TGIF December 2021: Scores
1. Matchpoints. None vul.
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Q J 9 6
K Q 8 5 4
J 10
K Q
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West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| |
Pass
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2
|
Pass
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2NT
| |
Pass
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3
|
Pass
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3NT
| |
Pass
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4
|
Pass
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4NT
| |
Pass
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5NT
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Pass
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
6
| 6
| 100
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6
| 6
| 100
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6NT
| 2
| 70
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Pass
| 0
| 30
|
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Moderator: Why didn't we bid 2 over partner's 2 ? We don't know. Despite slamming on the brakes with both feet the last two rounds of bidding, here we are now, being asked by partner to pick a slam.
Steve Weinstein: 6 . Choosing partner's first-bid suit. With four honors in partner's suits, I would have bid 4 over 4 !
Mike Lawrence: 6NT. I'm hoping partner is asking me to pick a slam and not making a quantitative raise. If this is so, I will pick one. I'll choose 6NT because the wrong major might still permit 6NT to make.
Kerri Sanborn: 6 . It's a question of whether you think partner can handle ruffing a third round of diamonds, then pulling trumps in a 5-2 club fit. I personally think it's more likely that the J 10 is a great holding on the auction. I envision something like: A - K Q x x x x A J x x x x.
Robert Sauve: Pass. No aces. I don't like my 4NT bid, I would have bid 4 .
David Waterman: Pass. Give him a major suit ace, A K and A J. Slam is still poor. Give him an extra king and he would have bid slam on his own.
Steve Ottridge: Pass. I don't have any aces.
Christopher Diamond: 6 . I really want to pass this junk but his bidding makes no sense unless he's demanding I pick a slam. So, OK boss.
Larry Meyer: 6 . I take partner's bid of 5NT as showing the A, so I count 5 tricks in each minor, and 1 trick in each major.
Michael Dimich: Pass. I don't like the 5-2 minor fits. I am guessing what values pard has in the majors.
David Hooey: 6 . 4NT bid wrong, I would bid 4 instead.
Perry Khakhar: 6 . Clearly, "pick a minor slam". I seem to lack controls. However, it may be easier in diamonds than clubs.
Paul McMullin: 6 . Maybe pard can set up the hearts? Maybe I should bid 7? Maybe pard will want a new partner?
Hendrik Sharples: 6 . Partner must be 7-6 or 6-6 with an outside ace. I should probably bid 7.
Allan Simon: 6 . 5N is pick a slam.
David Gordon: 6 . Now that I have gone out of my way to dislike diamonds, I guess I should show my 2 honours.
Louk Verhees: 6NT. I feel we are off 2 aces often, though I have a lot of HCP for the auction. A x A K Q x x x A J x x x or K x A K Q x x x A J x x x.
Earle Fergusson: 6 . Getting to a making slam should be great here. Pard's 5NT forces to six and invites seven. I accept in diamonds in case pard has x A x A K Q x x A J 10 x x.
Kf Tung: 6 . 6 by North is better than 5N by South. (East has the K and A!)
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2. IMPs. None vul.
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A
A K J 9 6 3
J 10 9 4 3
K
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West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| |
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
2
| 9
| 100
|
3
| 3
| 80
|
3
| 2
| 70
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
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Moderator: Despite the great heart suit and playing strength, the majority introduce the second suit.
Barry Rigal: 2 . Life is too complicated to rebid hearts here. This actually looks like a deal I saw recently in an ACBL game where partner might pass 2 ... but were you happy when you saw dummy? Or did you play in a silly heart contract when diamonds were better? Rebidding hearts might work, but it is unilateral, of course.
Steve Robinson: 3 . This hand probably belongs in hearts, not diamonds, so I don't want to confuse things by introducing diamonds. If I could bar partner, I'd jump to 4 . All 4 needs is: x x x x x x x A 8 x x x x. If I jumped to 4 , however, and partner has an opening bid, we could get too high.
Daniel Korbel: 3 . I think I'll overbid slightly to ensure we don't miss a game.
David Waterman: 2 . Take the slight risk of partner passing in return for a more accurate auction.
Christopher Diamond: 2 . Complicated hand. Not a 3 bid and maybe I can get it across if I save room.
Stephen Vincent: 2 . Not quite good enough to force to game.
Larry Meyer: 3 . 16 HCP, -1 for stiff K, 2 length points in hearts, 1 length point in diamonds, 1 point for quality heart suit = 19 adjusted points, enough for a jump shift.
Michael Dimich: 2 . I do have a second five card suit so I bid it.
Perry Khakhar: 2 . New suit forcing. I don't think this hand is good enough for a strong jump shift. So go slower and make 1 try. No point pushing too hard for a nonvul game.
Paul McMullin: 2 . Give partner space to rebid spades before I rebid hearts; if he passes, hope everyone else gets too high.
Hendrik Sharples: 2 . Tougher at matchpoints.
Allan Simon: 2 . Conserve bidding space! My second choice is 2 , but if we belong in diamonds I must show them now.
David Gordon: 2 . Natural and wide ranging.
Louk Verhees: 2 . It is slight underbid, but alternatives have bigger disadvantages in my opinion.
Earle Fergusson: 2 . Not sure there another call.
Kf Tung: 2 . Stiff ace, stiff king, you avoid the 3 bid to pave a smoother path.
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3. IMPs. E-W vul.
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A Q 5
9 8 7 5 3
A K Q 4
9
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
3
| 7
| 100
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Dbl
| 6
| 90
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4
| 1
| 70
|
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Moderator: This problem was submitted to the Bulletin by yours truly. I held these cards in a recent home game and both me and my counterpart at the other table chose 4 . That was not a great success when partner produced a minimum 4-4-3-2. When the hand was shopped around to other experts, there were votes for 3 and Dbl and I felt I would share this good 3-way problem with the Bulletin. Harsh but true, my 4 bid garnered 1 measly vote.
Steve Weinstein: 4 . . . the best path toward 6 . I'm not sweating partner being 4-4-3-2 when the opponents preempt.
Zachary Grossack: Dbl. Too flexible to bid 3 . I'd actually be happy for partner to be short in hearts ... that would make 6 a big favourite. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do over 3 from partner, but I'm sure I'll figure something out!
Josh Donn: 3 . I can see why someone would want to double or immediately raise diamonds, but a 5-3 heart fit might still be our best game.
Robert Sauve: 4 . Shows first or second round control.
David Waterman: 4 . Don't bid bad suits on good hands, especially at IMPs.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Pick your poison. 3 on junk forcing a 2-card raise isn't appealing. 3 by him is going to make an ugly choice after the double.
Stephen Vincent: 4 . How much better support for partner's suit do you need?
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Looking for a fit in the majors, can always return to diamonds if a major suit fit is not found.
Michael Dimich: 3 . What else would you bid?
David Hooey: 3 . I have partner's diamond honours, so obviously she has my hearts.
Perry Khakhar: 3 . It isn't my best suit but I have 5 and a potential for 9-card fit. So bid naturally.
Paul McMullin: Dbl. I do not like ANY of my choices!
Hendrik Sharples: Dbl. The days of promising both majors at this level are long gone.
Allan Simon: Dbl. The problem is my next bid!
David Gordon: Dbl. Start with a negative double.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. I would not introduce my hearts here. Alternative is 4 .
Earle Fergusson: 4 . Forcing diamond fit, may be hard to show slam interest in diamonds later after a negative double.
Kf Tung: 4 . Splinter. Diamonds is the proper strain; 6 or 7 is the level to be explored.
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4. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
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A K 9 2
A
K 10 4
A Q 8 6 5
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
3
|
Pass
|
4
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
Dbl
| 11
| 100
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4
| 3
| 70
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4NT
| 0
| 40
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5
| 0
| 30
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Moderator: All you doublers refuse to commit to a plan when partner inevitably bids 4 . Don't think you're not going to see this problem again!
Larry Cohen: Dbl. Thankfully you aren't asking what I do after partner takes it out to 4 , but I can postpone my guess one round and dream that partner bids something other than 4 .
Jeff Meckstroth: 4 . Marshall Miles was famous for overcalling four-card suits at high levels.
Christopher Diamond: Dbl. Correct bid is probably pass. The hero call I'd probably make in real life is 4 . 4NT would appeal if I knew it was natural. Double will get many votes.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. Unpleasant but what else is better?
Larry Meyer: Dbl. If partner can bid spades, great. If partner bids hearts instead, then I will rebid 5 .
Michael Dimich: Dbl. E/W got me. All I can do is double.
Perry Khakhar: 4 . An adventure for sure. If we have a game opposite passed partner, I hope it is in spades. Preempts work!
Paul McMullin: Dbl. What? Is it my bid already?
Hendrik Sharples: Dbl. . . and hope something good happens.
Allan Simon: 4 . A 4-3 fit wouldn't be the end of the world.
David Gordon: Dbl. Good hands start with double.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. What else can I do? I correct 4 to 4 .
Earle Fergusson: Dbl. Correct hearts to spades and hope for the best. The only sure plus is pass.
Kf Tung: 5 . Too strong for a double, and 5 could buy the contract and make, or push them one more and then you double.
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5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
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K 5
A K Q 8 6 5
3 2
K Q 8
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| |
Pass
|
2
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
Pass
| 7
| 100
|
4
| 4
| 80
|
3NT
| 3
| 70
|
4NT
| 0
| 30
|
Dbl
| 0
| 20
|
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Moderator: The magic started with partner's 2 . Here's where 2/1 has it all over Standard: Come what may, you know partner isn't going to pass below game.
August Boehm: 4 . . . a call that shows extra length and values. How bad can that be? OK, maybe a trifle heavy. Still, no palatable alternative.
Barry Rigal: Pass. No call seems to fit the bill. Maybe an unforced action from my partner will tell me more. An option is to bid 4NT. Hopefully I can unethically listen in to whether partner thinks this is keycard or too good for a 3NT bid. With diamonds, I would always start by raising/splintering in spades.
Mel Colchamiro: 3NT. . . the matchpoint winner, even if we have a slam. Double will be the majority answer, but what do I want partner to bid?
Robert Sauve: 3NT. Least of all evils.
David Waterman: Dbl. What does this mean in BWS? If partner passes he has 2 hearts or fewer and there is an excellent chance RHO has only 6 or 7 tricks.
Christopher Diamond: 4 . Probably can't make 3NT unless the hearts run. Pass likely just gets a double then what? This is closest to getting my hand across I think.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Must be forcing.
Larry Meyer: Pass. We are in a game forcing auction, so partner cannot pass. Leave all his bidding options open.
Michael Dimich: Pass. 2 was game forcing so I have an easy pass.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. This is clearly a forcing pass. Pass and pull to hearts over a double may convey the message. Of course partner may bid a suit, then a new decision. But for now pass is best.
Paul McMullin: 4 . I doubt they go down 2 at 3 doubled.
Hendrik Sharples: 4 . Wish I had the J.
Leonid Bossis: Pass. I will pull Dbl to 4 ; if instead of Dbl pard bids 4 , I will use RKCB on a way to slam.
Allan Simon: 4NT. Quantitative. It's not easy to construct a hand for partner with less than x x x x A K Q x x A x x x. I prefer playing notrump, both because of the extra 10 points, and the danger of a spade ruff.
David Gordon: Pass. Give partner room to further describe.
Louk Verhees: 4 . This is a really tough one. Can bid 3NT, but you do have an extra ace and heart for that. The chances of getting to slam are bigger if you bid 4 . Can also pass and over expected Dbl bid 3NT. Showing doubt.
Earle Fergusson: 4 . I have a bit extra for a change.
Kf Tung: 3NT. Could be the normal contract.
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