. Sometimes, you just gotta pass.
Betty Ann Kennedy: 4. . . but 3NT is a close second. For 3NT to be right, however, I need two cards from partner - a heart stopper and the A.
Jeff Meckstroth: Dbl. Double leaves room for partner to bid 3NT or pass 3 doubled.
Dan Jacob: 3NT. Somebody needs to bid NT- pressure bid.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Well and truly fixed.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. This hand is basically a 12 count with bad shape. If it's our hand and partner can't balance I doubt we've missed the boat. Other than suit quality this hand is junk and I am not entering this auction at the 4 level. 3NT and Dbl are off the wall. -800 looms.
Kai Zhou: Pass. 4 is slight madness but I am normal aren't I?
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. I would sooner take a wild stab at 3NT than bid 4 here.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Want to leave 3NT available as an option.
Kees Schaafsma: 4. What's the problem?
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Not the worst bid. Pard can bid 3NT with J x x. Straightly bid 3NT and go down 2 by a heart lead?
John Gillespie: Dbl. . . with fear and loathing.
Bob Todd: 4. Pass is probably best.
Mike Roberts: Dbl. It is jack TEN of diamonds, after all.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. Double is the most flexible here. We might end up in a 4-3 spade fit or an unlucky 4-2 diamond fit but it is a risk I am willing to take.
Brian Zietman: Dbl. I don't see a logical alternative. Partner may pass 4 and we may have an easy 3NT or 5. Double shows strength and if partner has some scattered values like K x x x J x x Q x x x A x, we may have an easy game in 3NT.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Congrats to the 3NT bidders if it works but losing the first 7 heart tricks would be embarrassing. 4 begs partner to raise and then the doubling could start.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. At matchpoints, I would be really worried about missing 3NT here, but at IMPs the only major risk of this bid is that 3NT makes opposite K x x x J x x Q x x A x x but 5 is down.
Amiram Millet: Pass. If the J was the J I'd bid 3N.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
K 10 2
9 8 2
A K 4
J 10 9 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 11
| 100
|
|
4
| 6
| 70
|
|
3NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 40
|
|
5
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 10
|
|
4
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: The panel use the law of total tricks to make their decision.
Barry Rigal: Pass. The law of total tricks suggests that they have nine trumps and we have eight, and Larry Cohen has promised to pick up my losses whenever I do this. If it doesn't work, he will explain how to adjust the law - just kidding, Larry!
Bob Giragosian: 3NT. It's a little risky, but our best chance to get to the correct game. Hopefully, if partner has a good suit and heart shortness, he will bid his suit at the four level.
August Boehm: Pass. We probably have a better spot, perhaps a much better spot, but really no assurance of finding it.
Dan Jacob: Pass. I better pass otherwise I have to bid NT again.
Anssi Rantamaa: 4. Choose a suit, partner!
Stephen Vincent: 4. The lure of a vulnerable game is too strong. This should at least help us arrive in the correct strain.
Martin Henneberger: 4. To underbid or overbid? Well I certainly can't be completely pessimistic, as this hand should have a play for game. The clear problem being pard is short in hearts and getting tapped won't be fun. Pard could have a 5 card suit at this level so I will try 4.
Kai Zhou: 4. Forward going.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 5. How can I get partner to bid 5 with a 5-card diamond suit or 5 otherwise? If 4NT is definitely for the minors, I would pick that.
Larry Meyer: 4. Asking partner to name his best suit.
Plarq Liu: Pass. For a plus. If they can make 3, we have no game to make.
John Gillespie: Pass. Less fear, more loathing.
Mike Roberts: 5. Yes, I see I'm down 1. Pre-empts work.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Wrong hand type for the moysian fit and 5 of a minor is a long ways away. Going plus in MP is good.
Brian Zietman: 4. I am strong enough for game so I give partner the choice.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Call me Mikey: I hate everything. Nothing guarantees a plus so let's try for 300.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. That's not a stopper.
Amiram Millet: 4. Letting partner choose between 4 and 5 of a minor.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
K 7 5
J 9 8 6
J 9 5 3
9 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1NT
|
Pass
|
Pass
| |
|
Dbl
(1)
|
Pass
|
2
(2)
| ? |
| (1) Five or more of a minor; four or more of a major.
| | (2) Pass or correct.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 11
| 100
|
|
2
| 5
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 3
| 40
|
|
2
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: South would like to compete, but it's not clear that it's safe to bid.
Steve Robinson: 2. With a doubleton club, I have to bid. I've denied five hearts, so at the worst, we'll be in a 4-3 fit. Double would be good if I was sure that it was takeout.
Barry Rigal: Dbl. All first doubles from either side must be takeout and all subsequent doubles are penalty. One can't sensibly play any other way.
The Sutherlins: Pass. The points for each side are equal and it's possible that nobody has an eight-card fit. Let's defend well and try to go plus.
Dan Jacob: Pass. What else?
