TGIF July 2012: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
K 9 7 4
J 9 8 4
A Q
9 6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
3
|
4
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Hearts and a minor.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4NT
| 12
| 100
|
|
6
| 5
| 80
|
|
5
| 3
| 60
|
|
5NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
5
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: There is a decided tilt toward bidding 4NT before proceeding further. Some use it as the start of an invitational sequence while others are truly interested in learning which minor partner holds.
August Boehm: 4NT. Partner should hold a huge distributional hand, perhaps 6-6, to preclude both 4 and defending. If his second suit is clubs, I'll settle for 5, which should be a slam try. If he shows diamonds, I'm in slam.
Jeff Meckstroth: 5. I am tempted to bid 6, but I do have only one keycard. It would be nice to bid 5 as an invitational 5 bid, a tool that many experts play.
The Coopers: 6. We see no intelligent way to try for a grand. Because partner is forcing us to the five level, he must have a truly monstrous two-suiter.
Zoran Peca: 4NT. Find out which minor partner has and then bid 5 or 6.
Stephen Vincent: 5. Can't investigate scientifically and don't want to punish partner for taking what may have been a very risky action.
Craig T. Wilson: 6. Partner must have a good hand to bid a game at the 5 level. The A is probably all that's needed for slam.
Gilbert Lambert: 4NT. If partner's minor is diamonds, I will bid 6! Otherwise I'll settle for 5.
Martin Henneberger: 5. I'm going with the default 5 bid because although I'd like to invite with 4NT minor ask, then correct to hearts as a stronger sequence than 5 direct I'm not convinced it's SAYC standard.
Chris Diamond: 5. Good hand but slam good.
Larry Meyer: 6. Since pard thinks 5 will make, I have enough to raise to 6.
Michael Dimich: 5. . . unless East hates their partner and shows me their cards.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4NT. Go through 4NT on the way to 5 to imply a slightly better hand.
Laurence Betts: 4NT. I'm guessing a 5 follow up would show more than a simple 5.
Aidan Ballantyne: 5. Bidding 4NT first will not help find a slam (even if pard bids 5 I'm not bidding slam). It's better to just show heart support. Knowing there is a fit, pard will play me for something and that may allow him to bid slam if it's right.
Bob Kuz: 5. I hope we go plus.
Mike Roberts: 6. If 4N-5-5 was a clear slam try, I might go that route (I'd bid 6 over 5).
Paul Mcmullin: 5. Move K to other suits for more slam interest.
Leonid Bossis: 4NT. Over 5/5 I will bid 5 which is stronger than direct 5 and invites slam.
David Gordon: 4NT. Find out the minor to decide if your values are working.
Tim Francis-Wright: 5. Let's go plus. Slam could be on, but I need a perfect hand from partner.
Amiram Millet: 6. An outstanding support for partner.
John Gillespie: 6. Oddball methods? I have no idea what anything else would mean.
Brian Zietman: 5. Shame I cannot make a reverse bid of 3NT. In matchpoints this is the only logical bid.
Plarq Liu: 5. Not sure about slam.
Richmond Williams: 4NT. If minor is clubs is 6 is there.
Beverley Candlish: 6. Partner must have a very strong hand to cue bid at the 4 level. With my 10 points, I see slam.
Kf Tung: 6. Pard has 10 tricks and you have 2. Besides, how can they get 2 tricks?
Alex Wang: 5. Slam is tempting, but too many things could go wrong.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
| |
J 9 6 5
A K 3
A J 10
Q 8 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
3
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Forcing: five or more clubs.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 11
| 100
|
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
|
3NT
| 7
| 70
|
|
Moderator: Walker demoted 3NT in the scoring because two-thirds of the panel showed slam interest.
Steve Weinstein: 3. . . to show something in diamonds and keep everything in play. I don't want to commit to 3NT now because we won't have any problem getting there when it's right. Sometimes partner has a stiff spade (or even a void) and 3NT goes down when 6 makes.
Karen Walker: 3. Three quick tricks and Q 8 4 is a moose, not a minimum. The auction will be easiest if partner can Blackwood, and the best way to make that happen is to show control of the suit in which he's most likely to have a problem.
Bob Giragosian: 3NT. I have good controls and the Q, but 4-3-3-3 and 15 HCP seems a little light to accept a slam try.
Zoran Peca: 3. Cuebid in support of clubs.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Despite the fact that it's a minimum the cards look quite suitable for a club slam so I feel I have to make some sort of try while keeping 3NT open.
