Bridge: 2022 MSC Discussion

[SteveWhite]

                  A           B        C        D        E        F        G        H        Total
procrastinator    P       90  P    90  Dbl  70  3S   100 4S   90  Dbl  100 2S   100 D4   100 740  
oirg              4S      80  2N   100 3D   80  P    90  4S   90  Dbl  100 P    70  D4   100 710  
SW                3S      100 2N   100 3D   80  P    90  3C   80  2H   90  2S   100 S8   90  730  
ST                3N      60  2N   100 3N   50  3S   100 3D   80  Dbl  100 3D   60  S8   90  640  
BTDT              3S      100 2N   100 3N   50  P    90  3C   80  2H   90  2S   100 S8   90  700  
NN                3S      100 2N   100 3D   80  3S   100 3C   80  1N   70  2S   100 H5   10  640  
veni vidi vici    3N      60  2N   100 3D   80  3S   100 4S   90  2H   90  3D   60  D4   100 680  
Submitted         3S      100 2N   100 3D   80  3S   100 3C   80  2H   90  2S   100 S8   90  740  


                                                                                  
                  3S      100 2N   100 3H   100 3S   100 Rdbl 100 Dbl  100 2S   100 D4   100   
                  p       90  P    90  P    90  P    90  4S   90  2H   90  P    70  S8   90       
                  4S      80           3D   80           3C   80  1N   70  3D   60  H5   10       
                  3N      60           Dbl  70           3D   80                                  
                                       3N   50                                                    

Our Submitted 740 (also achieved by pocrastinator) tied for 20-32 on the Honor Roll. My 730 would have tied for 33-61, the lowest honor roll score.

[SteveWhite]

Several look tough.

[SteveWhite]

Votes from Sweet Tooth by e-mail, with some comments by him:

PROBLEM A: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM B: 4 Diamonds
PROBLEM C: 2 Hearts
PROBLEM D: Pass
PROBLEM E: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM F: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM G: 6 Clubs
PROBLEM H: Spade 5

I’m sure the “right” answer on C is 2H but being a Kleinman set, I’m sure he’ll find reasons to demote it. On F I really couldn’t think of anything, won’t double with void, don’t like NT with void, so try 2D hoping it isn’t passed out.

On lead I never know whether its the right time to lead S9 or 4th best S5, or maybe H10, not a mindreader. Prob. G is an in the dark gamble, trying 6C and hoping partner has the right 6 count. Prob E, 3C seems natural enough, though underbid. 2NT and double seem too offbeat?

On D, yes we have 4S and a void and some tickets, but this extreme layout really seems like a very high defense to offense ratio

[SteveWhite]

A. Yuck. So very tough at watchpoints, though not a whole lot easier at imps. All of 2S, 3S 3D and 4C have some merit, and possibly 3C as well. For now, I’ll o with 4C.
B. Pass, with 4D conceivable
C. 2H
D. 4S. Second choice, which perhaps should be first, is pass. 5C seems poor
E. 3C
F. 2D. Double would be asking for trouble. 2S conceivable
G. 3NT. Good chance I can make it.
H. Spade 9. Second choice spade 4. Third choice heart 10

[procrastinator]

A. 2 diamonds. My first instinct was 3 diamonds, but since not sitting for 3NT, don’t think that will get me the info I want. Driving to game in a black suit.
B. Pass. Does not seem close to me.
C. 2 hearts. Don’t like it with this bad of hearts, but hand is too good for 2S.
D. Pass. Wanted to bid at these colors, but since don’t know which game to bid, will take the money.
E. Pass. Only game in the picture is 3NT, and we might get close to 400 defending if 3NT is on. If it is a part score hand, like my chances defending better. Any other colors would bid.
F. 2 diamonds. Yuck.
G. 3NT. Yuck again.
H. Heart ten. Too much playing with the bots.

