Contest conducted by Marc Smith
Welcome to the third set of 2026. The annual competition leader-board is now starting to take shape, with a number of last year’s Top 25 again marking themselves as contenders. Just a handful of points separate the Top 10 at this early stage.
At the Spring NABC in Saint Louis, three of the last four panelists standing in the Vanderbilt teams met head-on in the quarter-final. Simon de Wijs’s Dutch team scored an impressive victory over the Nickell team in the Round of 16 to reach this stage and, in the quarter-final, they met the quartet from Down Under that included Andy Hung and Sartaj Hans. The Dutch won, by an emphatic 152-83, to move into a semi-final against Zimmermann. In the other half of the draw, Cedric Lorenzini’s team enjoyed an impressive run all the way to the final, where they also succumbed to the Swiss world champions.
In other events, there was more De Wijs success, with Simon’s twin daughters, Lotte and Sarah, on the winning team in the Women’s Swiss, and Lotte finishing second in the Mixed Pairs. Quite a week for the Netherlands’ leading bridge family!
We are delighted to welcome a new panelist this month. I first met Brian Glubok playing rubber bridge at the Cavendish Club in New York City in the mid-1980s. He confirmed his status as one of the game’s rising stars with a fourth-place finish in the World Open Pairs at his first international championship, playing with the late, great Edgar Kaplan in 1990. In 2012, he collected a silver medal from the World Mixed Pairs, partnering Canada’s Kismet Fung. On the home front, he won the Spingold in 1987 and the Reisinger in 1990. He has 5 NABC titles to his name and 14 second-place finishes (including four more Spingold finals).
This month’s guest panelist is the solo winner of the January competition. Known as ‘Jeopardy James’, 41-year-old James Holzhauer from Naperville IL enjoyed a 32-game winning streak on the TV quiz show, Jeopardy! With winnings in excess of $2.5m, James is the fourth-highest-earning American game show contestant of all time. He is also a successful sports gambler and a noted philanthropist: he and his wife, Melissa, have been honored many times for their charitable work. James is an Emerald Life Master and he also teaches bridge in his spare time.
We know that many of you play almost exclusively matchpoint events. With that in mind, the latest book by the maestro and myself concentrates specifically on tactics and strategy at that form of the game. We hope it will provide you with plenty of useful tips to help you improve your score. The sequel to Be a Difficult Bridge Opponent is now available from Amazon and other bridge outlets. The electronic version can be acquired from ebooksbridge.com
Hand 8 this month comes from a former partner of mine, David Jones, who also provides valuable help in the hand selection process each month. Thanks to him for his regular contribution to this feature. If you have a hand that you think would make an interesting problem for the panel to discuss, please send me the details.
The panel produce a majority vote on four hands in this set. On the other four, they offer support for multiple options.
The most popular action chosen by the competition entrants scores ‘10’ on only three of the eight hands, but voting with the largest group of competitors this month scores a 65/80 (up from 61/80 in February). The average score this month is 51.61 (down from 54.32 on Set 26-02). Only around 6% of competition entrants scored in the 70s on this set, so ‘Chapeau’ to anyone who beat the 60/80 mark. Let’s see what the panel have to say about this month’s hands…
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
4♠ |
10 |
16 |
21 |
|
3♥ |
7 |
3 |
7 |
|
2♥ |
6 |
1 |
10 |
|
4♣ |
6 |
1 |
2 |
|
2♦ |
5 |
0 |
11 |
|
3♦ |
5 |
0 |
4 |
|
2NT |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
3♠ |
4 |
3 |
25 |
|
2♠ |
0 |
0 |
16 |
|
Pass |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
1NT |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
3♣ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.11
This is not the only hand this month on which a large majority of the panel vote for what would not have been the winning action at the table. With most panelists making at least a move towards game, more than a quarter of competitors score poorly for choosing a pre-emptive jump to the three-level, although they do get the support of a small group of panelists…
LIZ McGOWAN: 3♠. This is hardly typical for a pre-emptive jump, but my high cards may not be working well.
P.-O. SUNDELIN: 3♠. This hand is not good enough for a void-showing 4♣ or finding out if hearts might play better.
Jill calls it a mixed raise, although I think most would describe it as pre-emptive.
JILL MEYERS: 3♠. Mixed raise. I have no idea how good my club void is or how bad my ♦K is in the box. Both of my kings are in front of the opening bidder, too.
The majority offer a number of reasons for their more ambitious choice…
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 4♠. We have way too much for 3♠. We won't stop below game, but it is not Christmas time, so we are not looking for slam.
PAUL MARSTON: 4♠. This seems routine to me.
ZIA MAHMOOD: 4♠. No comment. Simple hand.
MARTY BERGEN: 4♠. Hoping/expecting "the magic of voids."
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 4♠. Even with only four trumps, I think this is the best bid.
WENFEI WANG: 4♠. I have good distribution.
A couple mention alternative possibilities…
MATS NILSLAND: 4♠. I am too weak to show the club void, but 2♥ is an alternative.
DAVID BIRD: 4♠. It's tempting to bid 4♣, but this could push us over the top. Two kings, sitting under the opener? It's not enough.
BARNET SHENKIN/CATHY BALDYSZ: 4♠.
Some highlight the importance of pre-empting to the maximum…
ANDREW ROBSON: 4♠. This is what I would bid at the table, warts and all. I want to make them bid their clubs at the five-level.
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 4♠. Partner could have several hands that will make game. Plus, if North has a big hand, he may have a problem showing it over the jump. If he has clubs, partner might have a stack sitting over him.
SIMON DE WIJS: 4♠. The dream is for North to bid 5♣ and have partner wake up with three club tricks.
Brian asks a very insightful question.
BRIAN GLUBOK: 4♠. It is dangerous to play below game on this hand. It is also important to present LHO with an immediate guess at a high level. The winning action may prove to be 2♠, but ask yourself this: If an opponent held this hand, what would you want them to bid with it?
ROB BRADY: 4♠. It's IMPs, so let's bid game? The value bid is 3♦ (showing a mixed raise), or a fit-showing 3♥, which I’m not sure is on our card. Someone has a lot of clubs that haven't been mentioned yet and, if it's the opponents, I'd like to keep it that way.
ALAN MOULD: 4♠. I am genuinely struggling to see another bid. I hope that will be the only time I make that comment on this set from Hell.
Joey is alone in introducing his own suit at the two-level…
JOEY SILVER: 2♥. As we are not playing fit jumps (we’re not? MS), I might as well bid this hand straight up by starting with my fair six-card heart suit before supporting partner, just in case there is a slam somewhere or the opponents get frisky.
The most popular alternative choice is…
JAMES HOLZHAUER: 3♥. Fit-showing. If partner doesn't like hearing this, we probably don't belong in game.
LARRY COHEN: 3♥. This is not the way to score well in a bidding contest, as not everyone will play this as a fit-showing jump. But, if it is, it feels like the best description in so many ways.
The man who held the South cards at the table remains consistent, even though his choice then was not a winning one…
CEDRIC LORENZINI: 3♥. Fit-showing jump.
Hanoi is alone in opting for the successful bid chosen by West at the other table…
HANOI RONDON: 4♣. The splinter might be useful to partner. My heart suit doesn't seem so great to show.
On this hand from the French National League, one West advanced with a 3♥ fit jump. Partner had AKJxxx/Q/Ax/10xxx, so he was uninspired by the news that partner held hearts, and settled for game. At the other table, West started with a 4♣ splinter, which was enough to encourage East to drive to the excellent 6♠.
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
5♥ |
10 |
11 |
19 |
|
4♥ |
7 |
7 |
46 |
|
5NT |
7 |
4 |
3 |
|
4NT |
5 |
1 |
12 |
|
5♦ |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
6♥ |
3 |
0 |
9 |
|
Pass |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
5♣ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
6NT |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 6.50
No majority from the panel on this one, but a clear favourite nonetheless. Nearly a fifth of competitors collect top marks, but close to half settle for the conservative option. Let’s start with those panelists agreeing with the majority of competition entrants…
PAUL MARSTON: 4♥. I am not willing to jeopardise a game, but I’ll get my apology ready.
ANDREW ROBSON: 4♥. Partner may be pushing to play the right strain.
BARNET SHENKIN: 4♥. Partner could be 5-5 in majors with almost no points.
ZIA MAHMOOD: 4♥. So, I’ve got extras. Maybe he doesn’t.
SIMON DE WIJS: 4♥. We might miss slam, but I don't want to commit beyond game now. All the slam tries are flawed.
JOEY SILVER: 4♥. Personally, I am a 3NT bidder and do not make a takeout double. The important point here is finding a fit first, before looking for slam, if there is one, since my diamond value is dodgy, and distributional storms can be expected.
ALAN MOULD: 4♥. Completely wimpy, but I don't see any safety at the five-level, and how do I even begin to explore this hand? 5♥ is not this hand at all.
The largest faction on the panel disagrees with Alan’s contention…
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 5♥. Asking for a diamond control.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: 5♥. Hopefully, partner will read this as a request for a diamond control.
DAVID BIRD: 5♥. I must make some sort of slam try. 5♥ should direct partner to look at his diamond holding.
LIZ McGOWAN: 5♥. Partner need not be very strong: she just shows the same length in the majors. I hope she reads this as asking for a diamond control.
MARTY BERGEN: 5♥. I settle for a very uncomfortable 5♥ on this one.
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 5♥. Wow. Are we sure partner and I have cards from the same board? Still, partner can have a 12-count without a diamond control, so let’s find out.
CATHY BALDYSZ: 5♥.
MATS NILSLAND: 5♥. If partner has a diamond control, I want to be in slam (at least, until I see the dummy).
ROB BRADY: 5♥. This problem is quite similar to June 2025, Hand 8. Back then the majority of the panel thought 5♥ in a similar auction was quantitative and 5♦ showed a control. Will they still think that this time around? If those are the choices, 5♥ seems like our best bet to involve partner in the decision. Maybe if we have ten more of these auctions, the panel can zero in on the best use of our limited bidding space.
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 5♥. When East did not overcall, it's nearly 100% that 4♦ shows both majors and Axxxx Qxxxx seems like a real minimum (rarely 5♥/4♠). Our 5♥ asks for a diamond control, as we could have bid something else (5♦, 4NT...) with a strong hand and the diamond control ourselves.
Brian sums up for the largest faction.
BRIAN GLUBOK: 5♥. The case for bidding more: we have a huge hand, two aces more than a minimum, so how can we bid less than six? The case for bidding less: Partner may just be trying to score a game (AJxxx, Qxxxx, xx, x or similar), so why get rambunctious? So, I take the middle ground, and give partner a chance to make the final decision.
There were a couple of solo efforts…
CEDRIC LORENZINI: 4NT. This is natural, showing a strong hand and not a one-suiter.
P.-O. SUNDELIN: 5♦. I am planning to raise 5♥ and I’ll correct 5♠ to clubs. Partner could have anything from a 4-4-1-4 shape to any 5-5 hand that was too strong to just bid game. I have to show my extra values.
The rest decide that they want to play slam, and try to make sure of finding the best denomination.
WENFEI WANG: 5NT. Pick a slam.
HANOI RONDON: 5NT. Let’s hear partner's lowest suit for the slam.
JILL MEYERS: 5NT. “Start bidding four-card suits up the line.” It is tempting to push this to the seven-level, but I can't be sure we don't have a diamond loser.
LARRY COHEN: 5NT. I have too much to bid only 4♥, and it isn't clear what 5♥ would show. I will just insist on a slam and hope we don't lose the first two tricks.
Whilst partner will often have both majors for his 4♦ bid, does he just have to guess which game to bid with something like Axxx/xx/x/QJxxxx? Would he not also bid 4♦ with that, intending to continue with 4♠ over the expected 4♥? Opposite that hand, 5NT looks like a clear winner.
When the hand occurred in a Venice Cup QF, West bid 4♥ at the table, which ended the auction. Partner had Axxxx/QJxxx/x/xx, so there were 12 easy tricks. Anything other than 4♥ reaches the top spot, so most of the panel rack it up.
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
3♠ |
10 |
17 |
35 |
|
4♣ |
6 |
3 |
14 |
|
Dbl |
6 |
3 |
6 |
|
3♣ |
4 |
1 |
11 |
|
2NT |
4 |
0 |
5 |
|
5♣ |
2 |
0 |
15 |
|
3NT |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
3♥ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
4NT |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.76
A big majority vote from the panel, and over a third of competitors agree. The second-largest group of competition entrants, though, get no support from the panel for their leap to 5♣. Partner has promised nothing, and the majority choice both keeps 3NT in the frame and allows partner to get out at the four-level in clubs if he is broke.
MARTY BERGEN: 3♠. For now, this is easy.
CEDRIC LORENZINI: 3♠. Showing a club fit and a strong hand.
DAVID BIRD: 3♠. It's hard to see what other action any sane panellist would consider.
ZIA MAHMOOD: 3♠. If he has help in spades, it’s worth a shot.
JILL MEYERS: 3♠. I don't have enough tricks to bid 3NT on my own, but I certainly have enough extras to cue bid.
MATS NILSLAND: 3♠. We will probably play in clubs, but perhaps partner has something in spades and he can bid 3NT.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: 3♠. If partner has a spade stopper, I want to play in 3NT. It will be difficult to assess whether partner has the right cards for 4♥.
HANOI RONDON: 3♠. I want to show the strength of my hand. I hope partner can bid 3NT (better from his side) or the right level in clubs.
Andrew sums up for the majority…
ANDREW ROBSON: 3♠. I think this shows a good club raise, as I would double to get to other strains. I’ll pass 4♣. I’ll also pass 3NT, but I’m not 100% sure that is best - my hearts are better for clubs than NT, too slow.
Like Andrew, most are willing to let partner out at the four-level…
PAUL MARSTON: 3♠. If he can only bid 4♣, I'm out.
ROB BRADY: 3♠. Showing my strong hand, I am hoping to hear 3NT with Qxx or JTxx in spades. I will pass 4♣ if that's all partner can muster.
LIZ McGOWAN: 3♠. It is likely that 4♣ is our limit, but if partner has ♠J-T-x and some diamond help....
LARRY COHEN: 3♠. I have too much to bid only 3♣. Dreaming partner will bid 3NT. If he bids only 4♣, I will give up.
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 3♠. I have almost a game-force in clubs.
SIMON DE WIJS: 3♠. This shows a strong hand with club support, otherwise I would double again. I'm ok with going past 3NT opposite a partner without a spade stop. I am planning to pass 4♣ if that’s all he can bid.
….but not everyone.
JOEY SILVER: 3♠. In the vain hope that partner can bid 3NT. I might try 4♥ over 4♣, but only because I am stubborn, and have trouble giving up on game, even playing pairs.
The mavericks are divided into two factions…
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: Dbl. Showing extras. If partner has J10xxx in spades and North a spade void, I'll be happy to collect a plus score on defence.
ALAN MOULD: Dbl. For now.
BARNET SHENKIN: Dbl.
…and…
WENFEI WANG: 4♣. Inviting game.
CATHY BALDYSZ: 4♣.
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 4♣. There is a small probability that we can make 3NT but not 5♣ (Qxx/xxx/Qxxx/Qxxx) and 3♠ would be the good choice in that case, but we like to make things clear for our partner. How can we suggest the hand we have if we bid 3♠ and hear 4♣? Here he will for sure raise to game with one red ace in his hand. Of course, at matchpoints, a simple raise to 3♣ could be the winner.
Brian is ploughing a lone furrow, although this could certainly be the winning action…
BRIAN GLUBOK: 3♣. On this sequence, partner may easily have very little, and 3♣ could be our last plus score. "Why are you always rushing to go minus?" - Al Roth
Partner had xx/xx/AQxx/Jxxxx, so both 3NT and 6♣ are easy makes with clubs breaking 2-1. At the table, West bid 3♣, which ended the auction, but everyone other than Brian will surely get to game. Opposite an invitational 4♣, I’d expect him to just raise. After a 3♠ cue, he is likely to advance with 4♦, and perhaps we can then find out way to the excellent slam.
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
Pass |
10 |
13 |
48 |
|
2NT |
7 |
6 |
16 |
|
4NT |
5 |
2 |
4 |
|
3♣ |
5 |
1 |
24 |
|
Dbl |
3 |
0 |
2 |
|
3♦ |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
5♣ |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
4♣ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 7.38
The majority of the panel and almost half of competition entrants collect top marks, and some perhaps wondered whether the inclusion of this problem was the question setter’s attempt at an April Fools joke. Let’s start with them…
WENFEI WANG: Pass. No points, no bid.
ALAN MOULD: Pass. Vul v NV on a 1-count. I will keep my powder dry, thanks. Again, I really see no viable alternative.
LIZ McGOWAN: Pass. I do not like to mislead partner about my high-card strength. If she doubles again, I may get excited.
A number point out that the auction is not yet over…
ANDREW ROBSON: Pass. This won’t get passed out. Any action by me here implies more.
P.-O. SUNDELIN: Pass. I am convinced there will be more bidding.
JILL MEYERS: Pass. Great distribution, but no HCP. I doubt this is going to go “all pass”, so I will get another chance.
BARNET SHENKIN: Pass. This is not the end of the auction. I will likely bid 4NT later to show minors but no values.
MATS NILSLAND: Pass. Nice hand, but if we bid now, we may regret it.
Some consider the likely hands for partner…
BRIAN GLUBOK: Pass. The big danger is that partner has either a very powerful hand with hearts or a balanced 20+ HCP with spade stoppers. I'd love to compete with a bid of 3♣, 3♦ or 4NT, but I think we have to pass on this round as any bid risks misleading partner.
LARRY COHEN: Pass. There is too much chance partner has a big hand with hearts to do anything yet. I can always back in later. I don't want to bury partner at this point. I will be shocked if 2♠ is the final contract.
SIMON DE WIJS: Pass. Partner likely is very strong, so I will let him bid his hand first and then react.
CATHY BALDYSZ: Pass.
There are wise words from a man who is not usually reticent about getting involved.
JOEY SILVER: Pass. At this vulnerability, I am not looking for trouble, and will keep out of the auction unless partner can make another move.
DAVID BIRD: Pass. What would 2NT mean? For me, it is 100% for the minors, and very useful to express such hands. What is the point of playing Lebensohl when you can simply pass on a weak hand? Apart from that, it is risky to extend Lebensohl to new, undiscussed situations. On such a weak hand, particularly when vulnerable, I am not going to bid 2NT now. I will wait and see what happens.
Rob sums up for the majority.
ROB BRADY: Pass. Partner is odds on to have a 19-21+ balanced hand type, given this start to the auction. If we bid 2NT (is it Lebensohl here?), partner is very likely to raise to 3NT, and that's not what we want. Let partner tire himself out first, and then we can pull to clubs later. This is not the ideal vulnerability for a sacrifice. Maybe another discussion is whether we play systems on if partner rebids 2NT. I'd suggest not.
However, some were not willing to go quietly.
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 2NT. Minors.
HANOI RONDON: 2NT. I want to show both minors, as I have a great distribution.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: 2NT. Scrambling. I will bid again over 3♠ or 4♠, but slowing down with 2NT should keep partner from getting too excited.
CEDRIC LORENZINI: 2NT. Showing at least 5-5 in the minors. True, I am a bit weak, but I prefer to bid now than at 4NT later.
The view that 2NT shows minors is not universal – something that regular partnerships need to discuss.
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 2NT. Assuming this is Lebensohl. I would hardly bid it naturally with a void in their suit.
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 2NT. For us this is a Lebensohl-type situation. We play 2NT forcing to 3♣ (unless partner has doubled with a very strong hand) and our next bid (if there is one ...) will show a weak hand. A direct bid would show a better hand (8-10 HCP). Things will probably be more complicated when the tray comes back.
Zia is on his own, but you can see the logic.
ZIA MAHMOOD: 3♣. I have to prepare for the opponents’ 4♠ bid, so I can follow up with 4NT.
Only a couple are prepared to really set the cat amongst the pigeons…
MARTY BERGEN: 4NT. "Colors are for children."
PAUL MARSTON: 4NT. Let's try to play in our best minor.
This was a very strange hand. If you pass, you will be surprised when it goes 4♠-5♣-5♠ back to you! Partner had A109x/Ax/x/AKQJ10x, so you were cold for 6♣, although at the table, against us, they saved in 6♠-doubled for +300. Still, that was a 5-IMP gain against 5♠-doubled down one at the other table (and we won the match by 4 IMPs).
Those who bid 4NT, or 2NT showing minors, will surely persuade partner to bid a slam. If 2NT is Lebensohl, though, might partner perhaps be worried that you were planning to compete to 3♦ or 3♥?
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
5♣ |
10 |
12 |
14 |
|
3NT |
8 |
7 |
35 |
|
Pass |
7 |
2 |
13 |
|
4♣ |
5 |
3 |
29 |
|
3♥ |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
4♦ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
4♥ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 6.56
For most, this was just a question of which game to bid. The dominant faction on the panel preferred game in our long suit, whilst the largest group of competition entrants opted for 3NT. Although there were not many of them, I think the passers had the best of the debate and, as we shall see, would also have come out on top at the table. Almost a third of competitors chose a fourth option, so let’s start with their supporters…
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 4♣. I don’t have enough to bid 3NT.
JOEY SILVER: 4♣. I am surrounded by temptation: 3NT and 5♣ are both attractive options. In the end, influenced by the form of scoring and my (very) old age, I settle for a stodgy 4♣.
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 4♣. 3NT or Pass are for top or bottom, and could be a choice depending on our position in the event and the session. We choose to rebid our seven-card suit and, ideally, we would like to bid 4.5♣ but we've heard the rules do not allow that.
The rest committed to one game or another.
SIMON DE WIJS: 5♣. This feels about right. With 0-7 in the black suits, I am not interested either in defending or trying for 3NT.
CEDRIC LORENZINI: 5♣. Bid the contract you want to be in.
WENFEI WANG: 5♣. I bid what I hope we can make.
PAUL MARSTON: 5♣. This should have a play.
Close to an accurate prediction from Zia…
ZIA MAHMOOD: 5♣. I expect to be in the majority at last.
JILL MEYERS: 5♣. I plan on bidding 6♣ if the opponents compete to 5♠.
CATHY BALDYSZ/BARNET SHENKIN/P.-O. SUNDELIN: 5♣.
ALAN MOULD: 5♣. A complete guess. 3NT risks them cashing the whole spade suit off the top, but might be right.
BRIAN GLUBOK: 5♣. Another tough problem. Naturally, 3NT is an appealing alternative.
LARRY COHEN: 5♣. I so want to bid 3NT, but I wouldn't want to see it in print 😊
The rest were less concerned about their reputation as sound bidders.
DAVID BIRD: 3NT. I switched from 5♣ at the last moment. Very much a guess, though.
MARTY BERGEN: 3NT. I am definitely not proud of this.
ANDREW ROBSON: 3NT. Spread on the number of “Hamman’s” (“if 3NT is an option, bid it”). I’ll buy at four …
Not too far off Andrew … it was seven.
LIZ McGOWAN: 3NT.
MATS NILSLAND: 3NT. A difficult hand, but I think 3NT is best for now.
HANOI RONDON: 3NT. Passing seems too risky. It’s MPs, so playing game in a minor is not that attractive. Ergo…
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 3NT. I hope partner’s spades are not just 10-x-x-x. Also, if he has something like Axxx/Jxxx/x/AKxx, we’re going to miss our easy slam, so this is not ideal. Playing Polish Club, I would've opened a Precision-style 2♣, which might have made it easier for partner to lead us in the right direction.
Given the vulnerability, I am surprised that this option did not attract more support.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: Pass. I'll take a gamble on defending at these colors.
ROB BRADY: Pass. Passing these negative doubles with vulnerable opponents tends to work out at MPs when we have a trump trick. The magic +200 is usually worth playing for and here, on a spade lead, we have a decent chance to collect just that, and +500 would even beat any of our non-vulnerable games. I don't mind a 4♦ bid or even gambling on 3NT, 4♥ or 5♣, but the vulnerability swings this decision for me. If we were unfavorable, I'd prefer to play offense.
This was another case of top marks going to an option that would not have worked at the table. Partner had K10xxx/xxxx/Ax/Kx. You can make 3NT (+400), but a trump lead holds clubs to ten tricks. However, you get an easy +500 defending 3♦-doubled. A moral victory for James and Rob.
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
Pass |
10 |
23 |
66 |
|
4♦ |
5 |
1 |
11 |
|
5♦ |
2 |
0 |
8 |
|
4NT |
2 |
0 |
7 |
|
4♣ |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
6♦ |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
6NT |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 7.45
This is the 502nd deal presented to this panel, and this is the closest we have come to a unanimous decision, so thanks to Sophia for saving the problem setter from that embarrassing fate. It does, though, seem to answer the question of who was to blame for the poor result, and that is the panel! Yes, having bid both hands, we’ve landed in the wrong spot, but more of that later. Almost two-thirds of readers also thought this one was easy and, for the second hand in a row, some panelists were even disdainful…
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: Pass. Sorry, but e don't understand the question.
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: Pass. I have already shown my hand.
CEDRIC LORENZINI/WENFEI WANG: Pass. I see no reason to bid again.
PAUL MARSTON: Pass. I am not thrilled, but what can I do?
HANOI RONDON: Pass. I'm glad to have reached this game. It's hard to continue towards a slam. I guess pre-empts work.
Some didn’t like the positional prospects…
JOEY SILVER: Pass. With the spades sitting over partner, I will go quietly, but I will have my apologies ready.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: Pass. I don't want to wrong-side the lead here.
ANDREW ROBSON: Pass. North did not support spades, so partner could easily be 4-5-1-3 or similar. 5♦ with a spade lead through dummy? No thank you.
Whilst some simply were not particularly enamoured with their hand…
DAVID BIRD: Pass. I have an extra diamond, yes, but plenty of losers alongside.
ZIA MAHMOOD: Pass. I normally bid on if I think we can make 5m, but that’s unclear here. I need two spade stops or the ♦A (and maybe no club loser too!)
SIMON DE WIJS: Pass. When someone gives you this problem, you generally know you have to bid. At the table I would pass. I can easily see 2-3 losers in 5♦ with 3NT making.
Some accepted that another action could work…
BRIAN GLUBOK: Pass. Bidding on could be right, but Pass looks like the percentage action.
LARRY COHEN: Pass. Reluctantly, but who is to say we have safety higher? Not opposite something like QJ9x/KQ10xx/Ax/Jx.
MARTY BERGEN: Pass. Obviously, 6♦ or 6NT might be cold.
ROB BRADY: Pass. 5♦ could easily be right opposite a hand like Axx/Axxxx/xx/Kxx, but 3NT could be our last making contract if partner holds AQx/KQxxx/xx/Jxx. Hamman's rule?
Only one panelist recognized that we had seen the other half of this deal before…
ALAN MOULD: Pass. Ok, Ok, you got me. This is the companion hand to a few months ago, when we had a 2-5-1-5 17-count with the stiff ♦A, and we all bid 3NT on the auction. Well, that's why they pre-empt. Partner could easily have a 3-5-1-4 11-count and 3NT is our last making spot.
Sophia has to settle for a moral victory here, as she is the only one to take what would have been the winning decision at the table.
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 4♦. Sometimes we can only make 3NT and sometimes 5♦ will be better (although I have already wrong-sided the diamond suit). Still, I think it is worth a move as some hands will make slam. I don’t mind ending in 5♦ rather than 3NT at IMPs in order to investigate slam chances.
When the deal occurred in a major championship, there was some disagreement amongst the VuGraph commentators as to who was to blame when the auction ended in 3NT. The enormity of the majority here seems to settle that question.
However, in the December 2025 set, 75% of the panel voted for 3NT on the East cards (although there was some support for 4♣). East had AQ/A10xxx/A/Kxxxx. The 4-1 trump break means you can make only 11 tricks in clubs if the spade finesse fails (as seems likely). However, both 6NT and 7♦ are still easy makes.
With most of the panel stopping in 3NT (from both sides of the table), we have to conclude that some combinations are just too difficult. As Alan commented: “That’s why they pre-empt.”
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
4♠ |
10 |
8 |
10 |
|
Dbl |
9 |
7 |
11 |
|
5♣ |
8 |
4 |
37 |
|
4NT |
8 |
3 |
2 |
|
4♦ |
6 |
2 |
21 |
|
4♣ |
2 |
0 |
17 |
|
Pass |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
3NT |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 6.71
How do we show an invitational raise to 5♣? The panel offer five possible solutions, with no option emerging as a clear favourite. The competition entrants are more consistent, with more than a third simply jumping to game in partner’s suit, and there was some support on the panel for that choice...
JILL MEYERS: 5♣. I am too good to not bid game, but not good enough to try for slam.
BRIAN GLUBOK: 5♣. This looks like the practical choice. We can't play below game, and there is a lot that has to go right for slam to make. Partner might have two small spades, for example.
CATHY BALDYSZ/P.-O. SUNDELIN: 5♣.
But some thought that was not enough.
ZIA MAHMOOD: 4♠. Whatever it shows, I bid it.
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 4♠. A good raise to 5♣.
CEDRIC LORENZINI: 4♠. Showing a good hand for clubs. Of course, I would have preferred to have spade control, but I don’t think it promises one in this situation.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: 4♠. Are we playing with a pinochle deck? I hope this doesn't show spade shortness.
PAUL MARSTON: 4♠. I’ll settle for playing 5♣ unless partner shows some sign of life.
And how does he do that?
ANDREW ROBSON: 4♠. Showing a good raise to 5♣. I would play 5♣ over that as better than 4NT (although many play it the other way round).
ROB BRADY: 4♠. In cramped sequences, a 4NT bid from partner would show a good 5m call, and I think that should apply over 4♠ here. There doesn't seem to be a more scientific way to investigate slam.
This is certainly a situation that regular partnerships should discuss.
LARRY COHEN: 4♠. I might as well show a good raise to 5♣, not that I really expect partner will be able to do anything with that information.
What does 4NT mean here?
SIMON DE WIJS: 4NT. This should show a slam try in clubs without a spade cue bid. Without that agreement, I would just bid 5♣.
Or, alternatively…
LIZ McGOWAN: 4NT. Hoping partner has a singleton spade. I think this shows 6-3 in the minors. I hope she agrees.
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 4NT. I am hoping this shows diamonds and a club fit. I want to show a hand too good to just bid 5♣. If partner has x/QJxx/Kx/Axxxxx, I want to be in slam, but if he has x/KQJx/xx/Axxxxx then not, because the diamond finesse is likely to lose.
A couple simply bid their diamonds.
HANOI RONDON: 4♦. The bidding should not end here, so I guess I can bid 5♣ later.
JOEY SILVER: 4♦. With slam a real possibility, I will go with bidding my good diamond suit before supporting partner, rather than making a non-revealing ubiquitous cue bid.
This looks like a dangerous choice to me. With no clear alternative, might partner not raise to 5♦ on something like xx/KQx/10x/AJxxxx? At least 5♣ is on the diamond finesse, but 5♦ has no play.
David and his faction offer an alternative route…
DAVID BIRD: Dbl. I don't like 4NT, intending to offer a choice of minors, when I have excellent club support. Nor does 4♠ appeal when I have no spade control. I will show values with my double, intending to bid 5♣ later.
MARTY BERGEN: Dbl. "When in doubt, make the cheapest reasonable call."
ALAN MOULD: Dbl. There seem to be a lot of points in this deck.
WENFEI WANG: Dbl. If partner bids 4♥, I will bid 5♣.
Is it clear that this is a slam try, though, rather than trying to find the best game?
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: Dbl. Let's keep all our options open, from 3NT to the six-level.
BARNET SHENKIN: Dbl. I hope to hear 3NT. If not, I will go to 5♣.
MATS NILSLAND: Dbl.
The auction began this way at both tables in the VuGraph match from the Lederer. One West bid 4♠, the other made a responsive double. Over 4♠, partner bid 5♣, and West passed. The doubler heard (4♠)-4NT-(Pass)- back to him and, with partner voluntarily committing to the five-level, he now jumped to 6♣. East had close to Sophia’s hand, x/QJxx/Kx/AJxxxx, so 6♣ was an easy make (diamonds were 4-1 but trumps 2-2).
|
ACTION |
MARKS |
PANEL |
Competitors' |
|
3NT |
10 |
11 |
17 |
|
Dbl |
8 |
7 |
34 |
|
Pass |
7 |
6 |
16 |
|
4♣ |
2 |
0 |
24 |
|
3♠ |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
4♥ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
4♠ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
4NT |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Competition Entrant Average Score: 6.14
This was a fairly close three-way battle amongst the panelists, although almost a quarter of competition entrants preferred a choice no panel member even mentioned. Some in the panel’s largest group thought the decision routine, others less so…
JILL MEYERS: 3NT. I can't think of a reasonable alternative.
JAMES HOLZHAUER: 3NT. Someone has to bid it.
ZIA MAHMOOD: 3NT. A lifetime of disasters in similar auctions has made me stubborn.
MARTY BERGEN: 3NT. Obviously, NOT a comfortable action.
WENFEI WANG: 3NT. This looks like an overbid, but we don’t rate to get very rich defending.
MATS NILSLAND: 3NT.
SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 3NT. I would have opened a Polish Club and now I would have to take some action. If I go for a phone number, so be it. If a negative double by partner would be game-forcing (which I play it is), then she can still have a fair number of decent hands on which she has to pass 3♥.
SIMON DE WIJS: 3NT. I think all of the alternatives are worse. You can always guess to pass 3♥, but that feels very weak.
HANOI RONDON: 3NT. I have a stopper, and values. I hope partner has a source of tricks or entries in order to finesse successfully.
ROB BRADY: 3NT. Double, Pass, 3NT: anything could be right. I'll take the high road and shoot for the game. Without a heart raise there's some chance the hearts will be isolated. We don't have many tricks yet, but both black kings offer us decent chances at game.
MIGUEL VILLSA-BOAS: 3NT. Or Pass or Double.
A few preferred a less-committal option…
BRIAN GLUBOK: Dbl. Double now, ask questions later.
ANDREW ROBSON: Dbl. Obviously, the great Bob (H) could be right again (3NT), but partner may just have a very bad hand and bid 3♠ over my double (no prizes for guessing what I would do then). Occasionally, partner sits the double (especially against some frisky weak jumpers). And it’s not as though 3NT is going to be all roses in the garden that often, although admittedly there’s more of a case for it at IMPs, with its big upside.
ALAN MOULD: Dbl. With no conviction at all. I have doubled three times in this set - surely one of them must be right!
Apparently not, Alan 😊
LIZ McGOWAN: Dbl. This is probably wrong if partner bids 4♦, but they say it's a bidder's game...
BARNET SHENKIN: Dbl. Pass, Double and 3NT all could be the winner or the loser. Each action has pluses and minuses. At teams, I would gamble with 3NT. At pairs, it seems right to gamble a double. Who knows? Passing easily could be the winning choice.
PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: Dbl. The truth is that we have no idea what will be best this time: Pass, 3NT, 4♣ and Double are all possible. We will wait with deep interest to see the panel's bids and comments.
CEDRIC LORENZINI: Dbl. A difficult problem. Pass or 3NT are also possible, and I don’t have a strong preference.
And, finally, the mice…
P.-O. SUNDELIN: Pass. Cowardly or wise?
PAUL MARSTON: Pass. I see no obvious path to game. Best to get off the bus now.
LARRY COHEN: Pass. If I had a great partner, I could bid 3NT and he would fill in the holes. But, that's too much to hope for.
DAVID BIRD: Pass. Passing on three hands out of eight is not often a winning policy, particularly when surrounded by panellists who bid aggressively at every opportunity. Would I dare to pass if the setting was IMPs? Hmm... I'd have to think about it.
CATHY BALDYSZ: Pass.
JOEY SILVER: Pass. I might be tempted to bid 3NT at another form of scoring. I am not willing to run the risk at Pairs, with a non-flexible heart stopper, only 18 points and no running suits.
It is fitting that we should end this set with yet another hand on which the panel’s chosen action would not have been successful at the table. Take note, dear readers, that even the world’s best players do not come up with the winning decision all of the time. This time, East had a more suitable hand than he might, Kx/Jxx/Qxxxx/Jxx, but defending 3♥ was still the only way to go plus.
We have a tie at the top of the panel this month, with a maiden victory for Rob Brady and a second win for Mats Nilsland, both scoring 77/80. The podium is completed by Simon de Wijs with 75/80.
A special mention for our guest panelist, ‘Jeopardy James’ Holzhauer, with a very respectable 71/80.
Thanks, as usual, to all members of the panel for the time they take to both educate and entertain our readers.
See you all again next month. Marc
|
Rob BRADY |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
4♠ |
3NT |
77 |
|
Mats NILSLAND |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
Dbl |
3NT |
77 |
|
Simon De WIJS |
4♠ |
4♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
4NT |
3NT |
75 |
|
David BIRD |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
Dbl |
Pass |
74 |
|
Andrew ROBSON |
4♠ |
4♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4♠ |
Dbl |
73 |
|
Marty BERGEN |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
4NT |
3NT |
Pass |
Dbl |
3NT |
72 |
|
Zia MAHMOOD |
4♠ |
4♥ |
3♠ |
3♣ |
5♣ |
Pass |
4♠ |
3NT |
72 |
|
Miguel VILLAS-BOAS |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
2NT |
4♣ |
Pass |
4♠ |
3NT |
72 |
|
Wenfei WANG |
4♠ |
5NT |
4♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
Dbl |
3NT |
72 |
|
Cathy BALDYSZ |
4♠ |
5♥ |
4♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
71 |
|
Larry COHEN |
3♥ |
5NT |
3♠ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
4♠ |
Pass |
71 |
|
James HOLZHAUER |
3♥ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
2NT |
Pass |
Pass |
4♠ |
3NT |
71 |
|
Brian GLUBOK |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Dbl |
70 |
|
Alan MOULD |
4♠ |
4♥ |
Dbl |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
Dbl |
Dbl |
70 |
|
Barnet SHENKIN |
4♠ |
4♥ |
Dbl |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
Dbl |
Dbl |
70 |
|
Paul MARSTON |
4♠ |
4♥ |
3♠ |
4NT |
5♣ |
Pass |
4♠ |
Pass |
69 |
|
Jill MEYERS |
3♠ |
5NT |
3♠ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
3NT |
69 |
|
Liz McGOWAN |
3♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4NT |
Dbl |
68 |
|
Cedric LORENZINI |
3♥ |
4NT |
3♠ |
2NT |
5♣ |
Pass |
4♠ |
Dbl |
67 |
|
Pierre SCHMIDT & Joanna ZOCHOWSKA |
4♠ |
5♥ |
4♣ |
2NT |
4♣ |
Pass |
Dbl |
Dbl |
65 |
|
Sophia BALDYSZ |
4♠ |
5♥ |
Dbl |
2NT |
3NT |
4♦ |
4NT |
3NT |
64 |
|
Hanoi RONDON |
4♣ |
5NT |
3♠ |
2NT |
3NT |
Pass |
4♦ |
3NT |
64 |
|
P,-O. SUNDELIN |
3♠ |
5♦ |
3♠ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
64 |
|
Joey SILVER |
2♥ |
4♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
4♣ |
Pass |
4♦ |
Pass |
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOP SCORE |
4♠ |
5♥ |
3♠ |
Pass |
5♣ |
Pass |
4♠ |
3NT |
|
|
HAND 1: |
4♠ 10 |
3♥ 7 |
2♥/4♣ 6 |
2♦/3♦/2NT 5 |
3♠ 4 |
|
HAND 2: |
5♥ 10 |
4♥/5NT 7 |
4NT/5♦ 5 |
6♥ 3 |
|
|
HAND 3: |
3♠ 10 |
4♣/Dbl 6 |
2NT/3♣ 4 |
3NT/5♣ 2 |
|
|
HAND 4: |
Pass 10 |
2NT 7 |
3♣/4NT 5 |
Dbl 3 |
|
|
HAND 5: |
5♣ 10 |
3NT 8 |
Pass 7 |
4♣ 5 |
|
|
HAND 6: |
Pass 10 |
4♦ 5 |
5♦/4NT 2 |
|
|
|
HAND 7: |
4♠ 10 |
Dbl 9 |
4NT/5♣ 8 |
4♦ 6 |
4♣ 2 |
|
HAND 8: |
3NT 10 |
Dbl 8 |
Pass 7 |
3♠/4♣ 2 |
|
|
HAND 1: |
5.11 |
|
HAND 2: |
6.50 |
|
HAND 3: |
5.76 |
|
HAND 4: |
7.38 |
|
HAND 5: |
6.56 |
|
HAND 6: |
7.45 |
|
HAND 7: |
6.71 |
|
HAND 8: |
6.14 |
