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Messages - Masse24

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46
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 September MSC
« on: July 27, 2023, 04:58:00 PM »
Problem A: 3NT

I've got a totally different take on this one, Blu. No jump-shift, so limited to about 17 or so. But partner is probing with 3 !D, presumably for 3NT? He should have about 16-17 HCP and a potential problem in diamonds.

I am max and have diamonds controlled. So it's 3NT.

I'm having a hard time coming up with another reasonable call. On second thought, I suppose a 0=5=4=4 hand is possible.

47
IAC & Master Solvers Club / 2023 September MSC
« on: July 02, 2023, 07:15:27 PM »
SEPTEMBER 2023 MSC
Deadline: JULY 31 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Submit your SEPTEMBER 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

If you post to The Bridge World you will receive a confirmation immediately and by email. It is preferred that you copy/paste that confirmation as it is easy to read due to the formatting. (Thanks!)

Also, if you post to The Bridge World those will be your official bids. If you make a mistake (try not to as it has happened), you must live with it.

*     *     *

48
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 AUGUST MSC
« on: June 29, 2023, 08:05:56 PM »
August 2023 Contest


SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes


PROBLEM A: 4 Notrump
A safe inquiry since I hold the queen, therefore no response (except 2 keys and a void) gets me too high.

PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
Not sure what partner is up to, but I’ about as flat as can be. If he is groping for a diamond slam let’s hope he is strong enough to continue.

PROBLEM C: 4 Hearts
I haven’t pulled a “Woop-de-woop” bid in some time. Here is a good example. This will either score 40 or 100 with the former more likely. This should (I would think) deny four spades, but still keep 4 !S in the picture should partner have !S AKxx. Does it imply three? I hope so.

PROBLEM D: Double
Not selling out to the 2-level.

PROBLEM E: 4 Spades
Is 4 !C better? It forces.

PROBLEM F: (f)


PROBLEM G: 4 Hearts
Partner is almost guaranteed to have four hearts, so I’ll choose the one-level-lower contract as opposed to the 5-level minor. It’s IMPs --- so it’s a close call.

PROBLEM H: Spade 9
I’m not going to buck the time-worn suggestion of leading trump against a grand. It should score decently at worst. But I worry the Diamond deuce might be the lead that defeats this. There is not enough information to direct me to do otherwise.


49
IAC & Master Solvers Club / 2023 AUGUST MSC
« on: June 03, 2023, 10:45:15 AM »
AUGUST 2023 MSC
Deadline: JUNE 30 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Submit your AUGUST 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

If you post to The Bridge World you will receive a confirmation immediately and by email. It is preferred that you copy/paste that confirmation as it is easy to read due to the formatting. (Thanks!)

Also, if you post to The Bridge World those will be your official bids. If you make a mistake (try not to as it has happened), you must live with it.

*     *     *

50
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 JULY MSC
« on: June 01, 2023, 12:24:45 AM »
SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes

PROBLEM A: 4 Spades
Partner may simply have a choice of games for his 4 !D call. I've already shown extras by doubling at the three level. While I do have a bit more, I'm going to allow partner to make the slam move.

PROBLEM B: 3 Clubs
Somewhat of a system agreement question. I believe that over 1 !D a 2 !C response shows 5+. A 2 !D rebid in this auction absolutely shows 5+, so that is out. And although my shape is right for 2NT, my "stoppers" are lacking. So . . . support with support.

PROBLEM C: 3 Spades
Showing something, but not enough to bid 3NT.

PROBLEM D: 3 Clubs
Partner has some sort of 0=4=5=4 opening hand or close. Not going to punish him for the prebalance.

PROBLEM E: 3 Clubs
Clearly showing extras. The quality of the club suit is such that I prefer to show it rather than double.

PROBLEM F: 3 Notrump
I've shown values with my initial pass. This is sort of an interesting call since it conveys the nature of my hand. Partner is clearly short in diamonds, so will likely make another call. But if he passes, that's okay.

PROBLEM G: 3 Hearts
Too strong to pass. Not right to double. That leaves this ambiguous cuebid. Hopefully, we can agree on a suit.

PROBLEM H: Club 6
I'm not imaginative enough to come up with something better.


51
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 JUNE MSC
« on: May 18, 2023, 02:13:53 AM »
Blu, at the table I would pass 1 !S and would not give it a second thought.


52
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 JUNE MSC
« on: May 15, 2023, 04:21:22 PM »
Quote from: jcreech on May 15, 2023, 02:27:31 AM
June MSC SUMMARY (Part 2) – Danny Kleinman, Director

Problem D  2 !S  (YleeXotee, JCreech, Hoki)

Matchpoints  Neither side vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ J 9 3   ♥ A K J   ♦ A K Q 10 4   ♣ J 7

SOUTH   WEST   NORTH   EAST
  ——       1 ♠       Pass      Pass
Double*   Pass     2 ♥       Pass
   ?         
*BWS: 2 NT would have shown 18-19 HCP

What call do you make?

2 ♠   100   BWP 52%   BWS 45% IAC 43%
An interesting new rule emerged.  Joel Wooldridge: 

This matches a rule of mine: a takeout double followed by a cue-bid most often shows three-card support for advancer's suit and about 18 high-card points.  Other hand-types are possible, but this is what partner should assume, as it's the most common." 

Clearly other subscribe to this rule.  For example, Brian Platnick describes the bid:  "The most-likely hand for cue-bidding here is extras with three-card support."  Similarly, Phillip Alder writes: "Surely this cue-bi, which typically shows a strong hand with three-card support for partner's major, will win in a landslide."  Zia:  "Two spades implies fewer than four hearts, most likely three."  Others are less certain.  JCreech is awaiting further developments:  "A nebulous cue-bid.  I want to show support, but leave room for more description.  This cue takes up the least space, and maybe I will hear something I like."  As are Hoki: "in the hope of coping with any continuation (3D over 3C should show heart support)" and Jeff Alexander "I hope partner will know what to do."


