Author Topic: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB  (Read 9716 times)

Masse24

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2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« on: June 16, 2020, 03:31:45 PM »
AUGUST 2020 MSC

Deadline: JULY 10 at 9:00 a.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


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blubayou

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2020, 10:42:12 PM »

PROBLEM E:>>  Since I have gotten on my high horse over the following problem  ( F ),  I might as well vote my heart on this "MSC-horror-hand #2" .  In my live partnerships,  two spades shows "this hand"--better clubs would be nice,  since partner's  "I want out" rebid is 3 clubs,  but he will be playing diamonds this time anyway.  They throw this problem at us every 8 months or so,   and a few good panelists  do bid 2 spades, usually without expecting it to be taken as the equivalent of a 3C jump rebid, nor a fragment  ,  so  I am hoping for a 60  this month.   If responder had bid 1 spade,  there would be several votes for the fake reverse into AKJ of diamonds, and mentions of it by those who chose some different rebid.  There should be a sequence analageous for the case in hand,  and it starts with two spades, IMO.
         ---  TWO Spades--


PROBLEM F:>>  The VERY FIRST sentence  in BWS2017 /  Over our 1 of a minor   says"We skip diamonds to show our major on less than invitational hands " (unless possibly when  4-6).  Given that,  the hint below this problem  is a howling mistake.   "1S being natural and possibly weak  is out the window , and good riddance.  I play  that 1 spade here  is a "punt"  a mark-time bid,  and so should every pair that plays "bypass diamonds over one club",  while TWO spades is natural and showing the same good hand that was prepared to reverse out of openers expected 1NT rebid.  It's too logical to dispute actually.   So my vote is to use this convention here,  and sadly when partner re-rebids 1NT,  i am obliged to raise that.  Likewise,  if he rebids his clubs, or supports my diamonds, I can rebid 3 clubs, showing "a hand worth two bids"  and all should be fine.
  --- ONE SPADE  chisled in granite.


PROBLEM G:>>    Double,  for now --  not chisled in anything:(

PROBLEM H:>>    How can we NOT 'cash' our heart?   maybe the one-looser suit  is KQJTxx without the ace in dummy?


problem A--->   If this is a freakish deal,  partner needs to hear from me NOW, so I am raising.  If 2 spades is the garden spot,  I apologise, and if partner goes to four with a good-but-NORMaL hand he might apologise.  Too much time handling BBO's special dealing skils  I fear.


problem B --->  May THE LAW  protect this sad underbid  of 2 Diamonds.  I am really counting on a heart rebid somewhere,  whereupon  i will follow up with 2 Spades then things are all better.   My second choice  was a jump to 2 Spades on the first round  --but one jump per month into a good 3-card spade holding per month  is enough,   and we all used that one up  on problem E.


problem C--->  Thanks for the footnote,  bridge world.  This is a clear inverted raise to me,  but not if  "our" systems says we cannot crash in 2NT--which puzzles me no end.  So  i vothe for  "1 diamond"  not willing to get another 10 points for bidding another forward-going  notrump bid with both majors  at xxx.    who voted this footnote into our system?


problem D--->  pass  --- with the intention of leaving in the double trying for 500+. too tired to mull this over today june 29th


i say AMEN!  Pat-- where is everybody!?

« Last Edit: July 01, 2020, 09:36:37 AM by blubayou »
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DickHy

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2020, 11:16:35 PM »
Thoughts from the European Zone:

A.  Pass (but 3 !S is apparently not quite dead yet).  I’d go into the tank here deciding between one of two calls; should I summon a fever specialist or psychiatrist for my partner?  While the sirens approach, I’d reach for the green card.  Funnily enough twice recently I’ve responded 1 !S with an awful 4c suit – 8xxx – so I guess this is what happened here and p has AKJxxx.  Even so, this looks like a 20/20 hand (17/23 at best), and nothing I can do (aside from alerting medics) will make the situation better.  My inner Mad Hatter might briefly consider 3N, but with my  !H holding, East with AKxxx can run the suit.  A still small voice is whispering "3 !S" - partner has 6133 and all our high cards are working - delusions, dementia or (for once) stunning instinct?  [Ed: we know the answer to that].

B.   2 !H.  BWS seems to offer two options.  A cue-bid shows “at least game interest” and “2N is forcing”.  Presumably, the latter would show a  !H stop.  I’m a bit shy of game values but partner (the stronger hand of the two of us) is over the opponent who opened, so why not?  We know shrinking violets just get trampled into the dust in BWS bidding quizzes.

C.  2 !C.  According to BWS there are two routes to invite: “single raise [of a 1m opener] is game invitational or stronger … and denies a 4-card major” and “a 2N response is natural and invitational”.  How to choose?  My  !C suit is decent so 3 !C might play better than 2N?

