Chew the Fat! > IAC & Master Solvers Club
2023 JULY MSC
Masse24:
JULY 2023 MSC
Deadline: MAY 30 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Submit your JULY 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:
problem D is surely the "lead" problem... stiff diamond? or our club suit (less juicy than usual, since tapping them out is already accomplished?
Problem A:>> A simple jump to 5 !S looked fine to me at first, but why shouldn't that show an even bigger hand with two diamond losers??
---5 Diamonds---
Problem B:>> ---Three Clubs---
Probleam C:>> 12 points, pretty-good 6-card suit looks like "1H...2H...3H" to me. no need to commit to some half-baked third bid when pard can steer us to port with HIS 3rd bid.
---Three Hearts---
Problem D:>> My May First shot of leaving in the double of 2 spades is hereby cancelled!. Take out a deck of cards and give partner 9-10 pts , void in spades and four (five??) hearts and 9 minor cards--preferably 4 diamonds and 5 clubs. ( My first effort gave our side a slam in clubs, when Lefty happened to be dealt Kx in clubs! ). Meanwhile, the opps had an easy ride to 7 tricks in their 2 spades.
Really, pard is bound to have very decent clubs since his hearts are Kxxx or worse and he has zero spades.
---Five Clubs---
Problem E:>> A stretchy jump-rebid to 3 !H becomes a very comfortable non-jump, when opp intervene, If you're needing to bid a third time then "hearts, hearts, clubs" is better than some alternative.
---Three Hearts---
Problem F:>>
jcreech:
Initial thoughts.
Problem A: ? I don't like my options at this point. Partner punted in such a way that I have trouble showing both my fine suit, my extras, as well as a solid fit for the other major and great controls. Too much to show, and no room to show it.
Problem B: 3 !C Despite my balanced shape, I think it is right to show support. Except for the !S Q, the values are generally better for suit contracts. If we belong in NT, it should be from partner's side of the table.
Problem C: 3 !S A punt. I am still not certain about the strain, and I don't want to bypass 3NT when that is a possibility. Second choice is 3NT based on Hamman's Law.
Problem D: 3 !C I am torn between 3 !C and Pass. I think the values are close to Pass, but I fear the long clubs and stiff !D K. I will feel better doubling 3 !S, if given a chance.
Problem E: 3 !C I think just freely bidding at the three-level implies extra values. Perhaps not quite as good as this, but close.
Problem F: 3 NT Showing stoppers and some decent general values, but not much of a spade fit. I wishh I had a second spade, but perhaps I can borrow one from one of the round suits.
Problem G: 3 !H Is it asking for a stopper or a minor two-suiter? The hints all include spades, so a simple cue might hit my two suits. Otherwise, all I can think of is double and pull spades to clubs to show the other two suits. Time enough to mull this a while longer.
Problem H: !C 6 When partner bids, I like to respect the effort by leading the suit. It also helps that the no-trumper is between my lead and partner's suit. The safe lead feels like the !D K - the outstanding diamonds might be split 1-1 or 2-0, but it might be good to get rid of the ace early.
DickHy:
A view from the intermediate bench.
A. 4N. 4 !D shows both majors, so we’re playing in spades. 4 !S seems wimpish, as I would have bid the same with KQxxx in spades, but how is slam best investigated? 5 !D or 5N seem blind shots. What would 4N be? If it’s Blackwood, I can bid 5 !S, 6 !S, 5N after 5 !C, 5 !D, and 5 !H respectively. That seems ok. If 4N is summat else, I'll get a kicking -- two actually, one from myself too
B. 2N. Presumably 2 !C may not be a real suit. Qxx isn’t a stop but I’m not promising one with 2N, a bid which describes the hand well.
C. 3 !H. Qxx isn’t a stop and I would be promising one with a bid of 3N. There is the “I’ve shown a stop in the bidding so don’t need one in my hand” approach, I guess. My 2 !H may not show 6-card suit, 3 !H would. Partner has choices then: 4 !H (with two hearts), 3N with a spade stop, 4m with more shapely minors and 3 !S asking for a spade stop. With the last two, I’ll sign-off with 5 !C.
D. pass/3 !C. This looks to be a 20/20 hand. What’s better, declaring 3 !C or defending 2 !S x?
E. x/3 !C (4 !H?). They look to have a 64 spade fit, so we ought to have a fit somewhere. BWS G(a) says 1N is semi-forcing limited at most to GI. Partner could have 31(9m)/32(8m) or 33(xx) 10/11 intending to re-bid 3 !H. A double will reveal which one. 3 !C would too, but might deter partner from bidding a 5c !D suit? However, a 3 !S bid seems likely and if partner passes that I’m dithering over 4 !C, 4 !H and double. Would banging down an immediate 4 !H be better?
F. 3N. For the 2 !C, partner could be balanced 22-24 (with Kx or xx) in diamonds. That’s unlikely as E would then be ATxxx and W xxx, which seem rather meagre holdings for their bidding even if they are white v red. Partner’s probably unbalanced and a tad stronger. However, this is an opportunity to show my stops in the other suits. Partner can still carry on.
G. x. I’ll bid 3 !D over 2 !C or try not to go nuts over 3 !C. I’ll break a 2N Lebensohl transfer with 3 !D. If partner was intending to continue 3 !H (showing 4c spades and a heart stop), he can bid 3N.
H. !D K/ !C 6. W looks to be 2344/2353 and E 55xx. Partner has made a two-level overcall vulnerable. In the best of worlds, E is 5512 and W is 2353 – I lead the diamond K, partner ruffs W’s A and plays A, K and another club. If I do that with E 5503, E gets rid of a club loser, but are we getting only two anyway?
wackojack:
Problem A
4NT.
I would like to ask partner how many Aces. If 2 then I ask for kings. How do I do that? I think 4NT must be asking for aces. So 4NT.
Problem B
2NT.
I have a balanced 13 so I must show that by bidding 2NT. OK what could go wrong?
Suppose partner had ♠x, ♥AQx, ♦Qxx, ♣KQJxxx. Then I would expect him to bid 3♣ and we get to the reasonable 5♣ contract.
Suppose partner had ♠Jx, ♥Axx, ♦Qxx, ♣KQJxx and you raise to 3♣. Then only poor bidding will get you to the making 3NT. So 2NT it is.
Problem C
3♠
First of all, after 1♥-2♣, I believe that if you rebid 2♥ in this position, then you are showing a 6 card ♥ suit. You have good alternatives with only a 5 card ♥ suit. With say ♠xx, ♥KQJ10x, ♦Axx, ♣Kxx,; then you would raise to 3♣. With say ♠Qxx, ♥KQJ10x, ♦Ax, ♣Jxx you would rebid 2NT (similar to problem B) So when partner bids 3♦, he has longer clubs than diamonds and not 4♠ and likely singleton ♥. So 3145, 2146 or perhaps even wilder. So I bid the 4th suit 3♠ and partner will bid 3N with 3145 and a partial ♠ guard. Or 4♣ with 2146. If I bid 3♠ now partner should be able to supply the answers.
Partner with a strong hand say: ♠Ax, ♥ x, ♦ KQJ10, ♣ AKQxxx will bid 4NT
Problem D
Pass
Partner has likely 1444 distribution, say ♠ x, ♥ KJxx, ♦ Axxx, ♣ AQxx. If as good as this we will take 2♠ + likely 3♥, +2♦ + 1♣ = +500 more than game our way. If less then we will still get more than the possible part score.
Problem E
Double:
We could only have an 8 card fit. Partner could have a 3244 distribution; say ♠Qxx, ♥xx, ♦Qxx, ♣Kxxx. If I double could we still get to 4♥? I think so. Partner will bid 3♣ and I will rebid 3♥. And partner will raise to 4♥ with a doubleton. I note that opps having a 10 card ♠ fit and we having an 8 card ♣ or ♥ fit then total tricks = 10. So if we can make 4♥ then opps should go 2 off in 4♠ and so we have a 500 penalty which is more than our nv +420 in 4♥ .
Problem F
3NT
First thoughts were that I am too strong to bid 3NT. Say partner has ♠ AKQ10xx, ♥ Kxx, ♦x, ♣ AKQ. Then would we miss the ♣ or ♠ slam? OTOH this is match point pairs and perhaps we should go for the certain 3NT +1 or +2.
Problem G
3♥
I think shows the minors. Problem: What if partner then bids 3♠? I think I will bid 3NT and hold my breath.
Problem H
Why did East double and then bid 2 suits when a response of 2♠ would have been forcing? I will leave this until I can answer that question.
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