I mean 0 for 3NT makes no sense. And is the difference maker between all the scores.
0 for 3NT makes a lot of sense. Isn’t that the same bid you would make with xx KJ10xx KQ10xx x?
What makes you think they don’t have five heart tricks off the top whilst 5C is basically cold (AQxx x xx AKQxxx)? And give partner Axxx x Kx AKQxxx, and now 6C has better play than 3N (which is why they gave 6C 10 points).
I mean, it would be one thing if you had to place the final contract right now. But 3D here tells partner that you have club support and pretty clearly hints worry about hearts. If partner is still happy with 3NT knowing all that, then fine. But otherwise you should be in clubs.
I think 37% of the solvers getting a 0 may be some kind of record, but it seems deserved.
Initial December thoughts:
A a3 (1D | 2H). Because everything else is too distorted (if I start with 1H, acting over responder’s preference to 2H is very awkward.)
B 4D. BWS uses 3014 responses, so RKC is off the table. This isn’t matchpoints so I don’t care about 430. (My first instinct was “double–it’s rubber bridge” but then it occurred that BWS applies anyway.
C 2N (followed by 3S), tell partner to bid 3N unless he has four hearts You really need to read the full description of this in BWS before answering. What is given is not enough info. A direct 3H bid also has a lot of appeal.
D 2N. I’d like to show a limit raise of spades, but I am afraid of heart ruffs.
E Dbl. This is a style question. When the three-card major is spades, I think you have to get them in the picture. Much less clear if the majors were reversed and they opened 1S.
F 3N. Lots of options. None precisely on target. 3N likely to work the most often, I think.
G Double. I will correct clubs to diamonds. Way better than calling Qx a stopper.
H H4. Or should I lead H10? It seems obvious to lead a heart. Everything else seems too dangerous. Maybe H6 to encourage a shift? But do I really want a shift?
December guesses:
A. 1D-2H
B. 4D
C. 4H
D. pass
E. 2N
F. pass
G. 2D
H. spade 2
I am starting to think Pass on D might be best. It goes against the grain to trap with support, but at these colors at matchpoints it has a lot going for it.
A. 1D; 2C. 1D seems automatic, and the alternative rebids are worse
B. 3N. Take the money at rubber bridge
C. 3H. Since hearts the most likely game. No, after reading VVV’s answer and in particular his suggestion to review BWS, 2N looks best.
D. 2S. Conservative, but not worth 3H when QJ may not be worth much
E. 2N. Not going to pass, and since partner is unlikely to be on lead not going to worry about the lead-directing aspect.
F. 3N. Am I missing something? What else is remotely close?
G. Double, strong enough to convert to diamonds if he bids clubs
H. H4. Any suit could be right, best I’m going to lead an unbid suit, and this looks better than clubs.
A. a3 (1D then 2H). Push, but at least describes the shape. A younger me would have opened 1H.
B. 4 diamonds. This hand is huge. Partner could be 4423, but unlikely, he almost certainly has 4+ clubs. The possibility of an opening lead ruff is concerning though.
C. 3 hearts. Invitational with hearts…seems normal.
D. 3 hearts. Would consider 2NT with more even minors, but with Jx in clubs too chicken.
E. 2NT.
F. 3NT. Kind of tempted by pass but I do like to take out my partner’s takeout doubles.
G. Double
H. 4 of hearts. Diamond is a bit tempting: has to be a decent chance partner has one of A, K, J, and this lead may cause partner to go wrong later.
A: a3. I was leaning toward 1H opener, but as I thought more about it, I think 1D is better. And “knowing” that opponents pass and partner bids 1S, I prefer this reverse line.
B: 4C. I don’t fully appreciate the nuances of rubber bridge vs MPs vs IMPs. I assume we should increase consideration of being the declarer, vs trying to set or trying to make game.
C: 2NT. Does 3C mean weak hand - is that the Lebonsohl? If not, I would bid 3C.
D: 3H. 2S and 2NT seems to undersell our hand. Also strongly considered 3D. Am a little nervous that 3H oversells our hand.
E: Pass. Leaning toward pass here. Considered 2NT which I think shows the minors, but promises 15+ points. With us vulnerable, lean toward not over extending us.
F: 3NT. Partner can’t be doubling 3H without a strong hand and spade strength, I would think. We have the other suits covered and a heart stopper, so thinking this is best.
G: 2D. Seems like the natural response here. Not even sure what else to consider.
H: H4. Hearts seems like the best option as the rest seem like they could cost a trick.
From Sweet Tooth by e-mail
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 1D; 2H 4D 3H 3H 2N 3N Dbl H4
oirg 1D; 2H 4D 4H P 2N P 2D S2
SW 1D; 2C 3N 2N 2S 2N 3N Dbl H4
ST 1D; 2H 3N 3C 2N 2N 3N Dbl CJ
BTDT
NN
veni vidi vici 1D; 2H 4D 2N 2N Dbl 3N Dbl H4
Abstract Actuary 1D; 2H 3C 3C 3H P 3N 2D H4
Leading 1D; 2H 4D 2N 2N 3N Dbl H4
Three days to go. Something leading on 7 of 8, but some of those could change as additional votes come in.