Agree, Jim. I had not heard this before. If "expert standard," I'll want to add it to my arsenal. It seems like a good use for it since there is no other way to express that hand.

53
IAC & Master Solvers Club / 2023 JULY MSC
« on: May 02, 2023, 12:01:20 PM »
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

If you post to The Bridge World you will receive a confirmation immediately and by email. It is preferred that you copy/paste that confirmation as it is easy to read due to the formatting. (Thanks!)

Also, if you post to The Bridge World those will be your official bids. If you make a mistake (try not to as it has happened), you will have to live with it.

*     *     *

54
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 JUNE MSC
« on: May 01, 2023, 05:54:12 PM »
June Results

Masse24 and Hoki led the IAC solvers with 700 and 690 respectively. JCreech and YleeXotee were close behind with 670.

The Bridge World honor roll this month required a minimum of 690 (Hoki and Masse24 both making the honor roll). A low scoring--and very difficult--month.

NAMEBW-SCORE
Masse24     700   
Hoki     690 
JCreech     670   
YleeXotee     670   
        

Also participating this month were:  BabsG, BluBayou, CCR3, VeredK.

Congratulations to all!

55
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 JUNE MSC
« on: May 01, 2023, 12:39:41 AM »
JUNE GUESSES:

PROBLEM A: 5 Clubs
PROBLEM B: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM D: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM E: 4 Spades
PROBLEM F: 4 Hearts
PROBLEM G: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM H: Heart Ace

PROBLEM A: 5 Clubs
Should have play. An exploratory splinter, or even 3 !H (my second choice) accomplishes what? What sort of perfecto does partner need for slam to be decent?

PROBLEM B: 1NT
Ten third is stopperish. Keeps things alive if partner has more to say.

PROBLEM C: 2 Diamonds
Unanimous?

PROBLEM D: 3 Diamonds
Really tough problem. 2 Spades is tempting, to elicit more information, but that’s a game-force and I’m just a bit short on values. 3 Hearts (my second choice) with only three is also tempting. But 3 Diamonds gets my values across and leaves the door open for partner to continue with a few values.

PROBLEM E: 4 Spades
This one confuses me a bit. I think 4 Diamonds will be the popular solver choice, but it doesn’t feel right. Can 4 Spades be interpreted as shaping out? Can it be passed? It is Matchpoints.

PROBLEM F: 4 Hearts
We belong in Hearts since Club ruffs need to be taken in the short hand. Even if we only get one ruff I can envision game, so I will accept. Partner should have a 4=3=5=1 hand with 16 (or possibly 17) HCP. Maybe a hand like: !S KQ93 - !H K94 - !D AKJT7 - !C 2 ???  Can that hand make game? I hope so.

PROBLEM G: 1NT
KnR on this hand is 17.9. Knowing that, if we choose NOT to open 1NT, do we open 1C or 1D?  I think I’ll stick with the slightly overstrength 1NT.

PROBLEM H: Heart Ace
I’ve recently developed a distaste for lead problems.

56
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MAY MSC
« on: April 26, 2023, 07:56:29 PM »
Quote from: blubayou on April 26, 2023, 01:45:12 AM
On problem F, where we were asked to raise 1 heart or not raise it  with  KJx, Kxx, AKxxx,  98, ZIA's comment :  "If you don't know by now that this the winning bid, it's probably too late." infuriated me. Then I noticed  the 72% agreement from the panel which changed my mood to merely  'depressed'.  I have played about 400,000 bridge hands since 1963,  and raising hearts with this hand is not even on my  "let's have a little fun" list,  so I guess it's well and truly  too late for me :o

Blu, I too have not fully embraced raising on three. I rarely do it. And although I know Spiral and know 3344, I do not advertise it 'cuz my three card raises are so few and far between. When I do raise with three I generally limit them to when I have a stiff somewhere.

This panel result has me thinking that I need to rethink. Sigh . . .

57
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 JUNE MSC
« on: April 22, 2023, 01:49:10 AM »
Just looked at June now.
As to the lead problem, I think partner's double is screaming for a heart lead to his void. But I want to maintain control of the suit, so I'll underlead my !H Ace. The !H J looks right, asking for a spade return (the ace?).

On second thought --- probably not. I lead stiffs more than I should. Why stop now?

Nothing set in stone. I hate am not fond of lead problems.

58
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MAY MSC
« on: April 22, 2023, 01:37:47 AM »
Thanks, Jim!

59
IAC & Master Solvers Club / 2023 JUNE MSC
« on: April 04, 2023, 02:11:10 AM »
JUNE 2023 MSC
Deadline: APRIL 30 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Submit your JUNE 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

If you post to The Bridge World you will receive a confirmation immediately and by email. It is preferred that you copy/paste that confirmation as it is easy to read due to the formatting. (Thanks!)

Also, if you post to The Bridge World those will be your official bids. If you make a mistake (try not to as it has happened), you will have to live with it.

*     *     *

60
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MAY MSC
« on: April 02, 2023, 08:39:35 PM »
May Results

CCR3 and Masse24 led the IAC solvers with 760. JCreech was close behind with 740. BabsG had a 720. The Bridge World honor roll this month required a minimum of 710. A high scoring month.

NAMEBW-SCORE
Masse24     760   
CCR3     760 
JCreech     740   
        
        

Also participating this month were:  BluBayou, BabsG, VeredK, YleeXoTee.

Congratulations to all!

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