D.  3N or 4 !S?  We need to be in game somewhere.  My hand makes 3 !S too weak and 4 !D too zealous.  I’m offering no ruffs – with a 53 M fit and a 4333 hand don’t you experts often prefer 3N to 4M?   

E.  3 !C (probably).  North could be starting a Walsh-type sequence over a 1 !C opener holding a GI+ hand with 4M and 4 !D, possibly even 4441.   I rarely like misleading p about M suit length.  Sure, if I have AKJ maybe, but not AJ3.  So, I don’t really like a 1 !S rebid here.  It might lead to a Moysian 4 !S when 3N is better: if say p held 4342 with KTx in H or 4441. 

F.  2 !C.   If a partnership plays Walsh over a 1 !C opener, 2-way XYZ is tremendously useful.  The continuations take up an awful lot of brain cells, but it is a wizard scheme.  After 1x-1y-1z: 2 !C = GI (and forces 2 !D, unless opener is 17+) and 2 !D = GF (and asks for more info).  BWS doesn’t seem to mention it, but I would expect the pros on the panel to use it.  In which case 2 !C is automatic.  If we are not playing 2-way XYZ, why the hell didn’t I respond 2N in the first place?

G.  x or 3 !D?  West and partner are passed hands, but figure to have 18 points between them, so each will have 8-10.  3 !C seems like selling the hand short because partner may well pass.  Another option is x – does that start a Lebensohl sequence? If so, partner with 8-10 will be making an invite bid: either a slow (via 2N-3 !C) 3M or a direct 3 !C (unlikely, perhaps, but ya never know).  The question then is what the devil do I do over 3 !H?  A third option comes from BWS: “Against a natural pre-empt a three-level cue bid asks for a stopper for notrump.”  That’s fine – partner may well have Kxx – but I have the same problem if he bids 3 !H.     

H.  K !H.  By now my incompetence at opening leads should have become starkly apparent.  What do the 3 !S and 4 !S bids mean - 1st and 2nd round control?  West skipped over 3 !H and East as shown x in  !H, so as blubayou says, let’s cash our  !H.  I’ll lead the K (rather than Q or J) so that when it wins, I can make a safe exit (from the point of view of the post-mortem) of the J !C.   



jcreech

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2020, 02:51:50 PM »
My initial thoughts:

A:  Pass  I suspect that both partnerships have roughly half the deck, and partner is already looking at a known bad split in trump, so I am not inclined to move.

B:  2H  I have multiple places to play and good values.  Let’s give partner a clue.

C:  2C  No other good bid – great 11 HCP, no other biddable suit, and I don’t want the lead coming into my hand.  All I am missing is a fifth club.

D:  Pass   This should be a semi-automatic reopening double.  If partner cooperates, then I will pass again.  Otherwise, I will play it by ear.

E:  ?  I am still struggling with this one.  I detest manufactured reverses, and it would be especially dangerous reversing into spades.  I dislike making a jump raise of partner’s suit with only three.  I detest splintering into a suit that contains an honor and only have three of partner’s suit. I dislike rebidding my six bagger headed by only QJ8.  And I am absolutely not inclined to bid NT with  singleton in an unbid suit.  Double and redouble are inadmissible.  So I am left with Pass, but that is not an option either.  Guess I huddle.

F: 3C I feel like this is a highly invitational hand, so let partner know I have a quality fit for the first bid suit.  We probably want to be in NT, but the spade stop is on that side of the table.  Let’s not expose our assets in the majors.

G:  Dbl  Too many points to pass, not good or long enough suits to bid, so try a double and hope partner bids one of my suits.

H:  CJ  I am torn between the wooden HK and the more aggressive CJ.  I am being aggressive today, but by the final decision, I may chicken out.
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

Masse24

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2020, 04:15:16 AM »
PROBLEM E:>>  Since I have gotten on my high horse over the following problem  ( F ),  I might as well vote my heart on this "MSC-horror-hand #2" .  In my live partnerships,  two spades shows "this hand"--better clubs would be nice,  since partner's  "I want out" rebid is 3 clubs,  but he will be playing diamonds this time anyway.  They throw this problem at us every 8 months or so,   and a few good panelists  do bid 2 spades, usually without expecting it to be taken as the equivalent of a 3C jump rebid, nor a fragment  ,  so  I am hoping for a 60  this month.   If responder had bid 1 spade,  there would be several votes for the fake reverse into AKJ of diamonds, and mentions of it by those who chose some different rebid.  There should be a sequence analageous for the case in hand,  and it starts with two spades, IMO.
         ---  TWO Spade-- chizled in granite.


