2024 JANUARY MSC

[Masse24]

JANUARY 2024 MSC
Deadline: NOVEMBER 30 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Submit your JANUARY 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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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.

*     *     *

[blubayou]

problem A:>>  The t/o double is almost flawless.   can't say the same for  2 , 2NT, 3 , ( or "pass"??)
                                           --- Double---


problem B:>> Penciling in a jump raise now.   This isn't great since it probably demands she go to slam if holding the diamond ace, rather than being natural.  How about blackwood?  Or, on the lowball side 3NT or just 4 hearts?
                                           --- Five Hearts--     for now
---
problem C:>> After a jump-overcall: Responder's jump-shift is fit-showing. So, if we aren't chickening out with a simple raise, this is better than pre-empting to four--and more HELPFULL to partner than a cuebid.  I need partner to be the decider should eiter opp manage to say "four spades".   I suspect this fit-jump is meant to show 10 cards in "our" 2 suits, but...

                                                   ---Four Diamonds---

problem D:>>  This week,  bidding feels like changing a plus into a minus  (or changing a SMALL minus [130] into a horrendous one.  If we could trust that pard's takeout of the reopening  double would be on a 6-bagger, the thinking would be different but....
                                                   ---Pass---

problem E:>   Three Diamonds seems enough.  Who knows--we might catch a spade preference with his queen-X  ( He denyed three thanks to the non-use of support double)
                                                    ---Three Diamonds---

problem F:>>  I already had bid slam after the single raise!  Nothing much has changed after this extra round of bidding oter then tipping off the leader that a spade lead might not be a good idea.   booo!
                                                     ---Six Hearts---                                                       

[blubayou]

problem G:>>   Bidding  unusual notrump, when it means  "any two of the 3 lower suits"  seldom works out for me so  I am relieved that my cub suit  is really good  (and I may get the chance to correct somebody's diamond bid  to hearts in a moment anyway,  or bid 4NT  over opps'  four spade noise).  for today We'll avoid the confusing 3NT, but  maybe not by the time N?ov. 30 rolls around
                                    ---Four Clubs---

problem H:>>  We must pierce dummy's  major--a suit that declarer seldom has more than a singleton on this bidding.  Too bad if this is killing pard's entry(s) to get some tricks in spades eventually, but I see  "hearts across,  clubs coming back" as the way to go.
                                 ---Heart Ten--- [ or should I lead the low one?]

[Masse24]

Submitted:

PROBLEM A: Double
Too strong to pass. Let's hope partner doesn't respond with a Leb 2NT.

PROBLEM B: 4 Notrump
RKCB. I suppose a 4 call agrees hearts and allows partner to sign off in 4 or show a spade control--then what? I think it best to make the decision now.

PROBLEM C: 4 Diamonds.
Fit jumps usually promise four, but with only a stiff spade this auction will probably not stop. This should give partner the information required to compete further or pass.

PROBLEM D: (c1)
A (pass) and (C2) also considered.

PROBLEM E: 3 Spades
Matchpoints.

PROBLEM F: 3 Diamonds
Also considered 4NT

PROBLEM G: Pass
Drawing the line here.

PROBLEM H: Heart 10
Somewhat passive. Show me dummy.

[blubayou]

As for Problem F...What number of key cards (plus off-suit kings) can inspire a grand slam here?  It's more likely that 11 tricks are our limit than that 13 of them is a no-brainer.  If 4NT is a raise, here,  then delete this reply   


SOLUTIONS FOR:Jock McQuade3 Bag EndHobbiton OR
[/size].A.PROBLEM A: Double
[/size]PROBLEM B: 5 Hearts
[/size]PROBLEM C: 4 Diamonds
[/size]PROBLEM D: (a)
[/size]PROBLEM E: 3 Spades
[/size]PROBLEM F: 6 Hearts
[/size]PROBLEM G: 4 Clubs
[/size]PROBLEM H: Heart 10
[/size]
[/size]A copy of these solutions will be e-mailed to you for y

[hoki]

Only E and G the same as Jock.

PROBLEM A: Pass, sure an underbid but other options lack appeal.
PROBLEM B: 4 Hearts, considered 3NT but both options give up on slam.
PROBLEM C: 3 Diamonds, can always bid 4H next time.
PROBLEM D: (c1), nothing looks particularly savoury.
PROBLEM E: 3 Spades, would accept 3D at IMPs.
PROBLEM F: 3 Diamonds, at least this is forcing, preparatory for settling for 3NT.
PROBLEM G: 4 Clubs, middle of the road action?
PROBLEM H: Spade 9, the unbid suit but a gambling club might strike gold.

Anyone know who's running the IAC club now that Sanja seems to be full-time
employed by BBO? Can't do a session next week because of undergoing cataract
surgery - and didn't run a play & discuss session last month because of being
out of town. (Email: hoki@orcon.net.nz .)

[yleexotee]

PROBLEM A: Double
PROBLEM B: 4 Notrump - taking the hint
PROBLEM C: 4 Diamonds - taking the hint
PROBLEM D: (a) - decided the hand isn't THAT great. so went low road
PROBLEM E: 3 Diamonds - low road again, now I think I'm messing up. not like me to go too low road
PROBLEM F: 4 Diamonds - only hesitation is wondering if we already know clubs aren't covered.
PROBLEM G: Pass
PROBLEM H: Heart 10 - I like to lead through a responded major, probably only showing 4, that their partner didn't agree with. might be the weak suit.

[ccr3]

Your Solutions for the January 2024 Contest 
-------------------
PROBLEM A: Double
PROBLEM B: 4 Diamonds
PROBLEM C: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM D: (c1)
PROBLEM E: 3 Spades
PROBLEM F: 3 Diamonds
PROBLEM G: Pass
PROBLEM H: Heart 10

[Masse24]

January Results

masse24 led the IAC solvers with 660. BluBayou came in second with 650. And in third was ccr3 with 630. The Bridge World Honor Roll required a minimum of 710.

NAME	BW-SCORE
masse24	660
BluBayou	650
ccr3	630

There were only 5 participants this month.

[blubayou]

HELP!   My early thinking for problems D and E  seem to have been logged as the official  guesses.  At the last minute changes of mind earn a whopping 170 points to the good--unlike most every other month

[Masse24]

HELP!   My early thinking for problems D and E  seem to have been logged as the official  guesses.  At the last minute changes of mind earn a whopping 170 points to the good--unlike most every other month

Fixed 'er, Blu!

[blubayou]

No long wait to jump someone into the breach THIS month....




Problem B:>> hmmmm.......

Problem c:>>  Since BWS plays our change to 2-minor as nonforcing,  there's nothing left for us but a single raise on jack-doubleton. 
                                                    ---Two Spades---