TGIF February 2013: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
K 8 7 6 4 3
9 7
4
Q J 10 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
3NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 13
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 6
| 70
|
|
4
| 1
| 40
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: It seems that partner's 3NT is based on a long running suit. With a ruffing value and no real love for notrump, most of the panelists opt for 4.
The Sutherlins: Pass. Partner has almost a 2NT strength hand with a running heart suit. He has chosen to take a shot at 3NT rather than 4. We should not override that decision.
Geoff Hampson: 4. I am assuming that 3NT shows lots of tricks based on a running heart suit and some side stoppers. I have a low singleton and a fit for partner's presumed six (or more) hearts, so I place us in 4.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Partner presumably has long solid hearts and some holdings in the minors. Unless partner can run 9 tricks or has a double diamond stop, hearts rates to play better.
Chris Diamond: Pass. A bit high to be guessing better spots.
Bill Angus: 4. Because it's MPs.
Dave Waterman: Pass. Should be unanimous. 4 could be better than 3NT, but no guarantees. Partner could have a stiff spade, of course.
Larry Meyer: Pass. 3NT should have a good chance, but not slam, so why bid over 3NT?
Eugene Chan: Pass. Easy pass. My best results usually come when I am dummy.
Yue Su: 4. I would pass if opening bid was 1.
Stuart Carr: 4. If partner has 1 or 2 low spades, heart game looks easier / safer, with diamond ruffs.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. This could go either way, but my singleton diamond is worth both a ruff and an entry.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. If pard had opened a minor then there could be 1 spade opposite, but after 1, I expect at least two spades.
Mike Roberts: 4. I don't know exactly what 3NT is, but I know it has something to do with hearts.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. 3NT ends all auctions! Clearly pard isn't interested in any other contracts. 4 is a consideration but it may be inferior at matchpoints.
Brian Zietman: 4. Despite the fact that it is matchpoints my hand is not suited to NT. I take partner for 19-20 points and a doubleton spade.
David Gordon: Pass. Your partner is not necessarily promising 2 spades.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. 10 tricks look easier then 9, unless partner decided to bid 3NT on a 1=5=4=3 or 1=5=3=4 hand.
Amiram Millet: 4. This will usually play better.
John Gillespie: Pass. Everyone leads a trump against 4 don't they? My pard has 1 or 0 spades.
Plarq Liu: Pass. Usually 3NT is the best unless I can envision a slam.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. It is obvious that North has a big hand and needs to hear only that South has spades in order to bid 3NT. I have nowhere else to go.
Kf Tung: Pass. Pard has a choice with 2N, 3 or 4 but he opts for 3N. You have only one control and no honor in heart, so refrain from 4.
Bob Todd: Pass. Sounds like he wants to play there!
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
J 10 2
K Q 9
J 9 7 6 3
A 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1
| 6
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 5
| 90
|
|
1NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
2
| 1
| 50
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: So many choices, and not a single one feels like it fits properly.
August Boehm: 1. Perhaps partner's next bid will help. Perhaps this will inhibit a damaging lead. Perhaps I should do something else.
Steve Robinson: 2. I know you're not supposed to raise partner's second suit with only three-card support. I've gotten good results playing the 4-3 fit. Without the A, I would pass 1.
Kerri Sanborn: 1NT. With no real spade stopper, I prefer the low road with 1NT rather than the point-showing 2NT. It rates to work more often than not.
Karen Walker: 2NT. Not enough for 2 (artificial game force denying four spades) so I'll have to call J 10 x a stopper. A 1 punt rates to create a worse problem than the one I already have.
Stephen Vincent: 2NT. You've got a semi-stopper in the unbid suit. Good enough. I hope.
Martin Henneberger: 2. I would open this hand so to me opener vs opener makes game ergo 2 (4th suit forcing).
Chris Diamond: 1. Tell me some more pard.
Dave Waterman: 1NT. This would be tougher if I was vulnerable - the consequences of missing a game would be greater. I refuse to fool around with major suits.
Jacky Wang: 2NT. The best is for XYZ 2 forcing to 2, and then 2NT.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. With an invitational hand, offer an invitation.
Eugene Chan: 1. Both 1NT and 2NT are flawed so 1 (forcing 1 round) is perfect for this situation.
Stuart Carr: 1. A lie, but partner's next bid should point the path to the final strain.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2NT. Although there are reasons for pessimism, downgrading to 1NT doesn't describe what I have. At least partner won't stretch to accept nonvulnerable at IMPs.
Aidan Ballantyne: 1. Artificial, at least invitational values, not game forcing.
Mike Roberts: 1. I think the only bid I can't handle is 3/4 by partner.
Perry Khakhar: 2NT. Would pard bypass a 4 card major? Depends on system. I would have bid 2NT the first time.
Bob Zeller: 2NT. I would have bid 2NT over 1 originally.
Brian Zietman: 2NT. Showing 10-11 points. The poor diamond suit rules out a bid of 3.
David Gordon: 2NT. No overcall and J 10 x is almost a stopper. Make your natural rebid.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2NT. We play fourth suit forcing to game, so bidding the fourth suit (with 2) is an overbid.
Amiram Millet: 4. A more secure contract.
John Gillespie: 2NT. The value bid I would have made the first time.
Plarq Liu: 1. Force one round, I have no more info.
Beverley Candlish: 2. I can't bid NT as I don't have a spade stopper. I can't bid the fourth suit as I don't have an opening bid. We will play in a 4/3 fit.
Kf Tung: 1. Your hand may play better in hearts, diamonds or even clubs. Bid 1 to show an invitational hand, and then decide on the strain.
|
| 3. IMPs. None vul.
| |
A J 9 6 4
A J 10 5 3
Q 7
10
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Dbl
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 10
| 100
|
|
2
| 7
| 80
|
|
4
| 3
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Everyone's pulling heart cards out of their bidding box, but there's a big difference of opinion of how many hearts to bid.
Jill Meyers: 2. Not quite good enough for 3, although the fifth heart is a pretty card.
Barry Rigal: 3. There will surely be more bidding, so I don't want to tell partner I have a great hand when, I've no idea who can make what. 4 should show more shape and fewer HCP (a 6-5 10-11 count, maybe). A jump to 4/4 or a cuebid deals will all the really good hands.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. Opposite an ace and a king, I can make 4. Besides, who knows what the opponents can make? This would be more difficult at matchpoints where going minus could be terrible.
Chris Diamond: 2. I'd like to play 3 as shape without many HCP, just not sure the rest of the world sees it that way so I'll have to get pushed there.
Dave Waterman: 4. I don't need to be clever, trying to walk up to 4. I have two Aces, so if the opponents bid to the 5 level I can live with partner's decision.
Larry Meyer: 2. No need to show more than minimum opening values.
Eugene Chan: 3. Despite barebones HCPs, worth a game invite. Alternatively, good save against opp's 3 level minor suit partial.
Stuart Carr: 3. I hope partner will go to 4 with K Q and K.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. The choice between 4 and 4 depends on the opponents' style. If they are timid then 4 will shut them out. If they are aggressive then 4 allows partner to compete at the 5 level.
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. Almost a 3 bid but I do have a minimum with suspect Q, just the extra heart.
Mike Roberts: 2. The 5th heart is nice, and we may miss a perfecto, but I don't want to overstate my high card in a competitive auction.
Perry Khakhar: 2. I think I may have a good hand in context of the auction but a free 2 is all it is worth for now.
Brian Zietman: 4. Hopefully this will prevent E/W from sacrificing in a minor.
David Gordon: 4. Big upgrade. If I had a high card 4 bid I would start with a cuebid to tell partner it is our hand.
Amiram Millet: 3. A strong invitation.
John Gillespie: 3. An underbid on different vul.
Plarq Liu: 4. We found our game.
Beverley Candlish: 4. North is showing hearts and diamonds by his double. I would jump to 4 without a heart beat.
Kf Tung: 2. If pard has shape and 4 card hearts, 4 would be playable.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
A K 8 7 6 5 2
A 10 9 2
---
A 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
(1)
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Note: Exclusion Key Card Blackwood is not part of the Bridge Bulletin Standard system.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 13
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
6
| 1
| 40
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: Thirteen of the panelists believe 3 is their lucky call.
Steve Weinstein: 4. I hope 4 is a splinter. I have very good prospects for slam and showing short diamonds is the best way to get partner involved in the decision. I'm planning on following with 5 over 4, or 5 over 4 to find out about partner's round-suit help.
Larry Cohen: 3. I want to see if partner bids (or doesn't bid) 3. If he shows diamond cards, I will content myself with 4. If he does something else, like bid hearts, I'll think about slam.
Betty Ann Kennedy: 3. If I hear 4 from partner, I will cuebid 5. A diamond splinter bid would not bring needed information from partner.
Mel Colchamiro: 6. I'm torn between 6 and a 4 splinter. Even if I try 3 or 4, there are so many hands where partner, holding Q x (or x x) would not show enthusiasm. I'd rather blast and conceal than be scientific.
Stephen Vincent: 3. To be followed up with 4 over a 3 response.
Martin Henneberger: 3. A 3 game try will find out some info, but a 4 splinter tells info. And I want to know.
Chris Diamond: 3. Probably just jumping to 6 gives you the best chance of making it when pard doesn't have exactly what you need. But there may be a way to avoid a bad slam or even find a magic grand.
Bill Angus: 4. Pard is most likely going to bid 4. This gives him a mild invite to bid 6 with extras. The main benefit is splinter induces opps to try to cash A which I ruff. Pard's K is then available to pitch my little club on. :-)
Dave Waterman: 4. Partner should bid 4 with a control and some interest. Not perfect, but best of the available options.
Anssi Rantamaa: 3. Partner with little, will bid 3 but may re-evaluate after I next bid 4.
Larry Meyer: 3. Ask pard if he can offer some help in hearts.
Eugene Chan: 4. Happy to buy the contract in game. Slam explorations may open the door for a nonvul save by opps.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. I guess the special note is giving us license to bid 5 as a void splinter? That's just as flawed as exclusion, since the A could be a very valuable card.
Laurence Betts: 3. Help suit slam try.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. I don't mind 3 help suit game try either but 4 should say, if you have a minimum with no wasted diamonds, we probably have a slam. Should help pard evaluate.
Mike Roberts: 3. Who would use blackwood holding all the aces? 4 is useless, even if a splinter - what can partner cue?
Perry Khakhar: 4. If partner doesn't have the K, I think we are high enough in 4. Splinter in diamonds should elicit that cue bid.
Brian Zietman: 4. This is the time for scientific bidding. :-)
David Gordon: 3. Natural and forcing 1 round.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3. . . natural game try (I hope!) that will become a slam try. This reminds me. The Yellow Card has defined game tries, but BBS doesn't?
Amiram Millet: 3. On the slightest cooperation, I will drive to slam.
John Gillespie: 3. Help suit but at the table, 3. If pard bids game, I pass (wasted HCPs). If they sign off, I bid at least 6 with grand slam tries available.
Plarq Liu: 4. Start cuebidding sequence.
Beverley Candlish: 4. It is unlikely that North has the cards I am looking for with his 2 bid. How can I call for key cards with a void in diamonds?
Kf Tung: 3. Pard will bid 3 with a weak hand and you still go to 4. With 3 controls he will cooperate with a cue bid and then you can envisage a slam.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
Q J 6 4
10
A K 6 4 3
A 10 9
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 15
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 3
| 60
|
|
Pass
| 2
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 10
|
|
4
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: Even with just a singleton in partner's suit, all but two panelists accept partner's invitation to game.
Jeff Meckstroth: 4. I like my hand. The 10 might be just right.
The Coopers: Pass. Pass is easy at matchpoints, although with a second heart, we would bid game. At IMPs, we would bid game if vulnerable. Three quick tricks and two possible sources of tricks are very good.
Geoff Hampson: 3NT. I have a pretty good hand and prime cards plus the spot help in clubs, but I have no real heart fit. So I will try for nine tricks and the game bonus. If partner continues to 4, then A K, A should be of help.
Stephen Vincent: 4. Easy raise to game with AK-A in the minors. The 10 may even come into its own.
Chris Diamond: 3NT. 10 and 9 -- 10s aren't accidents in this problem, nor the 3 quicks. Is 4 better?
Bill Angus: 3NT. Pard can bid 4 if s/he has to.
Dave Waterman: 4. 10 is a big card.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Suggest the most likely game.
Eugene Chan: 4. Major suit game appears more likely despite limited trump support.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. No need to stretch for a marginal game with a misfit at MPs.
Aidan Ballantyne: 4. Accepting the invite with my extras. Looks like a suit contract hand.
Mike Roberts: 4. If partner has no club card, 3NT is not good, probably. 10 is a nice card.
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. If 3NT is a possible contract then 3NT is the right contract!
Brian Zietman: 3NT. I do not like to bid 4 with a singleton in matchpoints. Clubs look vulnerable, maybe partner has a stopper.
David Gordon: 3NT. Accept the invite to game.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3NT. This is really a guess--partner's Qxx in either minor suit make 3NT the place to be.
Amiram Millet: 4. Even in MP it should be better.
John Gillespie: Pass. MP chicken. The 3rd bid this set that I would not make at the table.
Plarq Liu: 3NT. 3NT looks like the best game we can have.
Beverley Candlish: 4. It is obvious that North wants to play in hearts and has a strong suit and points. With the jump in hearts and not another suit, it is unlikely he is looking for slam.
Kf Tung: 3NT. Usually you will have a laydown 3N, but pard may correct to 4 with suitable cards.
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