Stephen Vincent: Pass. The way the auction has gone I wish I'd bid 2 on the first round. But I'm not wandering in on this hand, and anyway the auction is not necessarily over.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Our side has half the deck or more. Being a matchpoint tiger means competing in these auctions. I will not let the opps play here, so double as takeout allows many good things to unfold.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Even if partner could be trusted to interpret double as takeout, it is presumptuous to assume that the opponents have found a fit.
Larry Meyer: Pass. I have nothing to say.
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. I could double for T/O, but I don't want pard to pass after double and a pass from West.
Plarq Liu: Pass. My hand is too weak and flat to do anything.
John Gillespie: Pass. I'm only getting involved if they correct.
Mike Roberts: Pass. If double were takeout, I'd do that, but I'm not sure that it is.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Is this a trick question? What am I missing?
Brian Zietman: Pass. Awaiting developments.
Chris Diamond: Pass. I don't know what their suits are and they may have half the deck. I can't believe I'm passing all 3 of these so far.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. This can't be penalty, I think, so it has to be takeout of clubs (for takeout of diamonds, I could wait for West to correct).
Amiram Millet: Pass. My hand didn't become better.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A Q 4
6 5
8 7 3
K Q 10 7 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 17
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The majority of the panel weren't willing to sell out to 2, feeling that defending would lead to a bad result.
Steve Robinson: Pass. I would have overcalled 2 because it's a lot safer. At matchpoints, 3 is too likely to go for -200, especially when either opponent can double for penalty.
The Coopers: 3. Partner is short in spades and has scattered values. The good suit makes it hard for East-West to double 3. Some days we will make it, some days the opponents will bid on to 3 and some days we'll have egg on our face.
Dan Jacob: 3. Not a great hand to balance vulnerable, but pass is not much better.
Martin Henneberger: 3. I pre-balance in these auctions, so I'm never faced with balancing in passout seat with length. Easy pass with my regular partners. That being said the panel doesn't have that luxury of partnership agreements, and being a tiger makes me bid 3.
Kai Zhou: 3. Spades position is very favourable.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. We might beat 2, and there is no particular reason to believe we can take 9 tricks in any other suit.
Larry Meyer: Pass. We're Vul, so I'm not risking -200 vs their part score.
Chuck Arthur: 3. Was I barred on the previous round?
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. Not even tempted to bid - let other pairs have their way.
Plarq Liu: Pass. Don't give them magic 200.
John Gillespie: 3. I can't pass 3 times in a bidding contest can I?
Mike Roberts: 3. Yes, this could be horrible. But it's pairs.
Chris Buchanan: 3. Letting them play 2 will result in between 0-40% of the matchpoints. This is not a winning score so I balance.
Brian Zietman: 3. Probably the opponents will go on to 3 so my bid is a good lead indication for partner. This is a classic balancing position so partner must have values. If I am left in 3 I will be in good shape after a spade lead.
Chris Diamond: 3. Pass is probably the right answer here too but I just can't do it.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. This should describe this hand--not quite good enough for a direct 2 but willing to play in clubs opposite partner's balanced 10-count.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Too weak to bid anything else.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
8
K 7
K 9 8 7 5 4 3
K 10 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 11
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 8
| 80
|
|
Moderator: Would you pre-balance? The majority sees its long suit and chooses to do so.
Barry Rigal: Pass. It's much less clear to act in the direct seat. The auction is not over and I may get a chance to act later.
Mike Lawrence: 3. It's clear to bid. If I pass and opener passes and partner balances with 2, I would still have to bid 3. The fact that partner didn't overcall 1 means he likely has something in the minors, which is good news.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. The wasted K suggests pass. Also, where are the spades? Partner likely has 5 but was still unable to muster an overcall.
Martin Henneberger: 3. Classic example of a pre-balance. When the opps have bid and raised the requirements for entering the auction are shortness in hearts and a place to play. High cards are irrelevant. 3 is clear using that theory.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. We can't outbid them and I don't particularly want a diamond lead. Why tell declarer how to play the hand?
Larry Meyer: 3. Can't just roll over and pass.
Kees Schaafsma: 3. Optimum OBAR bid.
Plarq Liu: Pass. Safety first. What can you do if partner has bad diamonds? Even 2 small diamonds aren't enough.
John Gillespie: 3. I should probably pass 5 times in this set.
Mike Roberts: Pass. Not my style, but if there's anyone on the panel from Ottawa, 3 is automatic for them.
Chris Buchanan: Pass. Bidding could lead to disaster. Coming in in a live auction, partner will expect more values or a better suit.
Brian Zietman: 3. Another classic balancing situation - I would rather have another honor in diamonds but the 7 card suit compensates.
Chris Diamond: 3. Again pass could be right. But they might have a big spade fit and be slammish so maybe I can make it tougher for them. Probably should have passed 5 times.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. I don't have a great hand. I don't want a diamond lead here. I'm happy to pull partner's 2/3 balance to 3.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Have some defense. Can't bid 3 even at MP with this vulnerability.
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