IAC Forums
Chew the Fat! => IAC & Master Solvers Club => Topic started by: Masse24 on June 03, 2019, 11:37:47 AM
-
July MSC
One week remains. Get your MSC thinking caps on.
July MSC problems can be found here: https://www.bridgeworld.com/indexphp.php?page=/pages/msc/mastersolversmainpage.html
-
July guesses:
PROBLEM A: 3NT. Close. My second choice, 3 !D , is too heavy. But the 3NT indicating a solid !D suit is not quite as “solid” as I would like.
PROBLEM B: 3NT. My second choice, a rather esoteric 3 !H, should pigeonhole my shape (two !S ) and willingness to cooperate further or play the 5-2 !S fit.
PROBLEM C: 5 !C. To double then pull partner’s 4 !S to 5 !C to show this hand does not appeal to me. Also, 5 !C (minimally) protects my !D honor.
PROBLEM D: Dbl. What else? [ADDED]: Although I stayed with my first choice, I think 2 !H is very close. It is not too strong for a 2 !H overcall, in my opinion.
PROBLEM E: 3 !D. I am torn on this one (what’s new?). Partner is probably short in !D. Because partner is not flat (see BWS and note on Problem F). I am tempted to try a Walsh type 2 !S , which should deny four !S , but show Hxx and an invite. But how Walshy is BWS?
PROBLEM F: 1NT. A beginnerish call--today I’m a beginner. A race to 1NT—and this will be the explanation by a few of the panel. It’s MP. My second choice is to pass! [ADDED]: The lack of a !S bid from anyone at the table is enough to push me to choose 1NT. This is a "first to 1NT wins" hand.
PROBLEM G: Pass. A possible misfit with partner. Second choice is 2 !D .
PROBLEM H: !H T. Second choice is obviously one of the Aces, but which one? !C A would be a good choice . . . to get a peek at the dummy. Not a tactic I often use. [ADDED] I changed my mind here--going with the !C Ace. I'd lead the !H 10 against 1S-4S, but this preempt auction is different. The !C Ace is less likely to blow a trick directly because any opposing picture cards in clubs are most likely not on my right. The !H 10 might allow a declarer to dump a loser, too. (The !H 10 will be the runaway solver choice.) Admittedly, this is a high variance action.
First guesses. Will look again in a day or so, after some of the IAC cognoscenti chime in! :)
SUBMITTED BELOW ANSWERS:
SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 5 Clubs
PROBLEM D: Double
PROBLEM E: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM F: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM G: Pass
PROBLEM H: Club Ace
-
Submitted
A 3N wtp?
B My very first look up of BWS noting that 1m-2 !S is a Flannery type response. I have a good 14, so I must either bid game or make a forcing bid. I also assume that with 1444 partner would open 1 !D. 3 !H must be looking for more info and partner may get the message to bid 4 !S with 6 and 3NT with 5 but I am not taking the chance I bid 3NT.
C 5 !C
D Double
E Partner is likely to have 6 !C + 4 !S so misfit. I cannot rule out that a Moysian 4 !S might make or 3NT but I am going for the low road. I bid 1NT
F 1NT
G 2 !D as all other bids look worse
H Crossed my mind to make an unusual lead like 2 !D, but rejected it. A passive 10 !H.
-
SOLVER: Wladislaus Dragwlya
Castrum Sex
Romania
Your Solutions for the July 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 5 Clubs
PROBLEM D: Double
PROBLEM E: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM F: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM G: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM H: Heart 10
-
A: 3NT. Too good for 3D, but doesn't seem much use in jumping to 3C.
B: 3NT. But what does 2NT mean in this sequence? I don't like the idea of 2NT being a signoff. I asked this on the BBO forums (https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/80324-xyz-openers-continuations-after-invite/) a few months ago and everyone had a different opinion. I liked the last idea of a max with doubleton spade, which this is.. but since I don't expect my partner to know what 2NT means either, I'll just bid the game.
C: 5C - can't see any alternative.
D: Dbl - also can't see any alternative.
E: 1N, but equally torn between about 4 different bids.
F: 1N - if they have 7 tricks, good for them.
G: Pass, though it's quite a gamble.
H: HT like everyone else.
-
I keep telling myself that I need to stop this procrastination but I never get around to it.
SOLVER: Ken Berg
Your Solutions for the July 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 3 Notrump
Here I figure I must be missing something. As I see it, this is what 3NT shows and it's what I have.
