Bridge: 2021 MSC Discussion

[VeniVidiVici]

September guesses

A 4H We’d like to know whether partner has first or second round control of diamonds, but we have no way to find out directly. Seems like our best bet is to bid 4H. If he signs off in 4S, we bid 5C, now showing HA and C void. I think a D bid by him now merely confirms the A, not AK, since he didn’t repeat it earlier. Over that we can bid 5N and get to the grand if he show 1 of the top trumps. If he bids 5H over 5C, we can bid 6S because her either has SK or the hook is on after he ruffs a heart to hand. If he bids 5S over 5C, we might pass because if he needs the hook there is no entry to take it.

B 2D. At IMPs I’d really like to be in 3N with this hand if spades are stopped. Immediate new suit bids above 2H would usually be interpreted as real suits with slam interest, so we’ll start slow and see if we can steer partner toward a 3N bid. Otherwise we’ll play 4H.

C 2H. Not ready to volunteer to defend at neither at matchpoints

D 3D Does not promise a rebid (though I am allowed to rebid). I need to keep spades in the picture; double is penalty; and 3H overstates the values. So what else is left?

E 3S I can’t quite bring myself to bid the safe 2S, and at matchpoints I can’t see forcing to game with 3C. (Not sure I would NV at IMPs, either.) The spade suit is barely good enough.

F 4N I may as well. Surely, partner will pick the wrong minor when he is 3=5=3=2, but in that case we were screwed anyway when I elected not to defend. (Granted, this would be a much clearer argument at matchpoints. On the other hand, I have to bid at IMPs, and the clubs will be terrible opposite stiff or void.) With the same distribution bit some face cards in the club suit, I’d bid 5C instead.

G 3S If we were vulnerable, the only choices would be 2H or 4S. Here I’ll invite rather than force. The downside is that 2H would keep diamonds in the picture, but it would also lead to some really murky auctions where I don’t ever show seven nice spades.

H S10. Hearts may pick up partner’s trump holding. Diamond is bad if the AK are split. I wish I could lead clubs to get a tap going (and somebody probably will), but leading from AQxxx into the strong hand feels silly.

[BTDT]

A) 4H - This is why I avoid splinters with a void. If Partner has the Club Ace, he has wasted values not a magic fit.
B) 2D
C) 2H
D) Double - I haven’t looked up what BWS says, but this was takeout back when I played.
E) 2S
F) Pass
G) Pass
H) Spade Ten

[VeniVidiVici]

On (D), double is penalty in BWS.

[procrastinator]

A) 4 Hearts. Driving to at least 6S.
B) 2 hearts. Isn’t this standard?
C) 2 hearts. Considered 3 hearts. Don’t like double with the void.
D) 4 clubs. Will bid 4 spades next if 4 red comes around to me.
E) 2 spades. Go low matchpoints and misfit.
F) Double, but don’t like it.
G) 4 spades. Seems clear cut, usually means I am in for a bad score.
H) Ten of spades. With hearts splitting poorly, and hopefully clubs well positioned, going passive.

[VeniVidiVici]

Changing my vote on B to 2H. I’m so used to 2C only being “alerted” if it’s Drury that I somehow thought partner was a passed hand.

I’d love to bid 2N and reraise 3N to 4N, but I think I should actually have spades stopped to do that. A 4-4 spade break won’t salvage 4N much less 6N opposite xx.

[SteveWhite]

A) 4H. Will not pass 4S (will bid 5C) but let’s see what partner does
B) 2N. Let’s show the balanced hand. In the BWS system notes I don’t see what 3NT would be, but suspect this hand is too strong
C) 3H. Aggressive, but 5-5 with both suits strong
D) 4C. Hate bypassing the spades, but 4S is too much
E) 2S. Conservative with a misfit, and it’s matchpoints
F) 5C. Not positive 4N would be for minors, and 7-4 is a huge discrepancy even if it is
G) 2H. Keeping diamonds in play. Hoping partner doesn’t think this is saying diamonds are trump
H) S10. DQ has more upside, but is considerably riskier, and since partner may well have 4 trumps and our clubs look well placed, take the safer route.

[SteveWhite]

                       A     B     C         D     E     F     G     H
procrastinator        4H    2H    2H        4C    2S   Dbl    4S   S10
SW                    4H    2N    3H        4C    2S    5C    2H   S10
ST                                                                    
BTDT                  4H    2D    2H     Dbl??    2S     P     P   S10
NN                                                                    
veni vidi vici        4H    2H    2H        3D    3S    4N    3S   S10
Abstract Actuary                                                      

Leading               4H          2H              2S               S10

@VeniVidiVici

On (D), double is penalty in BWS.

That seems correct. Unquestionably correct if the response had been 1H, and I don’t see anything that suggests takeout over 2H.

@BWS 2017

B. After Our Double of a One-Bid
Among advancer’s actions over responder’s new-suit bid:
(a) a double is for penalty;

[VeniVidiVici]

11 hours to go. It’s going to be fun getting consensus on F and G

[procrastinator]

It is funny, I thought G was clearcut, but then we have four different answers. Even if partner has zero spades and AKxxxx of diamonds, I want to be in four spades, not sure what I could find out that would make me want to play in a different strain or level.

No idea on F, and think any if the other responses could be right.

[SteveWhite]

@VeniVidiVici

11 hours to go. It’s going to be fun getting consensus on F and G

@procrastinator

I thought G was clearcut, but then we have four different answers.

.
Heard from NN by e-mail. No time to update the spreadsheet now, but we have five different answers to G, since he opts for a 3H splinter.

On F he is supporting 4N, which most likely I’ll go with.

[VeniVidiVici]

What did NN vote for on E?

[VeniVidiVici]

On G I am starting to agree with 2H as the best way to keep both suits in the picture.

[SteveWhite]

@NN

Thanks- that’s perfect.

I’ve not read anyone’s responses yet.

A) 4H I’m not stopping at 4S

B) 2NT. Shows 12-14 or 18-19 in my book

C) Dbl. pulling 2D to 2H

D) 3C. 2S is such a distortion

E) 2S. Staying low on a misfit

F) 4NT. Shows 4-6.in the minors, I hope

G) 3H. Splinter

H) DQ. Halfway between conservative and aggressive

I still haven’t compared these with the rest of the votes.

[SteveWhite]

                       A     B     C         D     E     F     G     H
procrastinator        4H    2H    2H        4C    2S   Dbl    4S   S10
SW                    4H    2N    3H        4C    2S    5C    2H   S10
ST                    5C    2D    2H        3C    3C   Dbl    3S   S10
BTDT                  4H    2D    2H     Dbl??    2S     P     P   S10
NN                    4H    2N   Dbl        3C    2S    4N    3H    DQ
veni vidi vici        4H    2H    2H        3D    3S    4N    3S   S10
Abstract Actuary                                                      

Submitted             4H    2N    2H        3C    2S    4N    2H   S10

@VeniVidiVici

On G I am starting to agree with 2H as the best way to keep both suits in the picture.

For now I’ve left his vote as it VVV has only started to agree rather than decided 2H is best, but when nothing had 3 votes (whether VVV is 3S or 2H) I decided to go with 2H. B, D and F still had nothing with 3 votes, so I made a selection guided by the votes, maybe the best interpretation of the votes maybe not. I did say earlier in the thread that if nothing had 3 votes I would take my best shot, guided by the votes, but not necessarily choosing the call I think had the most support among the votes.

[SteveWhite]

                  A          B        C        D             E        F        G        H        Total
SW                4H     100 2N   100 3H   70  4C        70  2S   90  5C   70  2H   100 S10  100 700  
ST                5C     80  2D   50  2H   100 3C        100 3C   70  Dbl  80  3S   50  S10  100 630  
BTDT              4H     100 2D   50  2H   100 Dbl??     0   2S   90  P    10  P    0   S10  100 450  
veni vidi vici    4H     100 2H   80  2H   100 3D        70  3S   100 4N   100 3S   50  S10  100 700  
Abstract Actuary                                                                                      
Submitted         4H     100 2N   100 2H   100 3C        100 2S   90  4N   100 2H   100 S10  100 790  


                                                                                      
                  4H     100 2N   100 2H   100 3C        100 3S   100 4N   100 2H   100 S10  100   
                  6C     100 2H   80  Dbl  80  3D        70  2S   90  Dbl  80  3H   90  S9   100      
                  5C     80  2D   50  3H   70  4C        70  3C   70  5C   70  4S   60  DQ   90       
                                               Dbl       0            P    10  3S   50                
                                                                               P    0                 

Wow. Did I choose well on the ones where there wasn’t a clear consensus! Our Submitted score of 790 was first on the honor roll, with second only 770.

:swear: We could so easily have had an 800. On A and H, two choices got 100, even though the two choices weren’t tied or even close in the panel voting. But on E, the top two vote-getters were tied at 12 each, but we got only 90 because the solvers had a clear preference for 3S over 2S. [or maybe just because the moderator decided 3S should be worth more; no reasoning available until the issue comes out.]

[It is true that in retrospect I think 6C is definitely the best choice on A. It just didn’t occur to me, or maybe to any of us. 5 panelists chose it, vs 11 for 4H.]

Individually, VVV did the best among us. His 750 would tie for 9-15 on the honor roll. It took 720 to make the honor roll.

[SteveWhite]

Let’s have another strong month.

[VeniVidiVici]

I am glad I changed to 2H on G!

[VeniVidiVici]

October guesses:
A 2N. There is no other value bid. When I bid like this they lead spades. Then they think I’m holding up when I’m actually ducking.
B 2N. This is a problem? Unanimous panel? What am I missing?
C 5C. What else with no heart control and too good a hand for 4C?
D Double (since I am looking at xxx I know partner won’t pass). 4D is an underbid 5D overstates the diamond and understates the hearts, 4N overstates the hearts.
E Do I double followed by 3N (or 3D)? Or do I make a trap pass at these colors?
F Tough between 3H, 4N, and double Starting with 4C understates the hearts. 4N bypasses 4H right away. Double then clubs also understates the hearts. 3H feels like an underbid but leaves room for more bidding. I’ll probably go with 3H but the other calls also tempting.
G This depends on style that BWS doesn’t spell out. On the one hand, I’d prefer to be able to bid 2S with this. However, many partners would think 2S promised 3, and I am a lot closer to having six clubs. The other advantage of 3C is that if partner rebids hearts I’ll be pretty sure he’s 5-5, and I won’t have to un-agree spades in order to agree hears. So, 3C probably
H DK. DK needs the least from partner, who doesn’t have much. Note that even if partner has Axxxx, declarer is a huge favorite to hold four clubs. On the other hand, I like my chance with DK when partner has Q10xx xxx Jxxx xx or the like.

[oirg]

October guesses:

A. 3S
B. 2N
C. double
D. 4D
E. double
F. double
G. 3D
H. heart 9

[BTDT]

A) 2D
B) 2N
C) 4C
D) Dbl
E) Dbl
F) 3H
G) 3C
H) H9