TGIF September 2013: Scores
| 1. IMPs. Both vul.
|
9 6
A 10 7 5
K J 5 3 2
A 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
4
|
Dbl
|
Pass
|
4
| |
|
Pass
|
5
|
Pass
|
5
| |
|
Pass
|
6
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 10
| 100
|
|
7
| 5
| 80
|
|
7
| 3
| 70
|
|
7
| 1
| 60
|
|
7NT
| 1
| 60
|
|
Moderator: Ten panelists insist they haven't shown their values and push on to a grand; the other half let the auction die in six.
Steve Weinstein: Pass. Because partner didn't make a grand slam try, it sounds like he is telling us he did well to bid over 4. Once we assume partner has a club void (no Blackwood), we have only two important cards for slam. If we can make 7, pard wouldn't have bid 6.
August Boehm: 7. How can partner hold fewer crucial cards than the A, K, A Q and substantial extra values including some sort of diamond fit since my 5 improved his hand? 7 might be the safest grand if partner has a loser in hearts but terrific spades.
Barry Rigal: 7. It is hard to believe that if partner can jump to the small slam I cannot make the grand slam. I might do this even without the A (but I wouldn't). 7 offers the choice of slams.
Stephen Vincent: 7. Even though partner didn't Blackwood and so likely has a club void, it's hard to imagine hands opposite where we don't have a good play for 7.
Martin Henneberger: 7. Opposite an unknown possible minimum hand partner forced us to the 5 level and now is still bidding 6. I would faint if 7 isn't a claimer.
Chris Diamond: 7. I seem to have more than I promised. Leave 7 open.
Joel Martineau: Pass. Always nice to have a little in reserve.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Too much uncertainty to risk bidding at the 7 level.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 7. I could hardly have a better hand than this. Rebidding 7 should imply a bigger disparity in suits.
Larry Pocock: Pass. Maybe teammates opened 5 at ather table and opponents went plus 680.
Bob Kuz: 7. This bidding must be messed up. A simple 4 to start is horrible. Since I have at least 2 aces more than I promised I don't know how to stop below 7, but I will try 7 in case 7NT is a possibility.
Perry Khakhar: 7. I have shown 3 x 10 x x x K x x x 4 x x and partner is trying a slam! Whatever he needs for the grand, I have it!
Mike Roberts: 7. I haven't shown either ace. This must be cold.
Timothy Wright: 7. Partner bid slam without my two aces, so seven must be on. Let her pick.
David Gordon: 7. A 7 bid might show a club void while 7 shows the ace.
Amiram Millet: Pass. There is no safe way to check for a Grand Slam.
John Gillespie: Pass. 5 promised hearts, 6 denied the A.
Plarq Liu: Pass. Don't know if I should continue.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. The 4 opening bid left no room to explore for a grand slam.
Kf Tung: 7. Pard cannot bid like this without A, K Q, A, and a little bit more. You have 12+ tricks and 7 can be a laydown.
Chuck Arthur: Pass. . . and hope that there is some play for it.
Bob Todd: 7. How can I bid any less?
|
| 2. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
10 6
A Q J 9 8
2
A 10 9 3 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
1NT
|
Dbl
|
2
|
3
| |
|
3
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 16
| 100
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 30
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: The main pack of bidders raise to 4.
Betty Ann Kennedy: 4. Obviously partner has a good hand, so I'm bidding out my shape. Partner is in control.
Steve Robinson: 4. The good news is that the opponents probably have the whole diamond suit, which means that our values are outside of diamonds. Partner's hand is unlimited, so he might think 3 is forcing.
The Coopers: 4. We're not sure if we should play 4 or 4, so let partner pick. Our 3 bid didn't promise five clubs, but these aren't really good enough to rebid.
Martin Henneberger: 4. Partner doubled to announce ownership of the hand. I chose to show a 2 suited minimum and they still bid 3. Not raising now would be a travesty.
Chris Diamond: 4. Close but I'd rather have a bigger spade for 4.
Larry Meyer: 4. Bid out my shape.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. I assume this will be nearly unanimous.
Larry Pocock: Pass. They always lead trump when I bid 4 here.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Partner appears to be groping for 3NT. It may be that 4 is the correct place to play, but I dare not show support with this doubleton as yet.
Mike Roberts: 4. Partner showed a very good 4 bid, but I have a poor 3 bid.
Brian Zietman: 4. Partner wants a diamond stopper. Sorry I don't have one!
Timothy Wright: Pass. Partner has long spades and enough points to double 1NT. But I don't have enough for game.
David Gordon: 4. A dbl followed by a new suit feels forcing so I guess I need to bid game.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Already too risky. I hate the 3 bid.
John Gillespie: 4. A stiff heart and ruffing finesse from North should see this home.
Plarq Liu: 4. 5-5 in round suits.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. Too many points in this deck.
Kf Tung: 4. 3N is excluded, but pard can choose between 4, 4 and 5.
|
| 3. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
8 7 2
K J 7 5 3 2
---
A 10 8 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
2NT
(1)
| ? |
| (1) Unusual: 5-5 or better in the minors.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 8
| 100
|
|
3
| 4
| 80
|
|
3
| 3
| 70
|
|
3
| 2
| 60
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 60
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
4
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: Unusual vs unusual is part of Bridge Bulletin Standard.
Larry Cohen: 3. I'll content myself with supporting with support. The lack of a fourth trump (and likely bad splits) has me taking this conservative approach.
Allan Falk: 3. Using unusual vs unusual, 3 shows a forcing bid in the lower unbid suit. 3 would merely be competitive. I can raise spades later after first checking for the superior heart fit. I plan to force to game even if we are doomed by bad breaks.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3. I would prefer to find a heart fit, so I'm willing to risk 3 with the spade fit.
Kerri Sanborn: 3. I'm not sure what a limit raise is in Standard, but 3 feels right. There is a lot to show on this hand, but if I start by showing hearts, it will be tough to support spades later without overstating the hand.
The Sutherlins: Dbl. Slam in a major is definitely possible. We will have a better idea how to proceed when the auction comes back to us. There are many possibilities.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Most partnerships have defined methods here.
Martin Henneberger: 3. Well with a diamond void, I won't be able to show hearts and spades so with my 1 chance to show something I will show support. I will be glad I did when the next bid is 5.
Chris Diamond: 3. Who knows? The vulnerability should slow them down but we might be on for anything up to a grand. Are there systemic responses?
Larry Meyer: 3. Working void encourages me to support partner.
Stuart Carr: 3. Showing hearts.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Upgrade to a GF hand w/ 5+ hearts. I will support spades next.
Larry Pocock: 3. The hand with shortness (in diamonds) must take some action.
Bob Kuz: 3. While this hand looks good in a quiz, my hearts are poor and out of position and my spades are weak and minimal so no stronger action by me. I will be happy if pard bids on.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Opposite a minimum opening hand, I want to play this in 4 or 4. In my regular partnerships, I bid 3 (shows hearts).
Mike Roberts: 3. I'll overbid so as to get to the right strain.
Brian Zietman: 3. As both suits are known, this is a strong cue bid.
Timothy Wright: 3. Good news: we play unusual over unusual. Bad news: that's all we know. Without special agreement, 3 should show my suit--I can raise spades next time around.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 3. Upper cue: either hearts + spade-tolerance invite plus or GF.
David Gordon: 3. I would make the call which would be hearts and forcing at least 1 round so I could then show spades up to the 4 level later. I believe standard Unusual vs Unusual is 3 = limit + spade and 3 = forcing with hearts.
Amiram Millet: 3. Unusual V. Unusual. Showing good hearts and G.F.
Leonid Bossis: 3. Assuming this is limit raise or better.
John Gillespie: 3. At least 1 major is breaking bad and a bigger heart fit is our best chance.
Plarq Liu: 3. Will return to 4.
Beverley Candlish: 3. I would bid 3 and wait and see.
Kf Tung: 3. Forcing to 3, and you have 5+ hearts.