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
I suppose there might be something to be said for 2H. Can partner be 6-4 and bid this way, or would he then bid 2H over the 2D? I decided I don't care, if he is 6-4 it should play fine in spades. And I assume he will not pass 3NT if he is 6-4. I also assume that if he is 5-4 in the majors then his bid over 2D would have been 2H, so 6-4 is the only issue.
PROBLEM C: 5 Clubs
As has been noted, it's not all that great a bid but I don't see any reasonable alternative
PROBLEM D: Double
If partner bids 3S I will bid 3NT, that should give him a reasonable idea of what I have, and if he bids 4S over my double, not all that likely but possible, I would be tempted to bid 5D.
PROBLEM E: 2 Spades
Todd asked just how Walshy BWS is and the answer is perhaps pretty Walshy but with exceptions. My thinking is that if pard has a minimum then he will pass and this could well be the right contract. If he has more I would like it if he allows for other contracts than 4S but is he doesn't, it still could be the right contract.
PROBLEM F: 1 Notrump
This is a very frustrating hand. And it also gets to just how Walshy BWS is. With a dedicated Walshite I might well consider 2C since he will have five clubs to bid this way. But BWS, while saying that pard cannot be 4=4=2=3 doesn't rule out 4=4=1=4. Of course it also does not seem to rule out 2=4=3=4, in which case 2D is right. I assume partner, if 1=4=2=6, will get us out of NT at his turn. And yes, I would like the NT to be played from his side. Among other things, he would have to play it. Maybe 1S is right, I think 1S is some sort of wishy-washy call, not necessarily showing spades and not game forcing. I should look that up.
PROBLEM G: 2 Diamonds
Pard would make a negative double with four spades and a six count so I am not really enthusiastic about leaving this in. I bid a pessimistic 2D.
PROBLEM H: Spade 8
Yes, I know, this might pickle partner's Q, But all leads have issues, I think this is the least likley to help declarer and maybe it cuts down on ruffs. In the old days that 4S call showed five spades but not I think it is often done with four spades and a stiff. If we can hold him to, say, two ruffs we might beat this
-
SOLVER: Babs Giesbrecht
Qualicum Beach BC
Canada
Your Solutions for the July 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 5 Clubs
PROBLEM D: 2 Hearts
PROBLEM E: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM F: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM G: Pass
PROBLEM H: Heart 10
Congratulations Todd!! Right up there are the top of the leaderboard once more. Very cool!!!!
-
SOLVER: Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.
Your Solutions for the July 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 3 Notrump 100
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump 100
PROBLEM C: 5 Clubs 100
PROBLEM D: Double 100
PROBLEM E: 3 Diamonds 100
PROBLEM F: 1 Notrump 100
PROBLEM G: Pass 80
PROBLEM H: Club Ace 100
TOTAL --------------------- 780
A very, very good month. My highest single month total ever and second highest placing (third). But did my rationale coincide with the panel's? Looking forward to the Bridge World to arrive in a week.
-
Collapsing in the home stretch:
Ken Berg
PROBLEM A: 3 Notrump 100
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump 100
PROBLEM C: 5 Clubs 100
PROBLEM D: Double 100
PROBLEM E: 2 Spades 100
PROBLEM F: 1 Notrump 100
PROBLEM G: 2 Diamonds 60
PROBLEM H: Spade 8 0
Not too tough to do the addition :) 660
-
PROBLEM E: 2 Spades
Todd asked just how Walshy BWS is and the answer is perhaps pretty Walshy but with exceptions. My thinking is that if pard has a minimum then he will pass and this could well be the right contract. If he has more I would like it if he allows for other contracts than 4S but is he doesn't, it still could be the right contract.
(https://cdn1.imggmi.com/uploads/2019/6/11/00e33eec877f26cda1d76dfe80eaa748-full.jpg) (https:///) (https://imggmi.com)
Ken, I was chicken to try this. I'm impressed you went out on a limb. Interesting that both 3 !D and 2 !S received a score of 100. I actually like the 2 !S more.
-
Monster Point winners for:
July, 2019
Name BW Points MP Award MP Bonus
Masse24 780 20 10
smerriman 680 15
kenberg 660 10
wackojack 660 10
bAbsG 650 660 1 10
DrAculea 640 1
and four private participants 1 each
Corrected after putting together a spreadsheet to automate scoring - apologies to bABsG for the missed kudo