Martin Henneberger: 3NT. I have a 4-3-3-3 hand that wants to play NT unless pard can make another move. 3NT stands out to me here.
Chris Diamond: 3NT. Good hand for a club slam if pard's short in spades but not as good as 3NT at MP's.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. With such a flat hand, I have nothing more to say.
Michael Dimich: 3. 3 begins the discourse. Partner can bid 3 or 3NT to show their spade holding. 4 leads to 4 cue bid. Ground work laid for an informed decision.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3NT. Very tough choice. I have prime values for slam opposite a likely singleton spade, but if I start cue-bidding now then 3NT is lost forever.
Laurence Betts: 3NT. Partner may have the perfect 2 Q J x x K x x A K x x x, but it is matchpoints. Then again this is a bidding contest and not the real world.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3NT. I like my controls but I have a minimum balanced hand so I make the practical bid at this form of scoring. If pard makes another try, look out!
Bob Kuz: 3. Partner has hearts and clubs - I have fitting cards.
Mike Roberts: 3NT. Minimum, mediocre support, flat hand. Let's slow this down.
Paul Mcmullin: 3. I will tell partner where my stuff is.
David Gordon: 3NT. I like my values but am minimum with poor shape.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3NT. If we have a club slam, it's because partner can do something smart next round.
Amiram Millet: 3. Showing a good 3 card suit. Partner is the captain.
John Gillespie: 3. I'll pass 3NT and go slamming over anything else. I've got club interest or would have bid 3NT myself.
Brian Zietman: 3NT. In matchpoints this is the only logical bid.
Paul Hardy: 3. I'm assuming 5+ clubs and at least 4 spades?
Plarq Liu: 3NT. 6 is too far away.
Beverley Candlish: 4NT. Blackwood for slam in clubs.
Kf Tung: 4. Pard is looking for 6 with a suitable hand. Show your support and let him move on. Pass comfortably if he bids 4 on the next turn.
Alex Wang: 3. Pard knows I won't have 4 cards in hearts, so it will be a partial club fit, not good enough to bid 4.
|
| 3. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
7 4 2
A K Q 4 2
J 3
10 5 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 13
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 7
| 80
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Over partner's simple 2 rebid, is it just a matter of style whether you choose to move forward?
Larry Cohen: Pass. It's much more likely that this is our last plus score than the remote possibility that we have a white game.
The Gordons: 3. We have too much potential to pass.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. The chances of getting to a decent game are remote so let's subside gently.
Martin Henneberger: 3. I don't like to mastermind a pass, and bidding 2 or 3 creates a game force which I don't have, so I will settle for a 3 raise to keep the auction alive.
Chris Diamond: 2NT. The good heart suit little diamond honour make this worth a game try. I just don't know which game and I don't know how to right side NT.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Sounds like pard has 12-14 HCP and 6 diamonds (or 5 real good ones), so we have arrived.
Michael Dimich: 3. 3 invites and makes an E/W balance more problematic.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Game has no prayer unless the opponents make the wrong lead (which they will presumably do less than 50% of the time). So let them balance... if we can push them to the 3 level, we may even set them 2.
Laurence Betts: Pass. Yes, I can construct a hand to make 4, but opposite a stiff even 2 could be in jeopardy.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Lots of losers.
Bob Kuz: 3. If partner can bid 3 or 3NT - great.
Mike Roberts: 3. Middle of the road action.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. IMPs - look for a plus score.
David Gordon: 2. Non forcing but constructive.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. I hate to do this, but I hate to suggest no-trump when the opponents have their pick of black suits to attack.
Amiram Millet: 3. If 3NT is possible, this is the way to find it.
John Gillespie: Pass. In our opening style, this could be our last plus.
Brian Zietman: 3. Invitational.
Richmond Williams: Pass. This is the hand where you get the 6-1-1 heart split.
Beverley Candlish: 3. . . showing that I have extra values and some support in diamonds.
Kf Tung: 3. Tell partner that you have the bulk of high cards and 3 is safe.
Alex Wang: 3. If we had 3NT, by pard looks more probable.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
Q J 9 7 6 5
A J 5
6 4
7 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 13
| 100
|
|
2
| 7
| 80
|
|
1
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: This problem highlights another borderline 4th seat decision.
Jeff Meckstroth: Pass. Two people have passed 11-pointers and it's not my partner!
The Sutherlins: 2. We expect to make 2 more often than not.
Stephen Vincent: 2. It would be nice to have a little more as 2 has semi-constructive overtones in fourth seat, but we're unlikely to get many matchpoints for passing it out.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. I surrender. I can defend this post mortem.
