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Messages - Masse24

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61
Sleight of Hand / Re: How to bid to 3NT?
« on: March 21, 2023, 02:34:54 AM »
I think finding 3NT is difficult.

Just so I'm clear on the auction:
P  -  (p) - 1 !H - (p)
1N - (2 !C) - P - (p)
2 !H - all pass.

By putting the opponent's bids in parentheses, reader's can differentiate between bids.

Responder is thin for 2NT over 2 !C, though it's possible. 2 !H, though showing only two hearts, was mildly timid. Opener has a bit more than minimum, so even though partner denied having spades, opener might consider a cooperative double to show a desire to continue but with no clear bid. With both of you taking the low road you're never reaching this thin game.

But I think your result was quite normal.

62
IAC & Master Solvers Club / 2023 MAY MSC
« on: March 02, 2023, 11:01:13 PM »
MAY 2023 MSC
Deadline: MARCH 31 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Submit your MAY 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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63
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 APRIL MSC
« on: March 01, 2023, 08:11:37 PM »
April Results

CCR3 led the IAC solvers with 760!  Yleexotee and BluBayou were tied at 750. The Bridge World honor roll this month required a minimum of 750. A high scoring month.

NAMEBW-SCORE
CCR3     760   
BluBayou     750 
YleeXotee     750   
        
        

Also participating this month were:  JCreech, Masse24, DickHy, BabsG, Hoki, VeeRee, VeredK, WackoJack.

Congratulations to all!

64
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 APRIL MSC
« on: March 01, 2023, 12:52:51 AM »
Strain before game; game before slam.

I fear I may have been hasty on Problem "G." Is it too late to switch to 3 !S? That 3 !S cannot be natural. Presumably it "shows a problem" in spades but keeps 3NT open as a resting place. 3 !H however, could be construed as a doubleton Hx. Would partner be willing to bail in a 5-2 heart fit? Maybe. 

It was my second choice when I made the pick, thinking it slightly Zia-esque, but now I think it's quite normal. Who knows, maybe the panel will save me.  :-[

65
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 APRIL MSC
« on: February 28, 2023, 12:30:48 AM »
APRIL GUESSES:

PROBLEM A: 3 Diamonds
My Hamman-o-meter dinged once, then stopped. Although the panel is aggressive, I don't feel it's quite worth the 3NT gamble.

PROBLEM B: 3 Clubs
Game try. Who knows which game.

PROBLEM C: 1 Notrump
A bit of a tease? So similar to last week's "WTP unanimous?" problem. But it's different.

PROBLEM D: Double
A bit out there but it's flexible. I have the values, but that's all. And I'm only short one club. We're vulnerable and overcalling at the two level on an Ace-empty suit is not my choice. Same with pushing us to the three-level with nothing but shape. I actually think some may pass.

PROBLEM E: 2 Clubs
Do not like my heart void. Not worth 2NT. Almost worth 3 !C, but my suit quality and void in partner's suit convince me to go low.

PROBLEM F: 1 Club
Risky. Banking on red suit calls at a high level allowing me to stick in a spade bid to give partner a choice. "Normal" is of course opening 1 !S.

PROBLEM G: 3 Hearts
Control. At least that's how I intend it. I hope it's not taken as !H Hx.

PROBLEM H: Spade 10
Passive. I see no indication another suit would be better. I assume this will be the popular solver choice. The panel will tell me why a diamond is best.


66
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 APRIL MSC
« on: February 27, 2023, 03:53:47 PM »
Quote from: jcreech on February 27, 2023, 03:20:37 PM
Quote from: DickHy on February 27, 2023, 08:42:13 AM
On F, I bow to the wisdom of others.  Opening 1 !S means I'll be re-bidding  !C at the 4-level (assuming partner will respond and/or there's a red suit overcall).  Opening 2 !C means re-bidding  !C one level higher.

66 hands don't come up often.  Mind you, I can't remember the last time I pre-empted 3 !C.  I can imagine a scheme for opening 66 hands 3 !C, responder relays, then 3 !H shows the reds, 3 !S the blacks and 3N mixed.  If opponents make a suit overcall, x would show the other colours and 3N mixed.  Over 3N, responder bids Hx/xxx suits up the line (while holding the Book of Common Prayer) [making dodgy bids is bad enough - suggesting systems is way OTT, Ed].

One way to keep the bidding lower if you fear a red-suit barrage is to open 1 !C.  This is from Danny Kleinman in last month's Panel:  "I object to the problem, because (a) with equal length and strength in the blacks, I would bid clubs ahead of spades, and (b) because of the rigid BWS requirements for a natural positive two-heart response.  Given the straitjacket, I would have risked a one-club opening."  Playing with Brian Platnik (after his Junior WC, but well before his more recent successes), the one thing he insisted on was that if I were 5-5 or 6-6 in the black suits, I was to open 1 !C.  This is hardly a consensus expert practice, but there are some who are rigid adherents.  Just as there are those who rigidly insist on the partnership opening a major whenever they have five or longer in a major (Steve Robinson quickly come to mind).  In MSC, to score well, you have to follow the Panel majority; at the table, you have to choose your own partnership path and follow it.

At work, so this will be quick. I've not looked at all of the problems yet, but wanted to chime in on this one.

Jim . . . you beat me to it in mentioning the viability of 1 !C. I agree that 1 !S is "normal," and the current practice. And yes, opening 1 !C then bidding and rebidding !S shows longer clubs. But importantly imagine how the auction might go. With all those red cards out I can envision a high-level second bid. This possibility makes 1 !C a more attractive choice. It's because of the possibility of the opponent's overcalling a red suit and a high level raise.

The suit quality also gives the club suit some extra "oomph" over the spade suit. A little squint and it looks like a seven card suit. ;)

As far as opening 2 !C, it's hard to convey the strength of this hand without doing so. But I open two-suited hands 2 !C about 1% of the time. With all those missing red cards 2 !C is not necessary.

I haven't pulled the trigger yet, and while 1 !S may be "normal" and popular, 1 !C is a definite maybe!


67
Sleight of Hand / Re: How to get to slam?
« on: February 14, 2023, 02:19:06 PM »
The auction started off poorly.

Over 1 !H, with a four-card spade suit AND a game-force hand, begin with a game-force response of 2-of-a-minor. This makes for a much more comfortable auction.

Imagine, for example, that responder has a five-card spade suit and wishes to inquire about a possible fit. The auction begins with 1 !H – 1 !S – 2 !D – now what? To force to game and inquire about a fit, responder must either bid it or trot out a 4th suit forcing call of 3 !C (artificial). Yuk!

Keep in mind that bypassing 1 !S after a 1 !H open DOES NOT deny a four card spade suit if responder has GF values.

With the hand as shown, my auction could go a couple of ways:

1 !H – 2 !C – 2 !D – 2 !S – 2NT – 3NT – 4NT – 6NT

Where 2 !C establishes the GF
2 !D shows four or more diamonds
2 !S shows four spades which is still in play as a strain. It also denies three hearts.
2NT patterns out showing either 3=5=4=1 or 2=5=4=2. Also, usually, 12-14 HCP.
3NT to play.
4NT invitational to 6NT showing (17)18-19.
6NT accepts with 15 HCP.

or . . .

1 !H – 2 !C – 2 !D – 3NT - 6NT

Where 2 !C establishes the GF
2 !D shows four or more diamonds
3NT denies three hearts, denies four diamonds, and because of the jump shows "extras." Most people play in the range of 15-17. NO FAST ARRIVAL IN NOTRUMP!
6NT accepts with 17 HCP and a five card suit

I'm not nearly as fond of this auction due to the jump. That !H AQ could be huge for a possible fit and partner has not yet denied having six of them.

Other auctions are possible. The key takeaway is to bypass 1 !S with GF values and only four spades when partner opens 1 !H to establish the GF.

68
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MARCH MSC
« on: February 07, 2023, 11:52:02 PM »
Quote from: Masse24 on January 21, 2023, 06:35:47 PM
PROBLEM E:

Like Jim, I am loath to open 2 !C with two suiters. Most of the time. This hand, however, demands it.

It seems partner has some values and some hearts, though not a suit good enough to respond 2 !H (maybe !H KTxxx or similar?). So WHAT IS 4 !D ? Surely it cannot be an offer of strain. Can it? We have shown a two-suited hand. To offer a new suit at the four level is nuts. So what is it?

I think it's a good club raise (flag bid). It does NOT necessarily show a control (there is not enough room to pack all of that into the bid). Could it include the !D A? Yes.

How to find out . . .

Has anyone ever made an Exclusion KCB bid in partner's suit?

!S AKQ654 - !H-void  - !D K - !C AKJ932

Someone posted this MSC hand to Gavin Wolpert's website today in the 2 !C opening area. One question asked was, if choosing between 5NT and 6 !C, what would Gavin's continuation be?

Gavin chose 6 !C. Quote: "4 !D from partner should be a good hand for clubs in your auction. There is no reason for partner to introduce diamonds at this point in the auction."

I replied with, "Like you Gavin, I argued that 4 !D was a "good club raise" since there was no need to offer it as a possible strain. I even went so far as to suggest the possibility of a leap to 5 !H in the hopes partner would take it as Exclusion for Clubs. But I didn't have the guts to do it in "partner's suit," so went with the "practical" 6 !C."

He agreed, stating, " Yes exactly. I would have bid exclusion if I could trust my partner's 4 !D bid for a club fit."

I know there were no panel votes for it, and even I went for the bid I thought would score. But I was glad to see someone else agreed with my interpretation of 4 !D and the possibility of 5 !H.

Now we wait for the panel's thoughts.  ;D ;) :o

69
IAC & Master Solvers Club / 2023 APRIL MSC
« on: February 03, 2023, 01:20:19 AM »
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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70
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MARCH MSC
« on: February 01, 2023, 07:49:41 PM »
Quote from: blubayou on February 01, 2023, 05:49:24 PM
Nice predicting  on prob.D, Todd!   KQTx,AQ, xxx, AKxx      1c, (1h), p, [p] " ONE NOTRUMP--unanimous by the panel"      25 out of 28 qualifies

If only I could predict "unanimous" on the other seven.

71
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MARCH MSC
« on: February 01, 2023, 07:27:19 PM »
March Results

Masse24 and BluBayou led the IAC solvers with 710, a tie!  Wackojack was third with 670. The Bridge World honor roll this month required a minimum of 720. Close but no cigar.

NAMEBW-SCORERANKMPs
BluBayou     710   1   100
Masse24     710   1   90
Wackojack     690   3   80
        
        

Also participating this month were:  JCreech, BabsG, Yleexotee, Hoki, CCR3, VeeRee, VeredK.

Congratulations to all!

72
IAC Pairs Ladder / Re: will pairs ladder ever start again?
« on: January 30, 2023, 01:13:12 AM »
Quote from: palych on January 29, 2023, 09:51:38 PM
How about using this? https://apex.oracle.com/pls/apex/r/palych/iac/

Nice Work.

But this measures individuals, not pairs. Probably a necessary evil since the whole concept of a pairs ladder seems to have died. It at least makes use of existing IAC tournaments.

One comment though: it puts a lot of emphasis on attendance. Clearly those who participate in the most tournaments will accumulate the most . . . "points." Sort of like the ACBL, which is doles out attendance prizes in the form of Masterpoints. Can you create a weighted average with a certain minimum number of tournaments required before it kicks in? That would seem to be a more accurate reflection of performance.

Again, Nice Work!

73
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MARCH MSC
« on: January 29, 2023, 01:17:55 AM »
MARCH GUESSES:


PROBLEM A: Pass
Partner is likely 34 or 43 in the majors. In which major does he have four? I choose to sidestep the problem and pass.

PROBLEM B: Pass
Stronger than 2 !S, but not quite as pushy as 3 !D (which may be best as it is very informative). Tough problem.

PROBLEM C: 3 Hearts
Support with support. Making the best use of space, if I could rebid 2 !S and promise six I would. But that is not BWS. If I did rebid 2 !S then support hearts later, it might be construed as Hx.

PROBLEM D: 1 Notrump
WTP? Unanimous by the panel?

PROBLEM E: 6 Clubs
I would like to get fancy with a bold 5 !H, but I'm worried it could be misunderstood. I believe Kantar wrote about an exclusion bid in his partner's first suit but had never had the guts to try it. Me too.

PROBLEM F: 4 Spades
Worth a slam move.

PROBLEM G: 3 Spades
I never, ever splinter with a stiff ace. But I will here. I would like to bid a forcing 3 !H. And it should be forcing. But in a search through BWS I did not find that it was so this is my next best "slam move" option.

PROBLEM H: Spade 2
Should be the most popular choice by both the panel and solvers. Am I missing something?



74
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 MARCH MSC
« on: January 21, 2023, 06:35:47 PM »
PROBLEM E:

Like Jim, I am loath to open 2 !C with two suiters. Most of the time. This hand, however, demands it.

It seems partner has some values and some hearts, though not a suit good enough to respond 2 !H (maybe !H KTxxx or similar?). So WHAT IS 4 !D ? Surely it cannot be an offer of strain. Can it? We have shown a two-suited hand. To offer a new suit at the four level is nuts. So what is it?

I think it's a good club raise (flag bid). It does NOT necessarily show a control (there is not enough room to pack all of that into the bid). Could it include the !D A? Yes.

How to find out . . .

Has anyone ever made an Exclusion KCB bid in partner's suit?

75
IAC & Master Solvers Club / Re: 2023 February MSC
« on: January 17, 2023, 01:07:59 AM »
On problem "B" I was curious as to why 3 !D was better than 3 !H. I remain in the dark.

Though Blu perhaps summed it up best with, "I will bid my one card." Still, at Matchpoints I thought the suit quality close enough to prefer the major over the minor. I still do.

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