TGIF December 2014: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. Both vul.
|
10 9 8 7 4
---
10 9 7 6 3
J 8 6
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Dbl
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 15
| 100
|
|
1
| 2
| 60
|
|
Rdbl
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: While this hand made its holder squirm something awful at the table, it really isn't much of a problem. Most of the panelists passed without a backward glance.
Allan Falk: 1. The risk that LHO will pass is much higher than usual and partner may not know to run for the hills.
Barry Rigal: Pass. Partner will run from 1 doubled if necessary, while I don't want to encourage him to do any more. Dummy may come as a disappointment.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Attempts to initiate a rescue operation, which may be unneeded anyway, are likely to end in disaster.
Monica Angus: 1NT. Forcing.
Eugene Chan: Pass. It's matchpoints so I pass (in tempo of course).
Yue Su: Pass. If West passes, I hope my partner will smell the danger with their poor heart holding and redouble.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Sometimes the opponents rescue us. A 2 save gives LHO nothing to bid.
Larry Meyer: Pass. First show my weakness, rescue later.
Perry Khakhar: 1. . . for now. I sure hope that this not a pure misfit hand! In that case, there is no avoiding a very large number. But if you pass, there is the large number!
Norm Tucker: Pass. Let someone else bid; want to defend.
Mike Roberts: Pass. This could be wrong if it was going to go all pass. But 1 could lead to far worse things, and I want to discourage partner from rebidding hearts.
Bill Treble: Pass. If this gets left in, my partner should know what the layout in the suit is going to be and look for alternative spots himself.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: Pass. Maybe I have some defense?
Chris Diamond: Pass. Have nothing, bid nothing. Old fashioned idea.
David Gordon: 1. Smoothly bid 1 like you own it.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Any other bid invites trouble.
John Gillespie: Pass. First rule of holes: When you are in one, stop digging.
Plarq Liu: Pass. I await partner's SOS redouble.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. I don't want to open my mouth. Partner likely has a big heart suit and I have nothing to contribute. It looks like it could be a good contract to defend.
Kf Tung: Pass. Don't cry before you are hurt. Most of the time the opponents will land in their own contract.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
A 10 7 6 3
K Q 9 4
A
Q 9 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2NT
(1)
|
3
| ? |
| (1) Jacoby 2NT.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 11
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 1
| 70
|
|
3
| 0
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
3
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Problem number 2 is a methods question rather than a true bidding problem. The majority of the panel pass, citing this denies a club control.
Mike Lawrence: Pass. This hand shows how important it is for RHO to get in with a cheap bid. It messes with their bidding. Rodwell once overcalled 3 holding K 10 9 x on a 1-Jacoby 2NT auction. Don't laugh. It helped us win the 1985 Vanderbilt final!
Stephen Vincent: 3. More a system discussion issue: I'm just going to make the same bid I would have without intervention.
Eugene Chan: Pass. (forcing) and await developments. Double = club shortness. If partner cues A, 5 (exclusion) will complete description.
Yue Su: 5. I heard that 5 is the slam invitation without control in opponent's suit.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. My hand is effectively a minimum at this point.
Larry Meyer: 3. Bidding my cheapest first or second round control.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. I considered 3 to show the extras, but I hate 3. However, since we need partner to help us with the direction of the contract, pass for now.
Norm Tucker: 4. It will cost them more in 5 doubled than our game if we make it!
Mike Roberts: 3. Well, what's your agreement? I'm assuming ignore. This is a poor question - it all depends on what you've agreed.
Bill Treble: 3. I've often thought about what the best structure is when they interfere. I think natural is the best route to go.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4. Tougher at matchpoints; would probably bid the same.
Chris Diamond: 3. Suspect this problem arose because hearts are better on a 4/4. But I don't think you can get there from here.
David Gordon: 3. Are we still showing shortness?
Amiram Millet: 3. Checking for a club control.
John Gillespie: Pass. If I double it shows shortness. If partner hits it, I'm sitting.
Plarq Liu: 3. Pass shows lower limit, double shows strength in clubs.
Beverley Candlish: 3. . . first round control. See where it goes from there. My hand is too strong to sign off in 4.
Kf Tung: Dbl. Double is natural and wants to defend 3.
Bob Todd: Pass. I would bid 3 with a stiff low diamond I think. Besides, we still need a club control!
|
| 3. IMPs. None vul.
| |
K Q
J
A 9 7 6 5
K Q 8 5 4
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 15
| 100
|
|
3NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 1
| 50
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
4NT
| 0
| 20
|
|
Moderator: The panel find no convenient bid with these cards, so they choose pass.
Jill Meyers: 4. I can't decide whether to bid 4 or 4, which means I should probably pass.
Steve Robinson: Pass. I don't like 3NT. I don't like four of either minor. I don't like 4NT. Because I don't like any of the alternatives, I might as well pass and hope we can't make anything.
Don Stack: 3NT. Assuming we have enough points to do something, what are our choices? It doesn't look like we want to put this hand at 5 or 5 or to venture 4 or 4. The notrump game is as likely as anything, so bidding 3NT with 15 HCP makes some sense.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Opposite a passed partner, the odds don't favour 3NT. 4NT, while it might strike gold, also has its hazards.
Eugene Chan: 4. Might pave the way to a good save if 4th seat bids 4. Or partner can double holding some defense.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Too few aces for a reasonable shot at game.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Yes, pard could hold Q 10 and K Q and A, and then we will likely make 3NT. But he won't.
Perry Khakhar: 4NT. Possibly an overbid, but if there is a chance for game our way, we need to take this opportunity. (40% chance?)
Norm Tucker: Dbl. Need partner's suit named.
Mike Roberts: 3NT. Ick. Pass would be ok. All else is worse.
Bill Treble: Pass. The hand is just not worth a bid, IMO. 3NT is pie-in-the-sky and 4 could miss clubs. If LHO bids 4 or partner doubles after two passes, I'd consider 4NT to focus on the minor suits.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 4NT. . . both minors; but will need some good cards from partner.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Silenced, at least for now. Needs magic from a passed partner for 3NT and not enough to suggest higher levels in a minor.
David Gordon: Pass. Partner is a passed hand and your Q isn't worth anything.
Amiram Millet: Pass. A 4 call might trade a plus score with a minus.
John Gillespie: 3NT. Ugly but with upside. Everything else is just ugly.
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Hope that we find minors, 4NT was too risky.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. I have no 6 card suit; I don't have hearts; Pass is the answer.
Kf Tung: Pass. They may already be in trouble so why rescue them?
Bob Todd: Pass. I might be tempted to bid 4N over 4.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
A 9
K Q 9 2
5 4
A K Q 6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
1
| |
|
3
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 9
| 100
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
4NT
| 3
| 70
|
|
5
| 2
| 70
|
|
5NT
| 0
| 0
|
|
Moderator: With a ton of extras, the panel do not feel fixed by this preempt. They choose the nebulous 4 cue bid.
Steve Weinstein: 4. I'd be more nervous before seeing dummy come down in 4 that we'd missed a slam, than I would be in 6. 4 shouldn't set a trump suit, so I hope partner lets me clarify my intentions on the next round with 5.
Larry Cohen: 4NT. I'm embarrassed to be in print using Roman Key Card Blackwood with an uncontrolled side suit. It is hard, however, to picture a hand for partner that doesn't contain the A or K. My original thought was to bid 4, but that won't accomplish much.
Kerri Sanborn: 5. This must be a general slam try since I can't insist on slam facing just a control in spades. This is just too good a hand to be passive with.
Geoff Hampson: 4. They got me. I have no five-level safety.
Eugene Chan: 5NT. Pick a slam (6 or 6). These don't always make but the expected spade lead will give you extra chances.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. No idea where I'm going with this. Perhaps a direct 6 is more practical.
Ian Greig: 4. I plan to bid 5 after partner's 4NT (strain probe). I hope this pinpoints the diamond weakness (a direct 5 would pinpoint spade weakness). Clearly 4NT (if natural) has positional advantages, does not force us to the five level and might be the best pairs score.
Larry Meyer: 4. Showing slam interest and heart support - hoping to hear if pard has a diamond control.
Perry Khakhar: 4. Can't get past 5 without the diamond control. Let's see what partner does.
Norm Tucker: 4. We can make this one on any lead.
Mike Roberts: 4. Don't know what to do here.
Bill Treble: 4. I'm going to drive to slam here, cuebidding their suit along the way.
Ig Nieuwenhuis: 6. I don't see a scientific way to bid this.
Chris Diamond: 4. I'm allowed to have extras. Very close to slam I suspect but bad splits might occur, take the plus.
David Gordon: 4. Make a slam try in hearts.
Amiram Millet: 4. Partner can go on.
Plarq Liu: 4. Cuebid, if partner has diamonds, then we have slam.
Beverley Candlish: 4NT. Bidding is so high but I don't want to miss a slam. I would bid 4NT and see where it goes. We will end up in hearts at some level.
Kf Tung: 4. You have a maximum hand with 8-9 tricks. Pard will supply the tricks you need for a slam, and he will cooperate to find out your strain.
Bob Todd: 4NT. Partner should have an opening bid for his double. I will try 6 over anything but zero KC.
|
| 5. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
A 9 8 7 6 2
K 8
Q 9
A 8 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
1
| |
|
Dbl
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 6
| 100
|
|
4
| 6
| 90
|
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
|
2
| 0
| 50
|
|
Moderator: The majority try for game opposite partner's cue bid.
Steve Weinstein: 3. I'm not sure if 3 is forcing, but the good news is that I don't really care. 3 leaves open the possibilities of 3NT, 4 . . . and 3 if partner takes it as nonforcing.
The Sutherlins: 3. We're not sure where partner's cards are. Does he have a game-going hand with only a doubleton spade? Unlikely, but possible. Things should be clearer after his next bid.
Daniel Korbel: 3. Let's give it a try by bidding my longest side suit - where I need the most help. We still might get to 3NT when it is right.
Roger Lee: 2. I'm too good to sign off in 2, but I'm not happy about forcing to the 3-level.
Mel Colchamiro: 4. Even discounting the Q, we should have a great play for 10 tricks - the sixth spade here is huge.
Stephen Vincent: 3. A decent chance for game here opposite partner's likely 10 count with 3.
Eugene Chan: 3. A heavy invitation showing extra trump length but not good enough to bid game. Partner can make the final decision.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 4. It's a vulnerable game, and I know what to do if they sac.
Ian Greig: 3. A non-minimum overcall with a sixth spade. I do not wish to overemphasize any of the other suits in particular. 3NT is still in the picture.
Larry Meyer: 3. With an invitational hand, invite.
Perry Khakhar: 2. Q x are a bad sign, but still worth a game try!
Mike Roberts: 3. Really, I think 3NT is our most likely game. All depends on if my red cards are working.
Bill Treble: 4. Partner supports my six-card suit, I bid game with a hand I would have opened.
Chris Diamond: 2. Much prefer transfer responses here. Guessing what pard has instead so I'll show the 6th spade.
David Gordon: 4. Make a game try in spades.
Amiram Millet: 3. A probable par score.
Plarq Liu: 2. Partner's free bid promises strength.
Beverley Candlish: 4. I will accept the invitation to a game in spades.
Kf Tung: 3. Your Q x speaks against 4.
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