RealBridge Bidding Contest - October 2024 Results

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Contest conducted by Marc Smith

 

Welcome to the opening set of the 2024 edition of the world’s most popular bidding competition, which comes to you from our new home at RealBridge.

 

We have now reached the point in the annual competition where competitors who have played every month start dropping their weakest scores. The race for a place on the podium and in the final leader-board is well and truly on.

 

 

This month’s guest panelist is Dror Axelrod from Israel, who won the August competition with a perfect 80/80 score. A 42-year-old lawyer from Jerusalem, he is married with a son and two daughters. Dror says, “I have been very fortunate to have my father, Asher, as a bridge partner, and I am thankful for his continued guidance and support".

 

If you have a hand that you think would produce an interesting panel discussion, please send me details. Remember that the best problems offer three or more sensible actions rather than being a straight choice between two.

 

The panel produce a majority vote on five of this month’s deals. The most popular action chosen by the competition entrants scores ‘10’ on three of the eight hands, and voting with the largest group of competitors this month scores 57/80 (down from the annual high of 73/80 in September). This looks like a tougher set, with an average score of 47.23 (down from 52.83 on Set 24-09). Let’s see what the panel have to say about this month’s hands…

 

 

Hand 1

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
Dbl	10	12	7
3♥	8	9	32
3NT	6	1	29
4♦	5	1	3
5♦	2	0	3
3♦	0	0	11
2NT	0	0	6
3♣	0	0	4
2♠	0	0	2
4♥	0	0	2
Pass	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.21

 

Partner has opened the bidding, so we clearly want to force to game, but which one? The panel is split into two main camps, with almost a third of competitors agreeing with the smaller of those two factions. Almost as many decided that they already know where to play, shutting up shop with a jump to 3NT. We start with those who agree with the largest group of competition entrants…

 

WENFEI WANG: 3♥. I hope partner can bid 3NT.

JILL MEYERS: 3♥. If partner has the ♥Q, I would rather play from her side. If partner bid 3♠ over 3♥, I will bid 3NT and hope I can take nine tricks.

PAUL MARSTON: 3♥. Confirming a fit and showing a good hand. 3♠ from partner should be a last train to 3NT.
DROR AXELROD: 3♥. Asking for more information from partner. This seems like the best way to start, in order to decide the final destination.

LIZ McGOWAN: 3♥. Maybe I should just punt 3NT, hoping that diamonds run and North does not have a killing spade lead. But, if partner has something like Kx/Qx/AQxxxx/xxx, I prefer that she plays it. And, if she has nothing in hearts, maybe we belong in diamonds – who knows?

CATHY BALDYSZ: 3♥.

JOEY SILVER: 3♥. The ubiquitous cue-bid strikes again! I have no intention of stopping short of game. I will pass 3NT if partner grabs it, otherwise I will explore for a diamond slam.

LARRY COHEN: 3♥. If partner can't bid notrump, I don't want to insist on 3NT. Partner might try 3♠, over which I can bid 3NT to indicate doubt. It would be silly to be in 3NT opposite something like AQ/xxx/KQ98xx/Qx.

Giorgio wants to ensure there are no accidents, but he really prefers to be in the other major group on the panel…

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 3♥. This looks like the safe choice without any specific agreements. Of course, I am Italian, so a takeout double should be my bid.

Most seemed to think this was a clear choice…

ALAN MOULD: Dbl. What else?

SJOERT BRINK: Dbl. I don’t see any problem.

ZIA MAHMOOD: Dbl. A simple answer to a simple problem.

SALLY BROCK: Dbl. This seems fairly straightforward.

NICK NICKELL: Dbl.

Andrew and David both make a key point.

ANDREW ROBSON: Dbl. Assuming this is a non-penalty double, it seems to be the clear action at this stage. It also has the merit of being our cheapest call.

DAVID BIRD: Dbl. This looks like the obvious way to keep the auction moving. The alternative of 3♥ consumes much more space, for no appreciable gain.