Rubber bridge most of the time is almost identical to imps, Especially with the emphasis on making or beating the contract (generally, never risk going down hoping for an overtrick, or risk letting the contract make hoping for an additional undertrick.)_ Bidding a partial and making it maybe slight more valuable at rubber bridge than imps, but that’s mainly for playing a partial rather than defending. Bidding and making games is important at rubber bridge.
I changed your vote to 3C, showing an encouraging (but not forcing) hand with clubs. You would bid 2NT Lebensohl with a weak hand with clubs (it asks partner to bid 3C, which you would pass with a weak hand with clubs). 2NT can also mean things besides clubs, shown by doing something besides passing partner’s 3C bid. I don’t think any of the 2NT bidders here plan to pass 3C.
1 Like
A) b2
B) 3N
C) 2N
D) 3S
E) 2D
F) Pass
G) Dbl
H) Heart 4
Just to be clear, I’m changing my vote on D to Pass
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 1D; 2H 4D 3H 3H 2N 3N Dbl H4
oirg 1D; 2H 4D 4H P 2N P 2D S2
SW 1D; 2C 3N 2N 2S 2N 3N Dbl H4
ST 1D; 2H 3N 3C 2N 2N 3N Dbl CJ
BTDT 1H; 1N 3N 2N 3S 2D P Dbl H4
NN
veni vidi vici 1D; 2H 4D 2N P Dbl 3N Dbl H4
Abstract Actuary 1D; 2H 3C 3C 3H P 3N 2D H4
Leading 1D; 2H 2N 2N 3N Dbl H4
One day to go. Now two undecided, with 2 choices having 3 votes on B and nothing with 3 votes on D.
Submitted 1D; 2H 4D 2N P 2N 3N Dbl H4 A B C D E F G H Total
procrastinator 1D; 2H 70 4D 100 3H 70 3H 30 2N 50 3N 100 Dbl 80 H4 100 600
oirg 1D; 2H 70 4D 100 4H 50 P 90 2N 50 P 70 2D 40 S2 80 550
SW 1D; 2C 0 3N 50 2N 100 2S 40 2N 50 3N 100 Dbl 80 H4 100 520
ST 1D; 2H 70 3N 50 3C 50 2N 100 2N 50 3N 100 Dbl 80 CJ 40 540
BTDT 1H; 1N 90 3N 50 2N 100 3S 0 2D 60 P 70 Dbl 80 H4 100 550
veni vidi vici 1D; 2H 70 4D 100 2N 100 P 90 Dbl 100 3N 100 Dbl 80 H4 100 740
Abstract Actuary 1D; 2H 70 4C 0 3C 50 3H 30 P 40 3N 100 2D 40 H4 100 430
Submitted 1D; 2H 70 4D 100 2N 100 P 90 2N 50 3N 100 Dbl 80 H4 100 690
1 N 100 4D 100 2N 100 2N 100 Dbl 100 3N 100 1N 100 H4 100
1H; 1N 90 3N 50 3H 70 P 90 2D 60 P 70 Dbl 80 S2 80
1D; 2H 70 4C 0 3C 50 2S 40 2N 50 2D 40 CJ 40
1D; 2C 0 4H 50 3H 30 P 40
3S 0 f
Congratulations to VVV, whose 740 would be tied for 2-4 on the monthly honor roll. The our submitted 690 was tied for 17-25. Matching VVV on the two questions where we didn’t have a clear leader was a good idea.
The full year honor roll isn’t available yet. I’ll start a new thread for the 2022 MSC contest.
January thoughts:
A 2NT. 1087x is almost a stopper, and will be opposite as little as a singleton jack. And the suit might be blocked. Might pass at other forms of scoring. But red at IMPs we have to look for the game, especially as partner won’t be overcalling 2H on air.
B Dbl. This doesn’t initially appeal, but the hand is worth 3N, and if you just bid 3S you will often languish in a partscore when you have game, or get past 3N when that’s the only makeable game. After double, you can raise spades or rebid 3N over 3 or a red suit. FWIW I would bid 4S over a jump to 4D but would pass a jump to 4H.
C 4S I worry bidding 5S might force them into bidding slam or might just be down an extra doubled undertrick
D 2C When in doubt, raise. Even Lawrence had an example like this in one of his books. If you’ve ever played weak NT, this sort of bid is second nature. (Then you’d even bid 3C over a jump 2D. overcall.)
E 3S. I cant’ give up on 3N, but I can’t bring myself to bid it, either. So give partner a chance. NT bidders don’t subsequently introduce their own suits unbidden, so this just shows values with D support.
F 2H or 3H. How many times have we seen this coin flip? I’ll downgrade the C Qx and go with 2H this time.
G 3NT. Mainly so partner knows my hand is not slammish
H S6. Partner might have Qx and declarer A9xx. This is IMPs. I have to maximize the chances of running the suit, not worry about giving away a meaningless overtrick.
Tied for 21-24 in the 2021 honor roll with 8160. 8510 won.