Chew the Fat! > IAC & Master Solvers Club
2023 APRIL MSC
Masse24:
APRIL 2023 MSC
Deadline: FEBRUARY 28 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Submit your APRIL MSC responses here: The Bridge World - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
BWS 2017 System: BWS 2017
BWS 2017 POLLS, CHANGES AND ADDITIONS: BWS 2017 - Polls, Changes, and Additions
* Bridge World Standard 2017 (BWS or BWS2017) is effective beginning with the January 2017 Master Solvers' Club problems. This page shows (1) the results of the panelist polls that were used to adjust the system; and (2) the changes in and the additions to Bridge World Standard 2001 (BWS2001) that were made.
In the listings of the questions and answers, an asterisk indicates the BWS2001 agreement; the proportion of the expert votes for each item, rounded to the nearest percent, is shown in brackets.
IAC Forum MSC Scores
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blubayou:
Having trouble diving into this batch of problems; how about you folks? But that's changing.
Problem A marks the return of the 100-deal SIMULATION :D
The first thing that stood out was that having silent opps when we have these two hands is suprisingly rare! west, and even east keep turning up with hands rating a michael's, Jump-overcall or even a double. The fact that they are silent improves our chances of not get murdered if staying in notrump. (Simulation deals with opponent passing when it is not realistic for them to do so are discarded)
The second thing is that PASSING 2NT is totally off the page. None of my acceptable examples scored exactly 120, without retreating to diamonds scoring 130(150), nor was surrendering a minus 50 less bad than what would happen if we correct to 3!D
So, the two horse race was a battle between correcting to diamonds and RAISING notrump! So far this is a tight battle. The panel will go for the game bonus, counting on 3NT being cold or sneaking home by a less than double-dummy opening lead
---for Feb 9th, I am RAISING ---
PROBLEM B:>> The hint sent me running to the OKB system notes! IT made me think that both cuebids show "strong diamond raises", which is odd.
But no. Turns out that 2 !C has two legs. It can be the usual invite+ in diamonds, but also a really strong hand (in context) coming in a different suit. With that possibility in mind, I see no haarm in bidding my club suit, in case partner has a 1H opener which will be lovely, or even a club-heart two-suiter--even lovelier. I really expect we are headed for 4 or 5 hearts or 5 clubs.
---Three Clubs---
PROBLEM C:>> They're having a little joke here-- this is last month's problem D with the heart noise coming from righty instead of lefty! March problem D had a stunning 25 votes to become declarer. Will a majority be sucked in by the heart AQ even though "right-siding" is not an issue anymore?
It depends on whether or not after doubling, we are willing to lie down for partner's runout to 2 of either minor. It is IMPS, so I am OK with being dummy to 2 clubs or playing 2 diamonds......
---Double---
PROBLEM D:>> This bucket of loosers is what Michaels' cue was meant for, IMO. Hoping to bid 2 suits one at a time is a poster child for "making the last mistake". MAKE them catch you after a SINGLE intervention if they can. Remind your partner that the bid that means "show my your minor" is TWO NOTRUMP, not three clubs; Then it's possible to come to a safe port, should he mave 6+ clubs without any red support
blubayou:
PROBLEM E:>> Leaving in 1NT can't be hideous, but 2 !C , 2, !D [size=78%] or 2[/size] !S should be fine too. The trouble is when I hear 2 diamonds, after my retreat to 2 clubs, I am gonna raise it. That could get embarrassing. But I have learned that the 6-9 point-range for pard's 1NT rebid turns out to be 10 points really often.
---Two Clubs---
PROBLEM F:>> Last month's companion board ( Problem E) was AKQxxx, ---, K, AKJTxx. There probably won't be serious objection from the panel with the assigned 2 !C opening with this 21-count, but there will be with the o-so-similar 16-count here.
---One Spade---
PROBLEM G:>>
DickHy:
Well, the fire started by Blu seems to be guttering, so here's some petrol:
A. 3 !D (or pass). Partner has 11/12 (1N would have been 6-10) and something like Axxx KJx xx QJxx. Where do we want to be? If partner has the spade T or 9, 3N might be decent, as he can win the opening spade trick x-Q-K-A knowing that West can’t run the suit. Without a good spade spot, West, after winning the opening spade lead with the K can carry on with the suit (if he has an outside entry) or can switch … to a heart across partner’s holding. That looks gloomy. At least if it comes down to a heart guess, partner is more likely to get it right than I am. At matchpoints is choosing a fairly certain part-score better than opting for a fraught game? I hope you wizards will tell me. Meanwhile, I can chew over whether it’s better to pass 2N or play 3 !D in a 6-2 fit.
B. 5 !D. According to BWS [C(b)] a passed hand cue-bid guarantees a fit. I guess in this auction 2 !D could show a fit but a weak hand, 2 !C a decent raise (6-9) and 2 !S (10/11) a good one. Partner looks to have 4 spades. With nice spades and Qxx in diamonds, say, he might have bid 1N. Ergo (these Italian drugs are graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate), he has paltry spades and Axxx in diamonds. Carpe diem!
C. 1N. At the table I’d bang this out with nary a second thought.
D. Pass. At best this is a 20/20 hand and I love my partner. I’m not gonna dump him at the 3-level in a (ropey) 5 – 3 (probably 2 knowing my luck) fit with an emaciated hand. Especially when red v white. Besides, I don’t know how the spades are distributed yet.
E. 2N. According to BWS partner is 6-10. If he’s at the top end we look to have a decent shot at 3N. That’s surely a shorter road to fortune than any club contract.
F. 2 !C. Yeah, the purist voice in my ear is purring “one spade, honey.” Who’s got time for pure bridge??
G. 3N/3 !H. We’re lacking a spade stop otherwise partner, who seems to have five hearts, would have bid 3N over 3 !C. With two useless spades I’m hesitant about raising the temperature with a heart cue bid. However, could North have Ax KQxxx Axxx Qx, having rejecting Ax as a stop? Neither East nor West made a 1 !S overcall (one might hold Kxxx and the other Qxxxx), which seems to place North with a high spade honour. 3 !H would give North a chance to show Ax in spades (he won’t cue with Kx in spades), so perhaps it’s worth the detour, just in case 6 !D is on the horizon.
H. !H 2. East might be able to pick up the heart suit anyway (certainly with Kxx in hearts and maybe with Kx, having a spade entry into West). Partner hasn’t got much but whatever he has I will kill it with a non-heart lead. Leading the !H 2 might make declarer do the work. I can always hope partner has the !H T !
hoki:
A 3♦, have to be consistent with my philosophy that bridge is bridge and poker is poker
B 4♦, changed from 3♦ after reading Jock’s comments – and Dick’s
C 1NT – or double?
D Dble – and pass 2♣ which I doubt will be left in (but can bid 2♦ if doubled?)
E 2♣, can’t stomach being stuck in NT
F 1♠, “normal” (dare I say that?)
G 4♦, would love to bid 4♥ as a control bid, but is it?
H ♣7, mol by elimination (what I said last time)
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