TGIF December 2010: Scores
| 1. IMPs. E-W vul.
|
A Q 10 5 2
K 10 6 5 4 2
Q 4
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|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
Pass
|
1
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
2NT
|
Pass
|
3
| |
|
Pass
|
3NT
|
Pass
| ? |
Do you agree with South's opener?
| | Votes | Award
|
|
Yes
| 13
| 50
|
|
No
| 5
| 45
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 11
| 50
|
|
4
| 4
| 30
|
|
4
| 3
| 25
|
|
Moderator: Most of the panelists agreed with opening 1. And now that you've shown 5-5 by bidding hearts twice, do you bid again over 3NT?
Mel Colchamiro: 4. Partner has only one spade (he didn't bid 3), so I'm hoping for two cards in hearts.
Mike Lawrence: Pass. It's tempting to bid 4, but nine tricks rate to be easier than 11. If you bid 4 and partner is 2-2, he will put you back into spades instead of leaving you in hearts.
The Coopers: 4. It does not feel right to play notrump with this pattern.
Eugene Chan: Pass. My best results usually come when I am dummy! Q gives 3NT best chance.
Stephen Vincent: Pass. I've described my hand reasonably well and see no reason to override partner's decision, particularly since he's bid NT freely twice.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Extreme distribution justifies opening - spades is the practical choice / I have already described my hand - respect pard's decision.
Gilbert Lambert: Pass. I would have opened 1 and bid spades twice.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Playing notrump offers a choice of tricks in three suits (dianmonds, hearts, spades). Forcing a choice between hearts and spades narrows the options. Pard heard me show at least 10 major cards and probably has reasons for 3NT.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. There are two schools of thought with these hands. I am from the school of opening 1 and rebidding hearts. If I had the Q instead of a small one then I could afford to open 1 as a reverse is easier to handle and has some suit quality safety.
Stephen Ottridge: Pass. Partner knows your shape, trust them.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. This question is like a psych experiment: Prime the subjects with an awkward auction, then ask them what they would bid. I stand by the 1 opener.
Mike Roberts: Pass. If I'm treating it as 5-5, I have to be consistent.
John Gillespie: Pass. No reason this doesn't make opposite say, a 2-1-6-4 hand.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Old school 1 opener. Hopefully partner passes with 2-2 in the majors.
Brian Zietman: 4. Not quite strong enough to reverse so I agree with 1 rather than 1. No way I am going to let partner play this hand in No Trumps!
Chris Diamond: Pass. The opening didn't work out well but it could have. Suspect 4 is the right place to play, but I don't think I can get there from here.
Tim Francis-Wright: 4. It's close whether to open or not, but opening 1 forces me to bid 4 here.
Amiram Millet: 4. Had to open 1. Now I'm trying to check a diamond game or slam.
|
| 2. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
8 5 2
K Q 10 8 2
6
A Q 6 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
3NT
(1)
|
Pass
| |
|
4
(2)
|
Pass
|
4
| ? |
| (1) Gambling: Solid minor suit, no outside ace or king.
| | (2) Pass or correct.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 7
| 100
|
|
4
| 6
| 90
|
|
Dbl
| 5
| 70
|
|
Moderator: Seven experts thought it was too dangerous to bid, while 11 thought they should bid, but couldn't agree on what.
Allan Falk: Dbl. It's close between 4 and double. Sure, double risks ending up in 4 when we belong in hearts. It's not impossible, however, that our best spot could be 4 doubled.
Kerri Sanborn: Pass. It's tempting to bid, but I don't want to go for a number when the opponents are in a partscore. If we have a game, however, maybe partner can back in.
The Sutherlins: 4. Partner shouldn't expect more because we didn't bid the first time. A random 10 points might produce game for us.
Eugene Chan: 4. If opponents can be trusted, partner should have some useful cards in both majors.
Stephen Vincent: 4. A gamble, but then so are all bidding decisions.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Since pard couldn't bid earlier, we don't have enough for game.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Need to show discipline. Pard still has a bid. I doubt we have game or pard would have perhaps bid over 4, so there is little to gain by bidding now other than finding a possible sac over 5. Too remote. LHO could be well heeled in the majors.
Martin Henneberger: 4. Classic stealing position. Yes I understand the risk/danger, however I would rather defend a bidding postmortem than a passing one. Pard will not take me for a good hand as I passed 3NT and they might not be able to act since I have the diamond shortage.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. I will strain to balance when short in the opponent's suit, but there are limits. West has barely limited his hand.
Mike Roberts: 4. This could be a big fit hand for each side. Partner is marked with some values.
Kees Schaafsma: 4. Double is tempting, but my spades are too weak for a 4-3 fit.
John Gillespie: Pass. A transfer of responsibility.
Chris Buchanan: 4. Shows this hand well. Partner will not expect a powerful hand.
Brian Zietman: 4. What is the alternative here?
Chris Diamond: Pass. Not risking a disaster for a non vul game.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. Sure, we might be on for +420, but West can have a very good hand on this auction.
Amiram Millet: 4. Don't let them play in a cozy partscore.
|
| 3. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
K 5
A 8 7 5
A Q 9 5
A Q 10
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Pass
| 9
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 7
| 70
|
|
2NT
| 2
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Should you bid again? Sometimes you have to pass with a big hand.
Betty Ann Kennedy: Dbl. Partner could have a four- or five-card heart suit. Also the opponents might take the push to 3.
The Joyces: Pass. We don't have enough shape to bid again. If partner is 4-3-3-3 with a Yarborough, we would be in a lot of trouble.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Pretty obvious choice.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Pard has a weak hand, and I have weak shape, so defend.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. I can handle any response by pard (I may pass a 2NT scramble). Too good to give up now. The fourth heart makes me double rather than try 2NT.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Another stealing position. 4 could fetch opposite as little as 9 x x 10 x x x x J x J x x, or any similar variations. If we don't have a heart fit we might be going minus. Sue me!
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. Partner is clearly broke, and my hand will be endplayed at every turn.
Mike Roberts: Pass. Run, Forrest, run!
John Gillespie: 2NT. I could have bid a wimpy 1NT if I wasn't willing to risk this.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. Too strong to pass, still takeout.
Brian Zietman: Pass. Partner has nothing so in IMPs I go quietly and let them have their part score.
Chris Diamond: Pass. On what's likely to be a partscore hand start with imagining the A offside, pard with a 3-3-3-4 near yarborough and decide if you like the 3 level vulnerable.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. I think I'm strong enough for this. Passing is not awful, but partner could easily have a hand that makes 3NT a good bet.
Amiram Millet: Pass. Have nothing to say, it's IMPs and we're vul.
|
| 4. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
K Q 9 3
J 8 3 2
5
A K 10 7
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2
| 10
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 2
| 80
|
|
3
| 1
| 80
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 80
|
|
1NT
| 0
| 60
|
|
2
| 3
| 60
|
|
4
| 0
| 50
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 20
|
|
2
| 0
| 10
|
|
Moderator: Ten experts cue-bid 2.
Barry Rigal: 2. I'll treat this as a game-forcing hand and try to get to the right game. 4 and 3NT are likely, but 5 is an outside shot.
Don Stack: 3NT. There are lots of possible bids, but with my 9, I will bid game. I thought about bidding only 2NT, but why torture partner? I want to be like Meckwell and bid thin vulnerable games.
Jill Meyers: 2. I am going to bid 2, something I am sure I can make. I'm hoping West competes to 2 with a 3 or 4 count, something I can double. I don't want to jump to 3 as partner may have only three-card heart support.
Karen Walker: 2NT. I have a triple spade stopper and weak hearts. We had this problem before.
August Boehm: 3. I'm close to bidding game, but partner has to strain to balance when short in spades, something my spade holding makes more likely.
Brad Bart: 2. This is what I did in October 2008, too.
Eugene Chan: 4. It is IMPs, condition red, so partner will not be balancing with crap. 3 wins bidding contests. 4 wins matches. On balance 4 rates to be better than 3NT.
Stephen Vincent: 3. 4 is the most likely game. Give partner a little slack: these 4441 hands don't always play too well.
Larry Meyer: 2. Not looking for game because pard couldn't open, so look for safest part score.
Gilbert Lambert: 4. Marilyn Monroe said she could resist everything but temptation! I bid 4!
Aidan Ballantyne: 2. Same call I made last time this hand came up. Take out the T.O. doubles, push them up higher. No sense in jumping as I doubt we make game opposite a passed hand. I don't mind if they bid more so I leave them room.
Martin Henneberger: 2. This hand looks familiar from another contest and I will respond the same. Right now bidding 2NT 3NT 3 4 could all be right or wrong, therefore I start with 2 and will correct any minor by pard to hearts showing a good hand with 4 hearts.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3. Partner can infer a spade stopper from my initial pass, so he can still offer choice of games with a 3 rebid.
Mike Roberts: 3. This doesn't look like a notrump hand. Opposite 8 x K Q x x K Q x x 8 x x, where should we be?
Kees Schaafsma: 2. Forcing to agreement.
John Gillespie: 2NT. Looks more likely for 3NT than 4 IF we have game.
Chris Buchanan: 1NT. We likely will not get rich in 1-x. I like a conservative 1NT here.
Brian Zietman: 2. If partner bids 3, I bid 3NT. Game may be on also in hearts or clubs.
Chris Diamond: 2NT. A greedy try for a 9 trick vulnerable game - would have more options playing transfers.
Tim Francis-Wright: 2. I have to try for a heart game.
Amiram Millet: 2. The only way to tell partner that we might have a game.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
A K Q J 7
8 7 5 3
9 4 3
K
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 6
| 80
|
|
2
| 4
| 70
|
|
3
| 1
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
4
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: You have an opening hand facing an opening bid, but can't be sure of what direction to take. Seven panelists choose to double. What does that mean?
Don Stack: 3. Even though I have an opening bid opposite partner's opening bid, I am going to invite with my strong five-card suit. I can't insist on game.
Larry Cohen: Dbl. This is the old standby showing values. It's 2011, so surely not penalty, although if partner passes, I doubt they are making it. Let's hear something from partner and decide from there.
Mike Lawrence: 2. Amazing! Even 2 may not be safe. E/W can easily have enough winners to defeat 3 or 4 and notrump rates to be out of the question.
Eugene Chan: 3. Partner has opened. Surely we must be able to make game somewhere.
Stephen Vincent: 3. Tempting to pass as you can visualize how 4 will play go with partner holding K x, but the odds don't really favour it.
Larry Meyer: 3. Spades are good enough, and hand is strong enough for jump rebid.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. Seems most flexible.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. I use doubles at this level to announce ownership of the hand with no clear direction and no other bid that hasn't already described my hand thus far. Double is a stand out in my methods.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2. As a semi-bluff. This will probably be anti-field, but I don't want to sell out to 2, and I wouldn't be surprised if 2 was makeable even if partner holds a singleton.
Mike Roberts: 3. This doesn't feel like a game force anymore, and with no stoppers anywhere I can't cue. This is what's left.
John Gillespie: 4. I don't believe them.
Chris Buchanan: Dbl. This is competitive as opposed to double. It shows the desire to compete with no clear action available.
Brian Zietman: 3. The spades are solid so I invite even though I would like a 6 card suit.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. If pard passes lead a trump.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. I would not be surprised to be winning the first three tricks with my spades.
Amiram Millet: 3. If there is 3NT it must come from partner.
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