Here are the August problems. Again, we are panelists and have submitted picks, which we cannot change. You can find our initial discussions in the MSC 202508 thread. You can post new choices here if you want, consulting the earlier discussion first if you want. I’ll post scores for the original picks and for the revised picks if anyone changes.
No one has submitted any new picks, which is fine since I must submit our original ones, and am about to do so. I looked at them again, without checking my earlier answers, and have these current choices:
A. P, not quite good enough to bid (no, see below)
B. 3C seems automatic vul at imps
C. 3H. Tough with both pass and 4S also in contention, as well as 3D. Assume this is a natural game try
D. Double. Before starting to type these answers my choice was going to be 3NT, which could be a huge success, but could also be very wrong.
E. 3S. May as well be optimistic.
F. 3H, not knowing the difference in meaning between 3H and 4C. Since partner could have only 3 diamonds, seems like we should keep 3NT in play.
G. 3N. Vul at imps. If 3N doesn’t make, 2N might not either.
H. H4. Certainly a major, and at imps hearts looks better.
Now comparing, 4 are different from my first picks.
Upon going to enter answers, I see we are a passed hand on A, which I hadn’t noticed. So current choice is double, which was also my choice before, so only 3 of 8 have changed.
From ST via e-mail
[quote]
PROBLEM A: Double
PROBLEM B: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM C: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM D: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM E: 4 Clubs
PROBLEM F: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM G: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM H: Heart 4
[/spoiler]
A) Dbl
B) 3C
C) Pass
D) Pass
E) 4C
F) 4C
G) 3N
H) Heart 4
A B C D E F G H Total
procrastinator 2H 80 3D 20 4S 100 3H 100 3S 100 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100 700
oirg P 80 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 4C 80 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100 760
SW Dbl 100 3C 100 3H 40 3H 100 4C 80 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100 720
Klaymen 2H 80 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 3S 100 3D 60 P 60 H4 100 700
ST Dbl 100 3C 100 3H 40 3H 100 4C 80 4C 70 3N 100 H4 100 690
BTDT Dbl 100 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 4C 80 4H 100 3N 100 C5 20 700
NN Dbl 100 3C 100 P 0 Dbl 40 4C 80 4C 70 3C 50 DK 30 470
veni vidi vici Dbl 100 3C 100 3H 40 3H 100 4C 80 3H 70 3N 100 H4 100 690
Submitted Dbl 100 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 4C 80 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100 780
Dbl 100 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 3S 100 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100
P 80 3D 20 3H 40 Dbl 40 4C 80 4C 70 P 60 DK 30
2H 80 P 0 P 30 3H 70 3C 50 C5 20
3D 60
If only we could be panelists every month. Last month our 790 tied for first. This month our 780 tied for 4/5, behind 3 800s.
For some reason we are not panelists in September, but are panelists again in October.
ST changed one bid from his original picks, but did not change his score. BTDT and I each dropped from our original picks.
oirg’s 760 would have tied for 7-13 on the honor roll. My original 720 would have tied for 31-41. procrastinator’s 700 and Klaymen’s 700 and BTDT’s original 700 would have tied for 48-53, the lowest score to make the honor roll.
A B C D E F G H Total
procrastinator
oirg
SW Dbl 100 3C 100 3H 40 Dbl 40 3S 100 3H 70 3N 100 H4 100 650
Klaymen
ST Dbl 100 3C 100 3H 40 3H 100 4C 80 3H 70 3N 100 H4 100 690
BTDT Dbl 100 3C 100 P 0 P 30 4C 80 4C 70 3N 100 H4 100 580
NN
veni vidi vici
4Sigma
Abstract Actuary
(Re)Submitted Dbl 100 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 4C 80 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100 780
Dbl 100 3C 100 4S 100 3H 100 3S 100 4H 100 3N 100 H4 100
P 80 3D 20 3H 40 Dbl 40 4C 80 4C 70 P 60 DK 30
2H 80 P 0 P 30 3H 70 3C 50 C5 20
3D 60
A. 2H. 2D would be an overbid since diamond honors may be wasted (might have some value in NT, but I’m raising hearts)
B. 2N. Don’t like it, but it’s either this, pass or 3D. None look good
C. 2N. Reasonably descriptive, and doesn’t encourage partner to bid 4S
D. 4S. Yes, I have a good hand, but don’t see going beyond 4S on my own. Diamond K may be opposite shortness
E. 3S. Suggest spades as trumps
F. 2D. What else?
G. P. Quit on misfits
H. HQ. I can’t see a diamond helping directly. Heart might not cost, and partner might have the K or a stiff.
From NN by e-mail
A. 2 hears.
B. 2NT. Double then nt was the original plan, seems reasonable to continue with that plan.
C. Double. Tempted by 2NT, but with Axx too likely to want to play from pd’s side (and perhaps in a minor if partner does not have any help)/
D. 4 spades. A bit heavy, but not enough to go past game, and don’t see what else I can do.
E. 3 spades, Kokish style.
F. 2 diamonds. What am I missing?
G. Pass. Was on the fence, at MPs will take the low road.
H. Heart (spot lead according to lead convention). Kx spade seems like bad news, will try for a heart ruff for second trick.
