Author Topic: Master Solvers Club - December 2019  (Read 18785 times)

Curls77

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #15 on: November 07, 2019, 06:54:53 PM »
Finaly I did not get to be too late this month :)
A) Pass
B) X
C) 2C
D) 3H
E) 2D
F) 3C
G) 3S
H) h2

jcreech

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #16 on: November 07, 2019, 08:14:31 PM »
PROBLEM H: IMPs
Both sides vulnerable
You, South, hold:
!S A2 !H QT92 !D AQ7 !C JT94

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST
1 !C2 !SPass3NT
PassPassPass

What is your opening lead?


Looking again at the lead problem.

Assume dummy has an entry. Assume it’s the !D King. If doubleton, it would be key to knock it out early before the spades could be set up. To do so I would lead the !D Ace and follow up low. My !S Ace then prevents the suit from running. If after leading the !D Ace the King does not appear in dummy, then it’s probably on my right and I’ve lost nothing. I simply stay away from the !D suit.

This stab in the dark is admittedly a long shot, but I like it far better than the !C Jack.

I find this possibility intriguing.  Even if dummy has Kxx, as the side entry, you can attack this entry successfully by following up with the Q (turning it into a Merrimac Coup), and x if necessary.
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

EddyHaskel

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #17 on: November 07, 2019, 11:31:52 PM »
PROBLEM A: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM B: 4 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM D: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM E: 2 Diamonds (4sf) if we are in notrump I want pard to declare)
PROBLEM F: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM G: 3 Spades
PROBLEM H: Club Jack

Masse24

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #18 on: November 08, 2019, 12:22:11 AM »
I find this possibility intriguing.  Even if dummy has Kxx, as the side entry, you can attack this entry successfully by following up with the Q (turning it into a Merrimac Coup), and x if necessary.
Yup. A nice reward for only a teensy bit of bravery.
Too late for me, but I would chose this now if I could. Maybe some other brave soul?
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

blubayou

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #19 on: November 08, 2019, 12:50:56 AM »
,,,
PROBLEM A:2 Clubs  loosing out to  diamond raise on three - fine.  but  100 versus FOURTY  is ridiculous!   (40)
PROBLEM B: 4 Clubs   moderator dug out  an obsure but correct agreement that double in this bidding is responsive i hate it (30)
PROBLEM C: 1 Notrump  whoopie-  almost a no brainer  but not quite                                                                                     (100)
PROBLEM D: Double !!  the iac hated this  but i THOuGHT i knew my ACBL champs  would go with me  and for once...:)(100)
PROBLEM E: 2 Diamonds  clown bidding by our betters -- Jxx is a stopper  FOOIE--  bu accepting the 90                             (90)
PROBLEM F: 2 Notrump                                               ok  i can't play BAM,  but i love it accepting my wimpy    ---->>        (30)
PROBLEM G: 3 Di   3 diams is correct  but requres pard to be totally focused.  will take my lumps vs  the simple raise          (60)
PROBLEM H: Heart 10      !  REALLY suprised to  beat out diamond ace lead  for a top  i never thought of diam ideas!       (100)
After painful searching,  i found NO BWS decision that  " [2x]  double  [3x]  double"                    550     550
  is responsive -- SO IT IS NOT.  So problem B remains the bloody mess i thought it was 3 weeks ago    <pay me.boss>
« Last Edit: November 14, 2019, 04:04:51 AM by blubayou »
often it is better to beg forgiveness, than ask permission

msphola

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #20 on: November 08, 2019, 02:39:16 PM »
prob A x
prob B x
prob C 1nt
prob D 4S
prob E 2D
prob F 3S
prob G 3D
prob H 2H

Isabelle10

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #21 on: November 08, 2019, 10:38:36 PM »
SOLVER: Carol Smith
       Aldeburgh 
       U.K.

Your Solutions for the December 2019 Contest 
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM B: 4 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM D: Double
PROBLEM E: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM F: 4 Spades
PROBLEM G: 4 Spades
PROBLEM H: Club Jack


Thank you for participating in the Master Solvers Club.

kenberg

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #22 on: November 08, 2019, 11:22:36 PM »

SOLVER: Ken Berg
        Eldersburg MD
        U.S.A.

Your Solutions for the December 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM B: Double
PROBLEM C: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM D: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM E: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM F: Pass
PROBLEM G: 3 Spades
PROBLEM H: Heart 10


As always, I have no idea how this will score. Just a couple of thoughts. On A, I would bid 2 D if I were not a passed hand since a 2C call would then be forcing. As a passed hand I think 2 C is a bit safer.

On B, there was some doubt about the X being responsive and I understand that but I did find this in the add-ons:

 System change: In a competitive sequence, when a pass would be nonforcing and no special agreement applies, a double is penalty if the doubler is limited, cooperative-takeout if the doubler is unlimited.

So "cooperative-take-out" might not be exactly the same as "responsive", but close enough I am thinking maybe.
I see the value of these as being that we will find out!

Maybe more later.
Ken

toasterln

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #23 on: November 09, 2019, 03:23:39 AM »
ToasterLN   
A.  2 C     I think this is one of the hardest problems ..  You have 10 hcp but such a flat hand....  but this gives partner a lead if he happens to be leading + you can certainly return to Diamonds
B.  Double  You have tolerance for either minor suit and you have to let Partner know that you do NOT have Spades.  If you had Spades you would bid them.  ....a responsive double here seems right.
C.  Double ...Balancing doubles are not always perfect.  If partner bids Spades , you can bid Clubs and he should know you were under pressure and have Hearts but not Spades.
D.  3 H   You have a good hand and two suits....let partner know.
E.   2 D    4th suit forcing seems perfect
F.  ....Board a match:  oh, how I hate that event!!  Seems to me the only way to win BAM is to bid 3 N  and that is my bid .
G.  3 D   bidding out the pattern of my strong hand.
H.   A Diamonds......  just in case Declarer made this 3 N bid with a singleton K Diamonds.  My partner rates to hold Diamonds here...  Declarer is ready for a H, S , or Club lead for sure.


drac

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #24 on: November 10, 2019, 08:37:26 AM »
SOLVER: Wladislaus Dragulya
        Castrum Sex
        Romania

Your Solutions for the December 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 1 Notrump
PROBLEM D: Double
PROBLEM E: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM F: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM G: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM H: Club Jack

cheers,
Vlad (DrAculea on BBO)

southuist

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #25 on: November 11, 2019, 09:04:11 AM »


SOLVER: Annabel Barnett
        Brackley
        England
 
Your Solutions for the December 2019 Contest
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM B: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM C: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM D: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM E: 2 Diamonds
PROBLEM F: Pass
PROBLEM G: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM H: Club Jack
Phew managed to get this accepted by a whisker.  And did it quickly, probably too quickly.  Good luck everyone.

kenberg

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #26 on: November 11, 2019, 10:07:35 PM »
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 2 Clubs                 40
PROBLEM B: Double                100
PROBLEM C: 1 Notrump           100
PROBLEM D: 3 Hearts                40
PROBLEM E: 2 Notrump            100
PROBLEM F: Pass                     100
PROBLEM G: 3 Spades              100
PROBLEM H: Heart 10              100

                                              680

Uh huh. They were tough on scoring, with the second choice getting 40. It was problem H, the lead problem, that I most expected to score badly.
Ken

Masse24

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #27 on: November 11, 2019, 10:35:54 PM »

They were tough on scoring, with the second choice getting 40.

BRUTAL TOUGH on scoring! Lots of second choice 40's. You either get it right or go home.  >:( We'll need to wait until the magazine arrives to find out who the director was, but in the past the most brutal scorer has been Kleinman.

Kicking myself on "D." I could smell the double scoring best.
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

Masse24

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #28 on: November 11, 2019, 10:44:43 PM »
SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.

PROBLEM A: 2 Diamonds         100
PROBLEM B: Double                100
PROBLEM C: 2 Clubs                 60
PROBLEM D: 3 Hearts               40
PROBLEM E: 2 Notrump           100
PROBLEM F: Pass                    100
PROBLEM G: 3 Spades             100
PROBLEM H: Heart 10              100

                                             700

Like Ken said, tough scoring this month.
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

jcreech

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Re: Master Solvers Club - December 2019
« Reply #29 on: November 12, 2019, 11:11:29 AM »
Brutal set.  Thank you all for participating.

NAMEBW-SCORERANKMPs
Masse24     700   1   30
KenBerg     680   2   25
WackoJack     610   3   10
EddyHaskel     580   4   1
BluBayou     550   5   1
ToasterLn     530   6   1
Jcreech     520   7   1
Curls77     510   8   1
DrAculea     490   9   1
BabsG     480   10   1
MsPhola     480   10   1
Isabelle10     430   12   1
Southuist     400   13   1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Todd and Ken also received bonuses for making the Bridge World Honor Roll - Congratulations!

Note:  An error in BluBayou's score has been corrected (11/13).
« Last Edit: November 14, 2019, 12:01:35 AM by jcreech »
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran