TGIF September 2011: Scores
1. IMPs. Both vul.
|
Q 10 4 2
A Q 7 5 3
10 5 3
6
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
1
|
Dbl
| |
2
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
3
| 12
| 100
|
3NT
| 3
| 40
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Pass
| 3
| 30
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Moderator: A solid majority makes the easy call of 3 . It would be an easier call with better hearts, but in reality, North should have some heart tolerance or an alternate plan when he makes a 3-level reverse.
Jill Meyers: 3 . Partner must be offering up hearts as a place to play with diamond support.
Steve Robinson: 3 . If partner has three hearts, we belong in hearts. If partner has fewer than three hearts, he'll bid 3 and I'll bid 3NT.
The Coopers: Pass. My points aren't working unless partner has three hearts and we are too high to investigate that.
The Gordons: 3NT. Partner has a good and shapely hand here. He is most likely 5-6 or maybe 4-6 in the minors, so hearts is an unlikely strain for us. We have values and one and a half stoppers. If partner pulls, we happy to play in 5 or 6 .
Stephen Vincent: 3NT. 3NT is so often the right contract.
Aidan Ballantyne: 3 . Pard has extras and we are pretty much forced to game. Pard more likely holds 5-4 or 6-4 in clubs-diamonds as with 6-5, tactics normally warrant a 1 opener even with a good hand. So pard has 2-3 hearts. I try 3 , allowing a 4 raise or a 3 cue, over which I can bid 3NT.
Martin Henneberger: 3NT. My double is negative only promising hearts. Since it says nothing about diamonds, partner's bid is a reverse and I will bid 3NT now.
Craig T. Wilson: 3NT. Partner has reversed.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Pard has enough to reverse, and I have spades stopped.
Eugene Chan: 3NT. If choosing amongst options and 3NT is one of them......Bob Hamman's Rule.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3NT. We could end up missing a nice 5-3 heart fit, but I want to avoid torturing partner with an ambiguous 3 bid.
Perry Khakhar: 3 . With my negative double, I promised 2 places to play. Partner is aware of that as well. 1345 seems to be his shape, and therefore some extra values for the 1 opener instead of 1 prepared bid. But with wastage in spades, 3 should be plenty.
Merv Adey: Pass. No source of tricks in 3N: partner has a decent hand but doesn't need a monster to compete.
Chris Diamond: 3NT. Does 3 show extras? Guess I've seen too many Meckwell auctions. Doesn't seem that 9 tricks are there but sometimes they show up.
David Gordon: 3 . I would prefer to have a 6th heart for the bid. Plan is to bid 3NT over partner's 3 bid or 4 over 4 .
Tim Francis-Wright: 3NT. I guess we find out soon if partner was joking or not.
Amiram Millet: 3 . Partner is strong. We may have at least 3NT.
John Gillespie: 3NT. I don't miss red games at IMPs. Don't make them all either.
Brian Zietman: 3 . Partner may be void in spades and we have 4 otherwise we will play in 5 .
Paul Hardy: 3 . If pard bids 3 looking for a spade stopper, I will bid 3N.
Plarq Liu: 3NT. Bid the most possible contract.
Richmond Williams: 4 . I think I have a very helpful hand in diamonds. Pard has to be at least 5-5 for the bid and have a good hand.
Beverley Candlish: 3NT. My partner is indicating he has clubs and diamonds. With my good 8 points, I would bid 3NT.
Kf Tung: Pass. Opponents may not know that you have bid too much. Protect your last chance for a small plus and expect to survive with a small minus. Do not rock the boat any more in choppy waters.
Syb Foster: 3NT. Keep it low.
Bob Todd: 3NT. Hopefully 3 shows extras.
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2. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
|
K Q 6 5 4
Q 9
A 7
K J 9 5
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
Pass
|
1
| |
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| |
3
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
Dbl
| 10
| 100
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3
| 5
| 50
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Pass
| 3
| 30
|
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Moderator: Several panelists acknowledge that they have a maximum, some defense and a partner when they reopen with a double.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3 . At pairs I need either to double or bid 3 . I hate to double and risk a cold zero.
Kerri Sanborn: Dbl. Matchpoints. They are vulnerable. Enough said. This is not 100% penalty in front of the bidder. I still have a partner over there.
Karen Walker: Pass. Mediocre spades and slow side-suit tricks argue for defending.
Stephen Vincent: 3 . Not too happy about 3 but defending 3 undoubled is unlikely to lead to a good matchpoint score.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. More flexible than 3 as I have a flattish hand with extras and don't mind defending.
Martin Henneberger: 3 . Great matchpoint problem. Both contracts may be down 1, or 1 or both might be making. I am at a complete guess and I am not the random doubling gambling type, so I bid 1 more for the road.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Can't accept +100 when we were due for +110 or +140.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Too late to make a 3 game try now. With substantive extras, I'll a matchpoint double to scare the magic +200.
Andrew Krywaniuk: Dbl. It seems clear to act. Since I am torn between 2 and double, I choose the less unilateral bid.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. For the same reason that you passed the 2 bid: flawed values. I want a plus score this hand and it seems to be 200 or 300. I don't want to be in 3 or defend against 3 if we stampede them or pard there with a double.
Merv Adey: Dbl. Flexible, maximal, whatever...
Chris Diamond: Dbl. Shows a willingness to compete without big shape. Maybe pard passes for +200.
David Gordon: Dbl. Giver a whippin'.
Tim Francis-Wright: Dbl. I was just short of making a game try last round. At MPs, I have to protect our +110.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. It's MP, I must protect our +110.
John Gillespie: Dbl. I'm over the trumps and limited. Pard can still save me.
Brian Zietman: 3 . 2 down is not good enough or even 1 down doubled. The A gives us good prospects of making - just a couple of black aces from partner should be enough.
Paul Hardy: Dbl. I'll include partner in this decision to penalize or move to 3 .
Plarq Liu: 3 . Worth a shot.
Beverley Candlish: 3 . I don't have enough points to double. With my 15 points, I would compete to 3 and if my partner is at the top of his range he can bid 4 .
Kf Tung: Dbl. Get a shared top about 3 times out of 4. You have a bottom when they make, but partner may pull to 3 with an offensive hand and then you get an average for 9 tricks or below for one down. Occasionally you get a sure top with +500.
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3. Matchpoints. Both vul.
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K 7 2
K Q J 10 6
---
A 10 6 5 4
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| |
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
Dbl
| 15
| 100
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3
| 3
| 30
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2
| 0
| 0
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Moderator: Despite being 5-5 in the rounded suits, and despite the diamond void, nearly all of the experts like a reopening double with this hand.
Mike Lawrence: Dbl. 3 might be the better bid, but it will likely need North to have four of them to work out. I expect a heart lead against 2 doubled and that is just fine. I will have to apologize for not returning a trump when I get in.
The Sutherlins: 3 . We're not reopening with a double when holding a diamond void and only three spades. We'll compete for the partial and not worry about going for a number.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. Wishing I had a singleton diamond in the event of a pass by partner.
Aidan Ballantyne: Dbl. Problem with this call is if pard leaves it in and RHO runs to 2 , I am not good enough for 3 and will have to pass. But I have to show support for both blacks. Pard could have long spades and not enough for a Neg Dbl.
Martin Henneberger: Dbl. Some don't like to double with a void. I am not from that school. Doubling with shortness greatly increases partnership harmony, especially when so many players make disgusting 2-level overcalls on 5-card suits.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. Protecting partner whose double would have been negative.
Eugene Chan: Dbl. Usually, I will avoid re-opening doubles with a void in the opponent's suit but this hand is an exception.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 3 . Not keen to convert partner's trap pass with a void. This hand has too much offensive potential.
Perry Khakhar: 3 . Never reopen with a double in your void! Also partner showed no interest in spades. I have a very decent offensive hand, I will bid it naturally.
Merv Adey: Dbl. If all pass, I'll wish I had a trump to lead, but it may not matter.
Chris Diamond: Dbl. Not bidding a nothing 3 when we could have them nailed.
Tim Francis-Wright: 3 . Partner almost surely has a passel of diamonds, but game or slam seems more likely than +800.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. Partner is going to turn it to punishment. I prefer a diamond in my hand but alas.
John Gillespie: Dbl. Heart length on my right = good defence. If pard bids we push them up and maybe around.
Brian Zietman: Dbl. Partner: Do you by any chance have a diamond stack?
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Reopening double (takeout). Let's see what partner's got.
Beverley Candlish: 3 . My partner may be sitting with diamonds but my hand is not strong enough to double 2 .
Kf Tung: Dbl. If the hand belongs to you, pard is drooling at the prospect of a big penalty. If the hand belongs to them, your chance to bail out is 2 or 2 , not 3 . As long as you stay on the 2 level they are more likely to bid 3 than apply the axe.
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4. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
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A 10 2
A 9
A Q 6 2
A 10 9 2
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West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
1
|
Pass
|
2
| ? |
Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
2NT
| 11
| 100
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Dbl
| 6
| 80
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Pass
| 1
| 10
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Moderator: With pass out of the question, the choices were limited. The majority choose 2NT - minors or natural? Who cares? Both bases are covered.
Barry Rigal: Dbl. I'm not worried about my heart holding. Partner is short in spades so rates to have five-plus cards in the suit. I'd like to play 2NT as two-suited here by partner, but in fact, I play it as Lebensohl.
Don Stack: 2NT. This points to the minors or two places to play. If partner passes from fright, that might work also. If the opponents take the push to 3 , we will double.
Stephen Vincent: Dbl. Perhaps those aces will compensate for the slight flaw in the heart suit.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. Maybe pard can balance and push them one more. 2NT for the minors is bad if pard has long hearts but not enough to overcall 1 . I don't mind defending 2 anyway.
Martin Henneberger: 2NT. Well, I passed this hand 9 out of 10 times I looked at it, then my reasoning changed. Partner will never be able to balance, so taking action is crucial to not defend 2 here. 2NT should be 2 places to play, and unless partner is 2-5-3-3 we will land on our feet.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. Asking pard to choose a minor.
Eugene Chan: Pass. No safety at the 3 level. I am going to take a very passive approach at adverse vulnerability. Much more difficult problem at IMPs.
Stuart Carr: 2NT. I assume 2NT takeout for the minors.
Andrew Krywaniuk: 2NT. Pre-balance for the minors. We might be cold for 3NT but there's no sensible way to get there.
Laurence Betts: 2NT. Unusual.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. Show some discipline and pass! We may come out with +50 or -110. If we bid (2NT?) we are looking at -200 or -300.
Merv Adey: Pass. My tempo has improved...partner might be able to act.
Chris Diamond: Pass. Could be getting jobbed by NV opps but we have no guarantee of a plus and a possibility of -200 or more. 2NT will probably get the call.
David Gordon: Dbl. Bid 3NT over partner's 3 bid.
Tim Francis-Wright: Pass. Ugh. Do we play 2NT here as unusual? (I could live with that here.) Or as 16-19? I can't double, because I don't want partner to play 3 on her 2=4=3-4 1-count.
Amiram Millet: Dbl. If partner calls 2NT (Good-bad) I'll bid 3 and await developments.
John Gillespie: 2NT. J x pard? Thank you. I don't make all my partscores either.
Brian Zietman: 2NT. If I double partner will surely bid hearts. This bid will let us compete in the minors and when they get to 4 - bingo!
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Worth a shot, bid 3NT next round.
Richmond Williams: Pass. I think we can go plus defending.