Chuck Arthur: 3. If playing unusual vs unusual.
|
| 4. IMPs. None vul.
| |
K 10 6
Q 9 6 5 4 3
J
A 10 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 11
| 100
|
|
2
| 6
| 80
|
|
1
| 3
| 60
|
|
Moderator: It's another classic opening bid problem.
August Boehm: 1. I can live with pass, but not 2 - too little inside the suit, too much outside.
Mike Lawrence: 2. The suit is poor but the hand has all the right kind of values. Passing and bidding hearts does not capture the flavor of the sixth heart.
The Gordons: Pass. We always lose points with these problems, but weak twos in second seat should be disciplined and consistent.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Neither fish nor fowl.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. This doesn't meet my requirements for an opening bid or weak 2. Easy pass.
Chris Diamond: Pass. I don't usually say this but too much for a weak 2 and not enough to open.
Larry Meyer: Pass. HCP + length of 2 longest suits = 19, which is less than 20, plus I really don't want to encourage a heart lead.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. There is nothing compelling me to preempt in 2nd seat with this type of hand.
Larry Pocock: Pass. . . or 1 depending on style.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. I would rather open 1 than 2 in second seat with that suit. But Pass is my preference!
Brian Zietman: 2. The two 10s increase the value of the hand but the singleton Jack puts it below the threshold of a legitimate 1 opening.
Timothy Wright: Pass. In second seat, 2 is likely to preempt partner, so my suit ought to be much better. I'm much too weak for 1.
David Gordon: Pass. Put the J in the heart suit and I would not argue with 1.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Too strong and not good enough hearts for other second seat IMP bid.
John Gillespie: Pass. Plays too well in a black suit or NT to commit with 2 and not good enough for 1 with my aggressive partner.
Plarq Liu: Pass. Bad suit.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. I have only 10 HCP's and my heart suit is dismal.
Kf Tung: Pass. Open 2 and it is difficult to get to 2 if it is the best contract for you. Pass and then you have the flexibility to find the right contract later.
Bob Todd: Pass. My hearts are too poor and my spades are too good to preempt or bid 1.
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
J 10
A K 10 9
A K J 9 2
9 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 19
| 100
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: A virtually unanimous result! Almost everybody makes the straightforward raise to 3.
Don Stack: 3. Too strong to raise to 2 and not strong enough for 4, so 3 is the perfect bid and should be close to unanimous.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. I know that 4 is technically an overbid, but I like this hand: great trumps and a source of tricks. If partner goes slamming, he won't be disappointed.
Stephen Vincent: 4. The vulnerability, form of scoring, and intermediates tip the scales in favour of bidding 4 as opposed to 3.
Martin Henneberger: 3. 3 shows 15-17 with hearts. That's what I have. Thanks for the gimme.
Chris Diamond: 3. Is there another answer?
Larry Meyer: 3. Must show immediate support, can't splinter, too much for 2, not enough for 4.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. I am stretching to invite - partner still needs a decent 8 count. I think I would open 1NT originally.
Larry Pocock: 4. Jumping to 4 usually shows balanced 18-19 so this overbid comes with no guarantee.
Bob Kuz: 3. I would rather err on the aggressive side.
Perry Khakhar: 3. Minimum 3 bid.
Mike Roberts: 3. Tempted, but no.
Brian Zietman: 3. Why complicate life? This shows exactly what we have - 15-17 with 4 card support.
Timothy Wright: 3. Sometimes the textbooks are right.
Carol Frank: 2NT. Jacoby 2NT.
David Gordon: 3. 6 losers, 16 HCP, looks like a standard invitational 3 bid to me.
Amiram Millet: 3. Pushy, but it's IMPs and we're vulnerable.
John Gillespie: 3. Same aggressive partner = a safe invite.
Plarq Liu: 3. Shows our strength and support.
Beverley Candlish: 2. I would love to jump to 3 but partner may have a weak hand.
Kf Tung: 3. Your hand improves when pard bids 1. You give him a strong invitation for 4, and you pave a way for a beautiful 26-point slam when he has the right cards.
Bob Todd: 3. No point in overbidding. Partner will bid a close game at IMPs.
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