Chris Diamond: 2. I like to play this as intermediate and would open 1 but I think the rest of the world uses weak 2's here.
Jacky Wang: Pass. The second choice 3.
Larry Meyer: Pass. HCP plus number of spades = 8 + 6 = 14, so rule of 15 says pass.
Michael Dimich: Pass. I would bid 2 if I was playing a strong pass system or if I was a desperate Pro.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. 2 shows a better hand here, and 1 could just go horribly wrong.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Odds are they have the balance of strength. Nice having the master suit to ratchet them to 3 level but they may well make it and I doubt we make 3.
Bob Kuz: 2. Can't pass it out with the master suit.
Mike Roberts: Pass. I need a smoke.
Paul Mcmullin: Pass. Let sleeping dogs . . .
Leonid Bossis: Pass. Assuming 2 after 3 passes is a good intermediate hand with 6+ carder.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. This is not the hand to bid 2 on - 8 losers, a ratty suit, no defense.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Too weak even for a 2 opening.
John Gillespie: Pass. A 2 opener here shows at least a king more. I'll hope for avg rather than partner hanging me.
Brian Zietman: 1. Not quite conforming to the law of 15 but very close.
Plarq Liu: 1. Hope I can buy it.
Beverley Candlish: 3. I only have 8 HCP's and if I bid 2, I am showing a full opener. My partner will know to pass.
Kf Tung: 2. You want to play 2 and you want everyone to pass.
Alex Wang: 1. Here, some might open 2 according to their system. For us, 2 needs a better hand.
Bob Todd: 2. 2 will get us too high.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
K 6 5 4
K J 10 4 2
10
K 5 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 9
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 80
|
|
2
| 4
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 60
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Half the panel are content to play in their presumed best fit in hearts. The other half make a move towards game.
Betty Ann Kennedy: 2. I'll bid out my shape. My hand goes up in value because of my club fit, and it's possible partner has four spades.
Barry Rigal: 2. Partner won't have a stiff heart: he'd always open 1 or rebid a black suit with that shape. So hearts rate to be our highest scoring partscore. I won't buy a hand with three hearts and a ruffing value: partner would raise immediately with that.
The Joyces: 2. Style questions abound, but this hand has enough assets to soldier on.
Craig T. Wilson: 2. New minor forcing.
Martin Henneberger: 2. 2-way new minor would be best here: 2 relaying to 2 then bid 2 showing 5 hearts and invitational values. In SAYC however, I will stay low and try for my biggest part score plus.
Chris Diamond: 2. Method thing again. I'm assuming pard would raise with 3 good hearts so he probably has 5 clubs or 3 bad hearts. Hoping he will convert to 2 with 3 dead but that's far from certain. In other words, I'm bidding again and hoping something good will happen.
Larry Meyer: 2. Assuming that pard plays new minor forcing, else pass.
Michael Dimich: 2. Enough for new minor. Partner with a flat hand and 3 hearts or 4 spades can bid us to a better matchpoint spot.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. I'm minimum for an invite, but all my values are working. Partner will have 3 hearts at least half the time on this auction.
Laurence Betts: 2. One round force. I'll correct 2N to 3. In my world pard cannot be 4-4 in the minors.
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. Not sure what new minor is. In any case my heart suit is good enough to insist on hearts being trumps.
Bob Kuz: 2. Shut out the competetition - I hope.
Mike Roberts: Pass. Yeah, I see the stiff diamond. I also see +120.
Leonid Bossis: 2. New minor forcing.
Judi Carter: 2. New minor forcing.
Susan Julius: 2. New minor forcing.
David Gordon: 2. I bid 2 if playing checkback Stayman (1-way or 2-way) or 2 if playing new minor forcing.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. I'd love for this to be invitational or better, but even if it's not, it asks for what I'm looking for.
Amiram Millet: 2. New minor forcing.
Joel Forssell: 2. Planning to support clubs if pard can't support hearts.
John Gillespie: 2. My pard never has a small stiff and I'll go for the safe plus. A home run if they balance.
Brian Zietman: 3. Invitational.
Plarq Liu: Pass. No need to push for game.
Beverley Candlish: 2. . . asking partner if she has 3 hearts and also showing at least 10 points. (New minor forcing.)
Kf Tung: Pass. Your best chance to get a plus score with +120 within reach.
Alex Wang: 3. We had at most 4 cards in diamonds, so 4 seems more likely.
Janet Galbraith: 2. Playing XYZ, I would bid 2 invitational to find a possible major suit fit.
Bob Todd: 2. What are our treatments/style?
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