September guesses:
A. 2H
B. 3D
C. 3N
D. 3N
E. 3H
F. 2D
G. 3N. If I’m not going to accept with this hand…
H. Club ace
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 2H 2N Dbl 4S 3S 2D P H8
oirg 2H 3D 3N 3N 3H 2D 3N CA
SW 2H 2N 2N 4S 3S 2D P HQ
Klaymen
ST
BTDT
NN 2D 2N 2N 4S 3S 2D P D3
veni vidi vici 2H 2N Dbl 4S 3H 2D P HQ
4Sigma
Abstract Actuary
Leading 2H 2N 4S 3S 2D P
Lots of agreement, but still 2 where nothing has 3 votes yet.
A) 2H
B) 2N
C) Dbl
D) 4D
E) 3N
F) 2D
G) 3N
H) Heart Queen
From SweetTooth by e-mail
A B C D E F G H
procrastinator 2H 2N Dbl 4S 3S 2D P H8
oirg 2H 3D 3N 3N 3H 2D 3N CA
SW 2H 2N 2N 4S 3S 2D P HQ
Klaymen
ST Rdbl 2N 2N 4S 3S 2D 3N HQ
BTDT 2H 2B Dbl 4D 3N 2D 3N HQ
NN 2D 2N 2N 4S 3S 2D P D3
veni vidi vici 2H 2N Dbl 4S 3H 2D P HQ
4Sigma
Abstract Actuary
Leading 2H 2N ?? 4S 3S 2D P HQ
Just over 24 hours before I have to submit. C currently tied. G has a leader, but only by 1 at the moment.
Submitted:
A B C D E F G H Total
procrastinator 2H 100 2N 100 Dbl 100 4S 70 3S 70 2D 100 P 100 H8 100 740
oirg 2H 100 3D 50 3N 50 3N 0 3H 70 2D 100 3N 60 CA 60 490
SW 2H 100 2N 100 2N 90 4S 70 3S 70 2D 100 P 100 HQ 100 730
Klaymen
ST Rdbl 80 2N 100 2N 90 4S 70 3S 70 2D 100 3N 60 HQ 100 670
BTDT 2H 100 2N 100 Dbl 100 4D 80 3N 10 2D 100 3N 60 HQ 100 650
NN 2D 90 2N 100 2N 90 4S 70 3S 70 2D 100 P 100 D3 0 620
veni vidi vici 2H 100 2N 100 Dbl 100 4S 70 3H 70 2D 100 P 100 HQ 100 740
4Sigma
Abstract Actuary
Submitted 2H 100 2N 100 2N 90 4S 70 3S 70 2D 100 P 100 HQ 100 730
2H 100 2N 100 Dbl 100 5S 100 4C 100 2D 100 P 100 HQ 100
2D 90 P 60 2N 90 4D 80 3H 70 3N 60 H8 100
Rdbl 80 3D 50 3N 50 4S 70 3S 70 CA 60
3N 0 3N 10 D3 0
On H, every heart except the J got at least 1 panelist vote and at least 2% of the solvers. H6 was the plurality - 8 of 22 panelists leading some heart - HQ was second with 6.
Our submitted 730 tied for 16-25 on the monthly Honor Roll. 740, from procrastinator and VVV, would have tied for 13-15. It took 700 to make the Honor Roll.
:swear: we would have have 740 also, had I broken the tie the other way.
We are panelists, so I have to submit the votes we submitted originally. Everyone is welcome to submit current picks, and I’ll score those, too.
What awful choices. I’m about to see what we submitted and what I decided before. But first, here are my current choices:
A. 2H. At least it’s nonforcing. Too good to pass; hearts too good for 1NT; spades too short for 2S.
B. 2D. Am I missing something? At matchpoints 1NT might be better.
C. 2S. Show the master suit with 6 cards. But tempted to raise instead
D. 3D. Am I missing something? Will be sad if partner bids 3NT, but will pass if he does.
E. Double. Though 1H is also tempting and pass possible. All 3 quite reasonable. In fact I had chosen 1H when I started typing this.
F. 4NT, assuming it’s Blackwood.
G. 3C. May help partner evaluate his hand. Will pass 3S, bid 3S over 3H, and bid 4S over 3D (but consider 3S over 3D pretty good too)
H. Club 2. Don’t like any lead, but there’s a chance declarer has only 3 clubs
Our panelist submission, including comments: