2024 MAY MSC

[Masse24]

MAY 2024 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.

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[blubayou]

A:>>  Like many of this month's problems, this answer would be given, "at the table" in about 5 seconds!  (Onward to 4 Hearts).
  Partner has accepted our game invite, and we have a rather small supply of extras, so what's the problem?  But as the month goes on, my mere balanced 12-count is starting to look more and more like a push to the 5-level--such a PERFECT 12 1/2! 
   IF I bid five clubs that might:
        (!) get partner to a 28-point slam...
        (2)  help him judge what to do if the opening side sacrifices over our four hearts...  or...
        (3)  give us a self-inflicted -50 when otherwise everybody was going tolie down for our heart game-bid


B:>>  Axx Ax AKzxx Axx,  (1H) Double, (2H) 3C; pass, ___ What is this?  My 19 primo + opps open and raise with...16??  This leaves partner with KQxxxxxx and hopefully a doubleton diamond or stiff in whatever major they lead!   Hence, a pretty good grand slam. At the table, I bid 6 Clubs in 10 seconds or less.  Cue bidding is pointless [pard can't possibly co-operate.] 

C:>>  AQxxxx, K, Kxx, Axx.  (1H) 1S, (2H), pass; pass, ___?  6-1-3-3 and max overcaller's points? What is this--bridge-kindergarten?  This is utterly what "Double" shows and there is no alternate answer lurking in my subconcience, id, or ego!  Less than 5 seconds ..DOUBLE
  On Tuesday 3/12,  Jim reminded me that partner has advanced "1NT, not passing as I misread.  This requires a rethink big-time--and makes this a much juicer problem.
,
D:>>  KQTx, K97x, Qx, Jxx,   Pass, (pass), ___?  Our match would have to be on life-support if  I didn't risk letting LHO find a passout-- vul at imps.
                    PASSING in tempo.  IF I did bid, I think it would be One Spade.  BWS  plays a simple Drury (reverse, I assume--they didn't say so I can drop pard's 2 of a red suit.

E:>>    AT8xx, Kxx, QTx, Qx,  Pass, (pass), 1 Club, (2 Diamonds) opps vul,  At last, a problem  with more than  1 1/2  answers!  I found 5 of 'em.
                   1>  Bid 2 .. This will often propel us to 3NT with this ratty 11 facing a similar count in pard's hand
             2> Bid 2NT..  This operation may be a sucess, but the patient may die anyway
             3 and 4>  Neg Double,  then show the 5th spade  or neg double and bid notrump at whatever level.
             5>  Lurk in search of the elusive 200 at 2   doubled?  How happy will we feel,  if partner can't find any reopening call
     Definitely a worthwhile problem, and the one likely to make big swings in the final tally

[jcreech]

Initial thoughts.

Problem A

Imps
Neither side vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ 6 4   ♥ A K 7 3   ♦ 10 9 7   ♣ A J 10 2

—   (1 ♠)   2 ♥   (Pass); 2 ♠   (3 ♦)   3 ♠   (4 ♦); ?   
      
What call do you make?

Pass  Partner forced us to game with the 3 bid, so I will show a willingness to move toward slam with a forcing pass.


Problem B

Imps
Both sides vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A 9 3   ♥ A 2   ♦ A K 10 5 4   ♣ A 7 4

—   —   —   (1 ♥); Double   (2 ♥)   3 ♣   (Pass); ?   
      
What call do you make?

3   Partner has some points and club length, so I will show my points, and hope we get to the right strain.


Problem C

Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A Q 8 7 6 5   ♥ K   ♦ K 5 2   ♣ A 8 3

—   —   Pass   (1 ♥); 1 ♠   (Pass)   1 NT   (2 ♥); ?   
      
What call do you make?

2 NT  I have the values for an invite after partner's 1NT, and help, albeit not for long, in the opponent's suit.  Seems right.


Problem D

Imps
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ K Q 10 8   ♥ K 9 7 5   ♦ Q 5   ♣ J 5 3

—   —   Pass   (Pass); ?      
   
What call do you make?

Pass  This is the type of hand I get into trouble with.  Clubs are my worst suit.  If it goes 1 - (? ) - Dbl, invariably, we end up in the 4-3 major suit fit instead of the 4-4.  Better to back in with a minimum, balanced casino point hand.

    
Problem E

Matchpoints
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ A 10 8 5 2   ♥ K 8 3   ♦ Q 10 8   ♣ Q 5

Pass   (Pass)   1 ♣   (2 ♦); ?         

What call do you make?

2   I hope this will be regarded as constructive with a fifth spade.  Struggled with thoughts of 3 and 3 ; ultimately, I thought both as using too much space - 3 virtually insisting on a spade contract, while 3 is more flexible regarding strain, but also cramps the space.  I can see this heading into NT, spades or clubs, but am not certain about the best way to get to the right strain.


Problem F

Matchpoints
North-South vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ 2   ♥ A K Q 8 6   ♦ 7   ♣ A K J 10 6 2

—   —   —   (1 ♦); 2 NT*   (3 ♦)   Pass   (Pass); ?         
*BWS: hearts and clubs; any biddable strength

What call do you make?

4   I hope this shows longer clubs than hearts, and a desire to be in game in whichever suit partner is willing to try.


Problem G

Imps
East-West vulnerable
You, South, hold:

♠ 5   ♥ A Q 6 4 2   ♦ 7 6 5 4   ♣ K J 10

—   —   2 ♦   (Pass); ?*         
*BWS: simple new-suit bid forcing; 4 ♣ = key-card-ask; three of a major asks about that suit

What call do you make?

5   I am torn between throwing out a lead director in case we defend, and 5 hoping to place us in a contract with potential and trying to prevent the opponents from finding their spades.


Problem H

Imps
East-West vulnerable

♠ A 9 4 2   ♥ A 8 7 5   ♦ 8 4   ♣ 10 6 3

Pass   (3 ♦)   Pass   (4 ♥); Pass   (Pass)   Pass

What is your opening lead?

A I have the feeling we need to find our tricks quickly, or they may go away on diamonds once the heart ace is extracted.

[blubayou]

Problem G! :>> It's been more than a year since I RAN A SIMULATION, and this problem is a dream setup for one.  Just define Nort as holding 6 diamonds and 7 to 11   points and type this hand into the South position:
                           "X , AQxxxx, 7654, KJT   
...and voila!  We got 115 out of 128 deals with an acceptable weak two appearing in the North and 70% of these gave East a hand that would pass that 2 opening.  This is what the 4 candidate bids by us  would produce:
     Five Diamonds: Most of the time, this bid was needless overkill as opps' 4   would not have made and neither would our game bid.  However 14 times either 5 Diamonds or E-W 4 Spades WOULD be making, so "5D"  is not a total loss especially at IMPS as the bill for 5D being phantom sacrifice is only 5 imps and the game bid when it's winning would be in the double digits.
        Two Hearts:  Usually the outcome of this bid is to just about guarantee that the opps will get their Spade fit into the hunt AND bid gently rather than optimistically when it seems to them that South's lead-call is bad news for them.   On the plus side--on 2 deals getting a heart lead was crucial to defeating E-W  4 Spades.
       Three Hearts:   "Jump to 3 of a suit asks about that suit"  means CONTROL-asks ( I looked it up)  presumably by shortness OR aces/kings.  So the hint bid of three Hearts is pretty useless this time, in my opinion. 
       Two Notrump:   So far, I haven't studied my acceptable collections of deals with me bidding the feature-ask, since I don't see bidding 5 Diamonds or 3 Notrump whatever partner might have for a reply ( IF HE GETS TO MAKE HIS REPLY ANYWAY).........
      Four Diamonds:  The simulation gave "Warm fuzzies", indicating that four Diamonds was PAR 70% of the time in that opps THREE spades would make,  or four Diamonds would, if not both.  It also occasionally bluffed e-w out of a making 4 spades  or into a non making 4 spades.
   The Law" works (even though the total number of trumps is liable to be 20 which would suggest otherwise.
                                         ---Four Diamonds -- hands down
                                                 

[hoki]

A 5 Clubs Clearly denying a spade control, prepared to stop in 5H.

B 3 Hearts Showing strength, prepared for 5C or whatever.

C: 2 Spades Showing my sixth spade, but if pard prefers notrumps, then so be it.

D: Pass I'm all for opening weak in third seat - but with only eight real points and no aces, well I feel
one has to draw the line somewhere.

E: 2 Spades Seems to describe my hand perfectly - reasonable points, reasonable suit, and club tolerance.

F: 4 Clubs Big hand with longer clubs than hearts.

G: 2 Hearts Thought long and hard about 4D - do we or don't we want opps to try 4S?

H: Diamond 8 Sort of hoping to prevent declarer running dummy's diamonds before trumps have been drawn.

Cheers, Oliver

[Masse24]

PROBLEM A:
4 would be pusillanimous. Partner's 3 is a control, showing slam interest. We have far more than we promised with the AK (unknown to partner) and another Ace. We should be in a force, so pass is presumably forcing. But what is best?
My fear is that they bid 5 and muck up the works.
5 would certainly show the A and willingness to cooperate with the slam move.

I like this problem. Tough one.

I've pretty much made up my mind on this one and six others. But I'm still waffling on one.

[Masse24]

CONFIRMATION# 240520859HOLE

SOLUTIONS FOR:
Todd Holes


PROBLEM A: Pass
50/50 between this (forcing) pass and 5 . I don’t know partner’s heart length, so would prefer if he bid RKCB if still available. If he gets the answer of three keys he can better place the contract. I see partner bidding this way with as little as Axx QJTxxx – KQxx.

PROBLEM B: 3 Diamonds
After partner’s free-bid 3 Clubs, this should be forcing (there may be dissension among the panel on this), showing a big hand. Although 3 asks partner to bid again, this is at least more informative than 3 .

PROBLEM C: 2 Notrump
I see no reason to rebid the spades—something I would do with 8 HCP. Partner has, at most, two. And the suit quality is poor. While I initially discounted the value of the K, it is now worth something. I assume 8-10(11) or so for partner’s 1NT—this range is systemic--and rebidding 3NT is tempting. But 2NT should suffice. As long as we’re on the same page partner should accept (possibly even showing me Hx along the way) with a maximum.
[Added]: One thing that concerns me in notrump is, with a six-card unsupported spade suit, where is our source of tricks?

PROBLEM D: Pass
It’s not my habit to open flat 11s, even in third seat. The only possible option I see is 1 . But not for me.

PROBLEM E: 2 Spades
Right on values. Shows 5. I’d like to have a third club, but you can’t have everything. If my spades were better I might double and pull 2 to 2 .

PROBLEM F: 4 Clubs
Showing primary Clubs (so 6-5?). I do not believe this to be forcing, but it surely shows a massive hand.

PROBLEM G: 5 Diamonds
Though 2 is tempting as a lead director, partner will know to lead it if a ruff is needed against a high-level spade contract. 4 as preempt Blackwood is mildly interesting—even fun—but would fool no one.

PROBLEM H: Club 3
Difficult. Not fond of lead problems.

[yleexotee]

PROBLEM A: 4 Hearts - im not as bullish on the slam
PROBLEM B: 3 Hearts - hoping for maybe a half stopper, to settle in 3nt.
PROBLEM C: 2 Spades
PROBLEM D: Pass
PROBLEM E: 2 Spades
PROBLEM F: 4 Clubs - you know I hate these 4m's. I always get in trouble with these
PROBLEM G: 2 Hearts - starting here first.
PROBLEM H: Club 3  - this one is really tough. I strongly considered a low heart 5, and mildly considered Ace of sp

[blubayou]

SOLUTIONS FOR:thomas McQuade3180 NW Division, #106Hobbiton OR 97030U.S.A.
PROBLEM A: 4 Hearts    C'mon--partner just has a good 2-level overcall
PROBLEM B: 6 Clubs     Partner can only have KQxxxxx and zippo''--The other 16 HCP  must be with the opponents.
PROBLEM C: 2 Notrump
PROBLEM D: Pass
PROBLEM E: Double
PROBLEM F: 4 Diamonds--  Too close to  game-in-hand  for "4 " and no reason do deny partner from turning up with three hearts (OR EVEN JUST TWO IF THE CLUBS ARE RUNNING)
PROBLEM G: 5 Diamonds    At Matchpoints,  my simulation champ , "4 " is a winner--  but the wins are smallish. On the rarer occasions where everybody makes a bunch are game-swings when they come up, and the penalty for overbidding par is usually not double-digit
PROBLEM H: Spade Ace--GOING FOR the tap-out defense, since neither minor lead appeals to me at all

To keep a record of your solution

[wackojack]

A: 5♣
Partner has forced to game with 3♠ and east has eschewed supporting ♠s in favour of bidding what looks like a non-forcing 4♦s.  This points to partner having ♠AKxx, or at least ♠Axxx.  Let’s give partner something like ♠AKxx, ♥QJ10xx, ♦xx, ♣Kx or maybe a singleton ♦ and one more ♣ or ♥.  If I pass, will partner cue again missing AK♥? No, it looks like I have to take the initiative and bid 5♣. I trust that partner will sign off in 5♥ with a doubleton ♦ and bid 5♦ with a singleton ♦.  Both of us (breaking the rules?) by bidding 2nd round controls😊 above the game level. 

B: 3NT
All I need for 3NT to be a good contract is for partner to have ♣KQxxx.  What about 6♣? If I put opps with 11 opposite 5, then partner has just 5 and most likely ♣KQ.  Suppose partner has 6♣s and a doubleton ♦?  Even then slam looks like it depends on clubs breaking 2-2.  So, I bid 3NT.

C: 2NT
Points good enough to make a game try so 2NT it is. 

D: 1♣
I will stick my neck out here and open 1♣.  This is risking zero in MSC.  Nevertheless, 2nd guessing what the experts might do in a quiz rather than what you (or they) would do at the table is unproductive.  The risk at the table, I believe, is less than the possible reward.  With 11 the hand is more likely than not to belong to us.

E: 2♠
2♠ looks right and better than double or pass

F: 4♦
I think that 4♦ gets the message over that I virtually have game in my hand and have longer clubs than hearts.

G: 4♦
4♦ The LAW.  Opps have got the balance of points (unless partner makes gross 2♦ openings) Give partner 3 spades then total tricks = 19 and so 5♦ is a phantom. Defending 4♠ I don’t see that a heart lead would be crucial. 

H: A♠
I am lost.  Let’s try A♠

[ccr3]

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

[Masse24]

Two IAC members made the Bridge World honor roll.
710 was needed to make the honor roll.

Hoki scored 720 and CCR3 scored 710!