Beverley Candlish: 3 . I would bid 3 and pray for a fit. If I double, I am forcing partner to bid and I don't have tolerance for hearts. Partner may have no values.
Kf Tung: Pass. Get your possible +50 in defending 2 , maybe 3 . You have not enough substance in the minors to hope for a competitive auction.
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5. Matchpoints. None vul.
|
4
A J 9 5
K 8 7 6 2
K 7 4
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
1
|
2
(1)
|
3
(2)
|
4
| |
4
|
Pass
|
Pass
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5
| |
5
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
(1) Michaels cuebid: 8-11 or 17+ HCP.
| (2) Less than invitational.
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Your call?
Bid | Votes | Award
|
Pass
| 12
| 100
|
Dbl
| 5
| 40
|
6
| 1
| 10
|
5NT
| 0
| 0
|
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Moderator: While everyone regrets having bid this hand so unimaginatively up to this point, the majority goes for the sensible pass.
August Boehm: Pass. 4NT at my second turn, implying a double fit, might have helped North if he holds extra shape.
Larry Cohen: Pass. Maybe we are already ahead of the game. Perhaps partner came in with a hand where most of the field passed. If everyone else is defending 4 and we can beat 5 a trick, there is no need to double. Also if we are beating them, why risk a sacrifice?
Betty Ann Kennedy: Dbl. It could be a double game swing, but I expect to set them.
Mel Colchamiro: Dbl. . . to show my 5 bid was for a make. But partner could have diamonds so I wouldn't be totally shocked if they made it. But they probably won't.
Brad Bart: Pass. Was there some sort of break in tempo?
Stephen Vincent: Pass. Not sure who can make what here. At least we've pushed them up a level.
Aidan Ballantyne: Pass. It's a tough life when they have spades. Pard keeps passing, a bad sign. They may certainly have a lot of playing tricks and make their contract.
Martin Henneberger: Pass. I have pushed them to no man's land at the 5 level, with no idea who can make what, perhaps including 6 of something. For me this a clear easy pass.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. It looks like they can't make 5 , and it sounds like we can't make 6 .
Eugene Chan: Pass. Five level belongs to the opponents! No guarantee we can beat 5 .
Andrew Krywaniuk: Pass. This is not a clear forcing pass situation. Having already pushed them to the 5 level, there is less incentive to double.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. We created this monster by bidding 4 ! We are now looking at forcing pass sequences. No real choices.
Merv Adey: Pass. 5 could be cold, and if it isn't we've already beaten much of the field: double is way too greedy.
Chris Diamond: Pass. The right call is abstain. I could at least have bid 5 in case that's pard's minor. Now I have no clue. They could have a club/spade fit and be cold for 6 .
David Gordon: Dbl. Partner has the 8-11.
Tim Francis-Wright: 6 . I think they're making 5 but not slam. I wonder if a 5 call last round would have been better (to invite partner to sac in 6 with 5-5 in the reds).
Amiram Millet: Pass. Don't want to push them into a makeable slam.
Joel Forssell: Dbl. 5-level belongs to the opponents.
Kees Schaafsma: Pass. I've outgunned myself with the awful 5 , why not give partner a clue with 5 ?
John Gillespie: Pass. I would have asked for pard's minor on the way to hearts. This is a blind guess.
Brian Zietman: Pass. I would have bid 5 rather than 5 .
Plarq Liu: Dbl. Pass is forcing.
Richmond Williams: Pass. We could go plus but unless my kings are placed well we would go too minus.
Beverley Candlish: Pass. I cannot bid 6 . With West's ferocious bidding of spades, it is likely that he has unusual distribution. I would pass.
Kf Tung: Pass. You have described your hand. West and North know that 5 is playable but not sure. You can get a good score if 5 goes down and still have an average if 5 makes. If you compete further the odds are against you: you get an above average or a bottom.
Bob Todd: Pass. We've down our damage! I hope.
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