Have not made up my mind yet, but it's close between 1 !S and 3 !D. 3 !C will be the popular solver choice and is also a possibilty. The obvious flaw for both bids being that it lies about my suit length.

2 !S would never occur to me. It's a jump-shift and is game-forcing. This hand is nowhere near a game-force.
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blubayou

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2020, 10:03:36 AM »
On problem B,  we cue-bidders need a reminder  that we are forcing "to suit agreement or game"   I suppose 4C or 4D count as "game" for many partnerships, which is a relief, but this is still a bit rich, no?   And what is our next call  when we hear  --suprise-- "2 spades" from partner?  I will stick with the horrendous underbid of 2m  and DARE the opps with their 9+  hearts  to drop me there :)   The level of forcingness  above is not just a bizarre BWS2017, shocker,   but almost universal  if I am not mistaken..??
« Last Edit: July 01, 2020, 10:08:09 AM by blubayou »
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bAbsG

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2020, 04:01:33 PM »
Your Solutions for the August 2020 Contest 
-------------------
PROBLEM A: 3 Spades
PROBLEM B: 2 Hearts
PROBLEM C: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM D: Pass
PROBLEM E: 3 Hearts
PROBLEM F: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM G: Double
PROBLEM H: Diamond 9

blubayou

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2020, 01:31:05 PM »
SOLVER: Jock McQuade       Portland OR        U.S.A.
Your Solutions for the August 2020 Contest -------------------
PROBLEM A: 3 Spades         (70)
PROBLEM B: 2 Diamonds     (60)
PROBLEM C: 1 Diamond       (80)
PROBLEM D: Pass                (100)
PROBLEM E: 3 Clubs            (100) ****
PROBLEM F: 1 Spade           (50)

PROBLEM G: Double             (100)
PROBLEM H: Heart King     .. (100).
                                                [660]
Pulled the trigger with all my early thoughts, except problem E, intact. Todd reminded us that my favorite  -- "2 Spades"  will be taken as a natural jump-shift, and that my "gadget" quasi-reverse treatment will score 20 at best  so  i went to Jim's list of  disgusting possible bids  and picked the obvious also-ran.  (You left out  "ONE Spade", I think, Jim :))
« Last Edit: July 05, 2020, 01:33:56 PM by blubayou »
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Masse24

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2020, 04:41:25 PM »
Late this month. First chance I've had to look at all the questions.

Problem A: Pass. 3 !S is also possible.

Partner has a good hand with moderate values, at least an opening hand. Possibly more. He also has a good suit. His 2M over opps 1M promises a good suit. Something like !S AKJTxx would be considered minimum. Personally, on the bidding, I think we are a max for 3 !S --- so passing is painful. I am not terribly concerned about the spade suit, my queen should fill it out nicely. But if partner is forced to ruff a heart in hand, the remainder of his hand must be a perfecto to make game. So I will stick with the safe Pass.

Problem B: 3 !D. Right on values, though a fifth diamond would be nice. With 2 !D a very close second.
I had initially chosen 2 !D but switched to 3 !D. I think 2 !D can be tactical, allowing the opps to bid again t the two-level--WHICH I WILL HIT. I am curious if a panelist or two see it that way.

2 !H is sexy, and was my first instinct, but what does it accomplish? Okay, it’s flexible and elicits more information from partner. So what?
2 !H is actually my 4th choice behind 1NT.

Problem C: 1 !D.

2 !C also works. But I've been responding 1 !D with this hand shape as long as I can remember in an effort to right-side.

Problem D: 3NT.

How does it go? Blah, Blah, Blah Hamman’s Rule? This is the only one I like. Sigh . . .
I would bid 3 !S with less. Partner knows this.

I recall an MSC hand from a year ago that was something like this. The winning choice was 3NT. Surprisingly, 3M (not forcing) garnered more votes than 4M, so took second in the scoring. I thought it strange that to score 100 you had to bid game, but the second place score was a non-forcing bid.

Problem E: 1 !S. Waiting.

I also like 2NT. Weird, yes! And even 3 !D.

Problem F: 3 !C.

Partner should be unbalanced for this auction.


Problem G: 3 !C. Very difficult!

Double is too painful with Ax. I see five ugly clubs. Bid what I see.

Oh my. Two in a row that I hate!

Problem H: !H K.

I have thirteen cards. This is one of them.

Seems like partner has the !H Ace. My King lead will permit him many ways to defend.



Trigger pulled:

SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes
Glen Ellyn IL
U.S.A.