[oirg]

December guesses:

A. 4D
B. Double
C. 2 H
D. 4S
E. 3C
F. Double
G. 3N
H. Heart 10

[SteveWhite]

                       A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
procrastinator        2D     P    2H     P     P    2D    3N   H10
oirg                  4D   Dbl    2H    4S    3C   Dbl    3N   H10
SW                    4C     P    2H    4S    3C    2D    3N    S9
ST                    3D    4D    2H     P     P    2D    3N   H10
BTDT                                                              
NN                                                                
veni vidi vici                                                    

Leading                                             2D    3N   H10

[Numbers_Nerd]

A) 3C. Quite an underbid, but it maybe gives us the best chance to get in our spades, if the opponents (admittedly unlikely) chirp in with a red suit balance. Second choice is 4C, but I have no idea is this is defined as forcing. (I’m okay if it is, as 5C will likely have play.) 4C has the merit of partner being able to bid 4S with 3-card support.
B) Pass. I got my lead director in. I don’t have enough to force partner to the 4-level. Also, 4H may be cold - why should I push them.
C) 2S. Even if I considered this to have extra values, the disparity in quality causes me to prefer showing spades.
D) Pass. I have 3 sure tricks. Even if we have a 4-4 spade fit, I’m going to have to ruff hearts in the hand with strong trumps.
E) Double. I won’t pass when pard bids 2S.
F) 2D for now. Maybe I’ll get to bid 2S or make a takeout double of 2H.
G) 3NT. This has a wide range.
H) S9. No idea.

[VeniVidiVici]

A 3D. Slam is 50% or better opposite AKA. Five-card support and two shortnesses is worth something.
B Pass. I wish I could bid but there’s nothing that makes sense from a risk/reward perspective.
C 2H. Automatic
D Pass. This would be tougher at matchpoints. I need to take the cash at IMPs since the downside is only -3.
E 2N. I need to convey a diamond stopper and values such that game is still in play. If partner wants to bid spades, at least I have the queen.
F 2D. Two-level overcalls can be heavy, especially when you are short in an unbid major. I hope someone bids their hearts and then I can show my spades.
G Torn among 3N, 5C, and 6C
H H10. I want partner on lead to put a club through.

[SteveWhite]

                       A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
procrastinator        2D     P    2H     P     P    2D    3N   H10
oirg                  4D   Dbl    2H    4S    3C   Dbl    3N   H10
SW                    4C     P    2H    4S    3C    2D    3N    S9
ST                    3D    4D    2H     P    3C    2D    3N   H10
BTDT                                                              
NN                    3C     P    2S     P   Dbl    2D    3N    S9
veni vidi vici        3D     P    2H     P    2N    2D   TBD   H10

Leading                      P    2H     P    3C    2D    3N   H10

I had thought we know had a leader on all but two, then realized I had misrecorded Sweet Tooth’s vote. Now only A is up in the air, and it not much up on the air, since org’s 4D is very much in line with the 3D splinter than has two votes.

[BTDT]

A) 3S
B) Dbl
C) 3S
D) Pass
E) 2H
F) Dbl
G) 3N
H) Spade 5

[SteveWhite]

                       A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
procrastinator        2D     P    2H     P     P    2D    3N   H10
oirg                  4D   Dbl    2H    4S    3C   Dbl    3N   H10
SW                    4C     P    2H    4S    3C    2D    3N    S9
ST                    3D    4D    2H     P    3C    2D    3N   H10
BTDT                  3S   Dbl    3S     P    2H   Dbl    3N    S5
NN                    3C     P    2S     P   Dbl    2D    3N    S9
veni vidi vici        3D     P    2H     P    2N    2D   TBD   H10

Leading               3D     P    2H     P    3C    2D    3N   H10

With all the regulars having voted, this is what I’ll be submitting Monday, unless we have some late changes from an existing voter or a new set of votes turns up. Certainly a reasonable final set of picks.

[VeniVidiVici]

It looks like you still have ST’s vote misrecorded on G and H.

[SteveWhite]

Good catch. And very significant catch, since I think it changes the “leading” on H. Even though there is some disagreement about which spade is best, we have 4 leading spades and only 3 leading hearts.

You should also get your vote on G decided, if you want to have a meaningful individual score here, not that anyone really cares about individual scores here.

                       A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
procrastinator        2D     P    2H     P     P    2D    3N   H10
oirg                  4D   Dbl    2H    4S    3C   Dbl    3N   H10
SW                    4C     P    2H    4S    3C    2D    3N    S9
ST                    3D    4D    2H     P    3C    2D    6C    S5
BTDT                  3S   Dbl    3S     P    2H   Dbl    3N    S5
NN                    3C     P    2S     P   Dbl    2D    3N    S9
veni vidi vici        3D     P    2H     P    2N    2D   TBD   H10

Leading               3D     P    2H     P    3C    2D    3N    S9

Still over 24 hours to suggest a change to H (or others).

[VeniVidiVici]

OK. 3N on G. 6C is against the odds if blasted. 5C invites 6, but 3N has the virtue of being cold.

[SteveWhite]

I submitted those.

[SteveWhite]

                  A           B        C        D        E        F        G        H        Total
procrastinator    2D      80  P    60  2H   100 P    100 P    70  2D   100 3N   100 H10  70  680  
oirg              4D      60  Dbl  100 2H   100 4S   40  3C   40  Dbl  60  3N   100 H10  70  570  
SW                4C      70  P    60  2H   100 4S   40  3C   40  2D   100 3N   100 S9   80  590  
ST                3D      100 4D   30  2H   100 P    100 3C   40  2D   100 6C   40  S5   100 610  
BTDT              3S      40  Dbl  100 3S   40  P    100 2H   40  Dbl  60  3N   100 S5   100 580  
NN                3C      50  P    60  2S   60  P    100 Dbl  50  2D   100 3N   100 S9   80  600  
veni vidi vici    3D      100 P    60  2H   100 P    100 2N   100 2D   100 3N   100 H10  70  730  
Submitted         3D      100 P    60  2H   100 P    100 3C   40  2D   100 3N   100 S9   80  680  


                                                                                  
                  3D      100 Dbl  100 2H   100 P    100 2N   100 2D   100 3N   100 S5   100   
                  2D      80  P    60  2S   60  4S   40  P    70  Dbl  60  6C   40  S9   80       
                  4C      70  4D   30  3S   40           Dbl  50                    H10  70       
                  4D      60                             3C   40                                  
                  3C      50                             2H   40                                  
                  3S      40                                                                      

We finished strong, as our 680 (and procrastinator’s) tied for 37-43 on the Honor Roll. VVV’s 730 would have tied for 9-13.

Honor roll for the full year isn’t available yet.

I’m starting a new thread for 2023.

[SteveWhite]

OK, I was stunned. And still am stunned, only differently. The 2022 yearly honor roll is out. First stunned because I didn’t see us on it, and thought surely we would have made it since I had remembered to enter every month and we did respectably. Revised stunned because I was looking where I expected us, middlish or lower. Searching for “White” found us at 4th, only 120 out of first (90 behind 3rd, 80 ahead of 5th). Good job, all.

The honor roll is unofficial and I didn’t add up our scores to verify, but it’s got to be a great result.

[SteveWhite]

The 2022 honor roll is now official, and it led to this e-mail exchange:

Hi Jeff,

I am delighted to accept the prize, and the e-mail address is correct, but I need slightly more time to decide about name and city.

You see, those answers are actually from a consortium of actuaries (varying numbers and participants but pretty much 7 regulars). We were guest panelists once before and also competed in Challenge the Champs once.

Just so I know the parameters, which ones of these three would be acceptable (obviously the first is):

Steve White, Broomall PA
Steve White (Actuaries), Broomall PA
Actuaries, Broomall PA

Thanks, Steve

On Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 01:00:06 PM EST, Jeff Rubens jeff@bridgeworld.com wrote:

Dear Steve:

Congratulations! You finished fourth in the 2022 Master Solvers' Club contest.

This makes you eligible to appear as a guest panelist for three months. Please promptly acknowledge receipt of this letter (jeff@bridgeworld.com) and let me know whether you wish to accept this prize. If so, please also verify that your e-mail address is correct and tell me your preferred format for expressing in print your name and city.

Best wishes,
Jeff Rubens

I’ll see what he says. My guess is that the second is not OK (too long) but that the third would be allowed.

[SteveWhite]

1. Our only acceptable designation is Steve White, Broomall PA

2. We should get the hands to bid no later than August 2023. Based on that, I expect the hands are certainly for 2024 contests.