PROBLEM A: Pass
PROBLEM B: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM C: 1 Diamond
PROBLEM D: 3 Notrump
PROBLEM E: 1 Spade
PROBLEM F: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM G: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM H: Heart King
« Last Edit: July 10, 2020, 11:49:09 AM by Masse24 »
“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

yleexotee

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2020, 05:26:13 PM »
A. Pass
B. 2H - My first thought, its a bit ambiguous but I won't make a bid that could be construed as zero points like 1s,2c,2d). I have a half stopper so if p does too, this even leaves 3nt in the game.
C.  2c inv minor - this is the kind of hand that IM solves our problems
D. 4S - aggressive bidding pays off in this competition
E. 2S !  Todd will hate this, I'm faking the reverse. This has worked for me, and its not worked for me on occasion. Ce la Bridge. However, I'm not bidding 2nt off shape and with a major wide open. 3C feels like an underbid. This is likely wrong because I have a hole here in my ranges for reverses, and jump raises of my own suit etc.
F. Very difficult for me because I think BWS is differing from my understandings. Wishing I bid 2nt in the first place. 1nt and 2nt now seem to imply spade stoppers and they will wrong side NT when p has one, so those are out for me. 1s doesn't make sense to me unless pard has exactly 4441 hand that I'm fishing for - so p bids 1nt over my 1s and s/he is baffled why I didnt bid 1nt and is thinking maybe I was trying to do 4th suit forcing. Plus I will probably bid 2c over 1nt, so why don't I do it now. Anwer, my hand is too good for that...So, 3C for me. my hand rates a little better than its 11HCP. and if p does indeed have a spade stopper we might be on for 3nt. aggressive bidding wins out in this competition again for me. 3C
G.  3C
H. Kh - I hate these leads that seem obvious. it means its not the ideal. I feel it's like we have the ace of hearts, so what other trick can we set up. this might make JC a better score. but I'm going to stick with the obvious (and how the heck is 6D 2nd round heart control)

Masse24

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2020, 05:52:25 PM »
E. 2 !S   Todd will hate this, I'm faking the reverse. This has worked for me, and its not worked for me on occasion. Ce la Bridge. However, I'm not bidding 2nt off shape and with a major wide open. 3C feels like an underbid. This is likely wrong because I have a hole here in my ranges for reverses, and jump raises of my own suit etc.

You're faking a Jump-Shift, not a reverse.  8)
“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: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2020, 06:25:51 PM »
E. 2 !S   Todd will hate this, I'm faking the reverse. This has worked for me, and its not worked for me on occasion. Ce la Bridge. However, I'm not bidding 2nt off shape and with a major wide open. 3C feels like an underbid. This is likely wrong because I have a hole here in my ranges for reverses, and jump raises of my own suit etc.

You're faking a Jump-Shift, not a reverse.  8)

Todd, you are right bout it being a jump shift, but for some reason it feels like a reverse - I made the same mistake in my initial thoughts, but it wasn't jumped on because I didn't make it explicit like Joe did.
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

jcreech

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #12 on: July 07, 2020, 09:06:41 PM »
SOLUTIONS FOR:
James Creech
FREDERICKSBURG VA
U.S.A.

PROBLEM A: Pass
PROBLEM B: 2 Hearts
PROBLEM C: 2 Clubs
PROBLEM D: Pass
PROBLEM E: 3 Clubs  One of my lesser bad choices
PROBLEM F: 1 Spade  I hated this choice, but to jump to 3C risked a 3-3 fit - not a long-term favorite
PROBLEM G: Double
PROBLEM H: Heart King  My heart is with the CJ, but the HK will not score badly
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 09:25:48 PM by jcreech »
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

Masse24

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Re: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2020, 12:14:50 AM »
SUBMITTED FOR THORNBURY

SOLUTIONS FOR:
John Walter
Burlington ON
Canada

PROBLEM A: Pass
PROBLEM B: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM C: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM D: 4 Spades
PROBLEM E: 3 Clubs
PROBLEM F: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM G: Double
PROBLEM H: Heart King
“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: 2020 August - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2020, 01:44:11 AM »

H. Kh - I hate these leads that seem obvious. it means its not the ideal. I feel it's like we have the ace of hearts, so what other trick can we set up. this might make JC a better score. but I'm going to stick with the obvious (and how the heck is 6D 2nd round heart control)
3 !S should be a suit, and 4 !S presumably an offer to play it in spades? (Not that it matters much, but I'll be curious to see if this is what was intended.)

If opener had all suits controlled he can bid 4NT. But he didn't. Instead, he bid 5 !C, which should promise first round control since a club control has not been shown earlier.

Since 5 !D can be passed, and responder knows opener bypassed 4NT with, most likely two losers in hearts, the leap to 6 !D shows hearts controlled. This must be a stiff since, with the !H Ace responder bids 5 !H. Hence the explanation of "†second-round heart control; no appropriate control-bid."

“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