HANOI RONDON: Dbl. I want my partner to give it another go at describing his hand. Maybe I'll then be better placed to decide the contract.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: Dbl. I give partner the chance to bid 2NT. If not, I will bid 3NT next time around.

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: Dbl. We have only two options available, 3♥ or Double. Our final contract might be 3NT, 5♦ or even 6♦ opposite the perfect hand (x/Kxx/AKxxxxx/x). Double is more flexible. If partner bids 3♦ (or 2♠, but this is unlikely as he did not bid 1♠ over our first double), we will suggest 3NT having shown some doubt.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: Dbl. Is 1♠ by partner a three-card suit and 2♠ four-card support? (Probably, yes. MS) His failure to bid either suggests the hands might fit well. Opposite some hands, even slam could be right: imagine something like A/Jxxx/AKQxxx/xx. In Poland, double is takeout, so I hope the rest of the world is the same. My alternative would be 3NT, to be practical, as we likely have nine tricks to collect.

 

 

There were just a couple of solo mavericks.

MARTY BERGEN: 3NT. Obviously this could be a silly contract, but it could also be cold.

P-O SUNDELIN: 4♦. I happen to have seen the hand, but had decided to bid 4♦ (hoping that partner passes and that a blind or deaf North leads a spade to beat 3NT).

 

On this deal from the Spingold, one West bid 3♥, which rather endplayed his partner. With A/J10x/KQxxxx/Jxx, East retreated to 4♦, which was raised to game. The other West (Andy Hung) doubled again, and then bid 3NT over his partner’s 3♦.

With the club finesse wrong, 5♦ had three losers. North had no reason not to lead a heart against 3NT, which therefore made comfortably for a 10-IMP gain. Even on a spade lead from Q-x-x-x, West’s ♠J-9-x-x is enough to restrict the defenders to two tricks in the suit. Yes, it removes the outside entry from dummy, but the ♦A was singleton, so the defenders cannot not shut out the diamond suit.

 

 

Hand 2

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
4NT	10	12	16
Pass	8	5	13
Dbl	7	4	41
5♣	7	2	26
5♦	0	0	5

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 7.33

 

The panel votes 14-9 in favour of taking committal action, which was also the choice at one table in the Spingold final. With good cases made for a number of actions, everyone scores fairly well. Let’s start with the largest faction on the panel…

 

JILL MEYERS: 4NT. This could be a double game swing.

NICK NICKELL: 4NT. Partner is short in spades with a poor hand. I am hoping he has not too many hearts.

ALAN MOULD: 4NT. I can't double, and I cannot bring myself to Pass.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 4NT. This shows longer diamonds than clubs. Partner is marked with a minor-suit fit unless he has eight hearts and hid them. Then I leave the table!

 

 

LARRY COHEN: 4NT. With partner short in spades, there is too much potential in 5m to go quietly. Picture as little as x/Jxxx/10xx/Qxxxx.

HANOI RONDON: 4NT. I need to compete and double might lead to a heart bid from partner, which doesn't suit my interests.

Some acknowledge that bidding could work poorly.

ZIA MAHMOOD: 4NT. We could find a 5-5 club fit, which would hit the jackpot. However, if partner turns up with a weak 1-6-3-3 or similar, that would be a problem.

ANDREW ROBSON: 4NT. This is probably wrong, but how can partner not have a singleton spade? Equally, he is bound to have clubs as no negative double or diamond support …

Or just a hand too weak to take any action, perhaps?

JOEY SILVER: 4NT. I am not letting my partner’s pass over 1♠ stop me. I am seduced by the vulnerability, my spade length, and my decent minors into making a pilgrimage to the five-level despite my good defense. (What can I say? I have always been a sucker for a game bonus.)

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 4NT. Incredible! An easy one. I agreed with Joanna in less than three seconds. Do we lose 10 IMPs?

Yes, I’m afraid so, but you get top marks here 😊

DAVID BIRD: 4NT. The opponents have helpfully bid partner's spade shortage, so we have every chance of landing a minor-suit game. 5♣ would suggest five clubs. Here, I show longer diamonds. If my second suit was hearts, I would double instead.

As David suggests, should this not show at least 5-5 shape?

MARTY BERGEN: 5♣. Partner has 0-1 spade, so this could be a huge double fit.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 5♣.

The rest of the panel was split between two less aggressive choices. Although the great Bobby Wolff once astutely observed that “Passing can be just as dangerous as bidding”, it seems clear that this faction could easily be right.

P-O SUNDELIN: Pass. Yes, cowardly, I know.

SALLY BROCK: Pass. If I double, partner is invited to bid hearts. 5♣ seems too much with only 5-4.

LIZ McGOWAN: Pass. I am hoping for a small plus. I don’t think we have anything much on our way, and double is too likely to persuade partner to bid hearts.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: Pass. 4NT is an option but, if my partner has heart length, committing to the five-level could be very dangerous.

PAUL MARSTON: Pass. I have no reason to expect that we can make anything at this level, nor to think they can either.

The final group try to hedge their bets…

SJOERT BRINK: Dbl. What else?

GIORGIO DUBOIN: Dbl. Not the best, but I do not like to take the decision alone.

WENFEI WANG: Dbl. I don’t think partner will bid 5♥.

ANDY HUNG: Dbl. It seems a bit weird to double with this shape but, hopefully, partner won't commit to hearts too quickly. I'm happy to defend, and even happier if partner bids 4NT with two (or three) suits to play.

 

On this hand from the Spingold final, partner had about what he has promised: K/10xxxx/10xx/9xxx. Unluckily for the bidders, East’s only high card is a defensive one. At the table, one West followed the majority choice of the panel, bidding 4NT, which led to three down (-500) in 5♦-doubled when clubs split 4-1. You beat 4♠ by a trick on the singleton heart lead (or a top club and a heart switch), so either Pass or Double would probably have produced a plus score at the table.

Hand 3

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
5♦	10	7	21
5♠	9	5	8
6♥	8	4	15
4NT	7	3	6
5NT	7	2	1
5♣	7	1	6
6♣	7	1	2
5♥	2	0	38
Pass	0	0	3
Dbl	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.83

 

This is the most contentious deal of the set, with the panel offering seven different choices, and no option garnering more than a third of the votes. Amazingly, the most popular choice of competitors, with support from more than a third of entrants, is not one of the seven options chosen by the panel.

 

SJOERT BRINK: 4NT. What else?

See below, Sjoert.

ANDY HUNG: 4NT. I am unsure whether I want to look for a grand slam or not (AKQxxx of clubs from partner). If I'm going to reside in 6♥, I prefer to go via RKCB (as opposed to an immediate 6♥ bid) so as not to advertise my spade void. Or maybe we should be in 7♣ opposite AKQxx.

Hold that thought, Andy.

JOEY SILVER: 4NT. A little deception on the way, to try and buy the hand in 6♥. I am not sure if I will sell this hand -- much depends on the table action.

Some preferred to make the opponents guess right now.

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 6♥. I have no room to check, so I bid what I think we can make.

WENFEI WANG: 6♥. Let’s hope I can make it.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 6♥.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: 6♥. I’m not sure if we are making 6♥, but I think there is a high chance that they will sacrifice.

Paul was happy with the level, but preferred an alternative strain.

PAUL MARSTON: 6♣. Our battleground is six. I am betting on clubs against hearts.
Some chose to offer partner a choice of slams.

LIZ McGOWAN: 5NT. Pick a possibly failing slam. I don’t want to put them off leading spades with a cue.

MARTY BERGEN: 5NT. We might be cold for seven, but we may need to play in clubs.

Partner will bid 6♣. Are you raising?

The rest choose to investigate with a five-level cue-bid.

SALLY BROCK: 5♦. I’m happy to make a slam try.

NICK NICKELL: 5♦. I am hoping to get to 6♥ and stop a diamond lead. We can still get to seven, but not likely.

P-O wants more information about our system.

P-O SUNDELIN: 5♦. Absent a clear definition of our "fit showing".

It shows the values for at least a raise to the three-level, with four-card heart support and club length and values. Is that not what you would expect it to show?

DAVID BIRD: 5♦. If partner's clubs were not pretty good, he would start with 2♠ or 2NT, both showing initially the same values as 3♣. I am therefore entitled to suggest a club slam. Over 5♥, I will have an easy 5♠.

Some still have grand slam ambitions, but which one?

DROR AXELROD: 5♦. My hand is good enough for a grand slam try.

JILL MEYERS: 5♦. I am going to bid 5♦. If partner has solid clubs, I hope she bids 6♥, or maybe even 6♣, in which case I would bid 7♥.

HANOI RONDON: 5♦. This is a way to go slow and might get us to the wonderful contract of 7♣ as the alternative to 6♥.

Or, how about…

ANDREW ROBSON: 5♠. Grand slam interest with first-round spade control. What I have!

Here, too, partner bids 6♣. Are you raising?

ALAN MOULD: 5♠.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 5♠. It all depends what 3♣ shows. I know people have different agreements as to what fit-showing bids tend to have. Partner would need diamond shortness and solid clubs for us to be in seven. Can he have that?

Why not? But do you really need all that?

COHEN: 5♠. I'm dreaming that partner will bid the grand with Jxxx hearts and AKQxxx clubs. We all can dream, can't we? Anyway, if the opponents save in front of me in 6♠, I will get to pass and keep dreaming.

ZIA: 5♠. Looking at A-K-Q of clubs, partner should go. 5NT would be pick a slam, so he needs to bid 7♣ or 6♦.

 

 

Partner had xx/Jxxx/xx/AKQxx so 6♥ was an easy make, but the spade ruff gives you a thirteenth trick playing in clubs. Of course, there is the secondary problem of persuading the opponents not to save, as they have only four losers in a spade contract. I’ll leave you to judge what route is most likely to persuade the opponents to let you play the hand.

 

 

Hand 4

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
3♣	10	11	26
4♦	9	9	21
5♦	6	2	6
4♠	5	1	20
2♦	2	0	2
4NT	0	0	7
4♣	0	0	6
3♠	0	0	4
3♦	0	0	2
2♠	0	0	2
6♠	0	0	2
5♣	0	0	1
5♠	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.89

 

For the panel, this was a straightforward choice: show your second suit or show your shortage. However, only just over half of competition entrants supported one of the panel’s primary two choices. A fifth of competitors simply jump to game, which all but one member of the panel thought was not enough on this hand.

 

 

JOEY SILVER: 3♣. This seems automatic, while trying to keep an open mind for slam.

WENFEI WANG: 3♣. A natural bid. Let’s see what partner does next.

DROR AXELROD: 3♣. Showing my second suit and extra values.

DAVID BIRD: 3♣. Bids at the three-level are natural and four-level bids show a shortage. If he bids just 3♠, I can show my intentions with 4♦.

SALLY BROCK: 3♣. I am happy to encourage partner to describe his hand further. It’s easy to see a hand where slam is good.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 3♣.

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 3♣. I could bid 4♦, but it takes up too much room.

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 3♣. We play this to show 5-5 with good suits (the sixth spade helps) and let's partner evaluate his hand. A splinter jump to 4♦ could also be effective in helping partner to judge, but he may think the ♦A is working.

Jill and Miguel have similar two-step plans.

JILL MEYERS: 3♣. I like to play this as showing clubs and a slam try. If partner bids 3♦, I will be totally turned off but, if partner does something else, I will perk up.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: 3♣. If my partner bids 3♥, then 5♦ Exclusion will be my next move.

The other major group preferred to show their shortage, although exactly how short was not universally agreed.

MARTY BERGEN: 4♦. This seems like my most descriptive slam try.

SUNDELIN: 4♦. Again, absent our definition of Drury.

Much as you would presumably expect, P-O: partner has shown close to a maximum Pass with at least three-card spade support.

NICK NICKELL: 4♦. I hope partner evaluates his spades and aces well. Hopefully, he does not have the ♦A.

LARRY COHEN: 4♦. Still dreaming. I just need a round ace and Kxxx or KQ in trumps for slam. Of course, our partnership needs to know if this is shortness or length (if the latter, then I was supposed to bid 4♣). Either way, I need to make one try. I am not worried about giving away lead information, as we surely won't have a problem in only 4♠.

Andrew raises the question of exactly what 4♦ shows.

ANDREW ROBSON: 4♦. This is a bit of a methods situation. Does this show a void, or merely a singleton? Anyway, it can’t be far off the mark.

ANDY HUNG: 4♦. Splinter. Partner is a passed hand, but he has enough room to hold ♠K-Q and a useful ace. Bidding 5♦ Exclusion could get us too high, so I'll try for a splinter and, if partner does have three of the four relevant key cards, he should drive to slam.

Some disagree...

SJOERT BRINK: 4♦. This should show a void.

ALAN MOULD: 4♦. Void

ZIA MAHMOOD: 4♦. In Norway, this shows specifically a void. (And for me, as I play 3♣/3♦ as short slam tries).

Sophia and Liz both opt for Exclusion Blackwood.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 5♦. Voidwood, I guess. With one key-card, we're still safe at the five-level. Of course, partner can have A-K-Q of diamonds and no other points, but can we really be that unlucky?

LIZ McGOWAN: 5♦. My regular Friday column used to feature experts with egg on face, frequently as a result of Exclusion Confusion, but I shall risk it here. 4♦ would probably show a void but why tell when you can ask at the same time?

Only Paul was content to settle for game without making a try.

PAUL MARSTON: 4♠. Why tell them anything in the search for a magic result?

 

Partner had Kxxx/Axx/Qxxx/xx, so 6♠ was an excellent proposition. Marty Bergen commented a couple of months ago that he never understood why his version of Drury, with 2♣ showing three-card support and 2♦ showing four, never caught on. For sure, knowing that partner held four spades would have made the slam search much clearer/easier on this deal.

 

 

Hand 5

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
4NT	10	9	29
6NT	9	8	10
6♦	7	3	10
Pass	7	3	22
5♠	4	0	3
5♦	3	0	13
6♠	2	0	6
5♥	0	0	5
6♥	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 6.67

 

Do you or don’t you? The panel votes overwhelmingly (20-3) in favour of making a move. The largest faction starts with Blackwood, hoping to survive an unfavourable response. The rest take a shot at what they think will be the best contract. Let’s hear what they have to say…

 

ANDREW ROBSON: 6♦. This is my best guess, right-siding etc.

SALLY BROCK: 6♦. My best guess.

ZIA MAHMOOD: 6♦. Ouch! 6♦ and pass if partner bids 6♠, or 5NT then 6NT? I’ll try 6♦… the finesse is on.

I confess that 6♦ was my choice when I first saw the problem, but the next faction has convinced me that their choice is better for two reasons. First, the player who held the hand at the table…

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 6NT. I think I played this hand seven years ago in Wroclaw. This protects the ♥K from the chance of a ruff in a diamond slam it hearts are 2-7-3-1 around the table.

 

 

HANOI RONDON: 6NT. Let’s go for all the marbles. Protecting my ♥K.

PAUL MARSTON: 6NT. Going for something good.

SJOERT BRINK: 6NT. I really have no idea... Sorry, I wish I had a wise comment.

NICK NICKELL: 6NT.

P-O SUNDELIN: 6NT. My initial reaction was to Pass, lacking the methods to investigate both aces AND a heart control, but that just seems too cowardly. Slam in no-trump with the ♥K protected seems like a sensible alternative.

LARRY COHEN: 6NT. I don't like to punish partner for a possible aggressive bid but, with this much, I can't stop short of six. I don't want to bid 6♦, for fear of a diamond loser opposite something like KQJ10xxx/xx/x/AKx.

So, what do the Blackwood bidders have to say?

DROR AXELROD: 4NT. Blackwood for spades.

WENFEI WANG: 4NT. This is key-card for spades. If one key card is missing (likely the ♥A), I will bid 6NT.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: 4NT. If partner shows two key cards plus the ♠Q, I will finish in 6NT.

DAVID BIRD: 4NT. Two key-cards and the trump queen will put 6NT into the frame. That may still make when either the spades or the diamonds are not running.

ALAN MOULD: 4NT. Opposite the right number of key cards, I will bid 6NT or seven something.

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 4NT. I am starting with key-card. I will probably end in 6NT.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 4NT.

JILL MEYERS: 4NT. I will bid 4NT, RKCB, and if she has two with the queen, I'll take a shot at 6NT. If partner has two without the queen, I'm still sitting and thinking.

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 4NT. That's keycard BW. Of course, it might be difficult to stop in 5NT if two key cards are missing, but this step does not cost as the alternative lands us in 6NT anyway. Just a side note: in this type of competitive auction, we can't end in a different suit than spades. So here, for instance, there is no way we could bid 7♦ opposite something like AKJxx/void/ xxx/AKxxx.

Only three decided that discretion was the better part of valour and, for sure, they would be right some of the time.

ANDY HUNG: Pass. 4♥ is a transfer to 4♠, so a lot of leeway should be given to the 4♠ bidder. I will miss the rare slam but, opposite many types of 4♠ hands, even the five-level can be in jeopardy.

MARTY BERGEN: Pass. We could be cold for seven, but I don't want to hang partner if he has something like KQJ10xxx/x/x/Jxxx.

LIZ McGOWAN: Pass. After a tell-tale hesitation. Does partner have eight spades headed by the K-Q or KQJxxx and the ♣AK? Without a crystal ball I hope for a plus score.

 

At the table, partner held KQJxxx/xx/Qx/Axx so both 6♦ and 6NT were an easy make. A heart lead through the king obviously holds a spade contract to eleven tricks.

 

 

Hand 6

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
3NT	10	12	31
4♥	8	4	6
Pass	7	3	13
6♣	7	2	1
4♠	5	2	18
5♣	3	0	3
3♠	0	0	15
4♣	0	0	11
4NT	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.55

 

The majority settle for the obvious game, and nearly a third of competition entrants agree with them. Some panelists comment that they would have started with 2NT on the previous round. Let’s start with the majority.

 

WENFEI WANG: 3NT. To play.

ZIA MAHMOOD: 3NT.

DAVID BIRD: 3NT. Partner rarely has four spades for this responsive double. Anyway, how can I risk going past 3NT?

ANDREW ROBSON: 3NT. Tough, and I may have overcalled 2NT last time. We could easily be cold for 6♣ but, equally, partner may have some 3-2-5-3 shape with ♣J-x-x. Let’s blame Bob (Hamman).

ALAN MOULD: 3NT. Well, I wouldn't have started from here, but it seems I have avoided partner bidding diamonds. At any other vulnerability, I would Pass, and maybe I should do that now, but the lure of +600 is too great.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 3NT. We could be making a bunch of different contracts, but also suits may not be splitting. I would like to investigate more, but doing so seems too risky. They may well have only eight hearts between them, so defending is also a possibility. I would also have considered overcalling 2NT on the first round.

P-O wants more definition of the opponents’ weak two opening.

P-O SUNDELIN: 3NT. Opposite something like at least Kxx/xx/KJTx/Qxxx. As usual, no definition of "weak".

For me, 2♥ in first seat non-vulnerable shows any hand with five hearts that is not strong enough for 1♥. I guess the actual range will vary from 0-9 to 5-10 depending on opponents. Does that make a difference to your choice?

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 3NT. Not perfect, but at these colours we don't like Pass. We would both have bid 2NT instead of doubling on the first round.

LIZ McGOWAN: 3NT. In theory partner has minors, so I trust we can make tricks from clubs.

ANDY HUNG: 3NT. Game before slam, so I'll settle for 3NT. Sure 5♣ could be the right spot (opposite a 3-2-3-5) but it could also be a very wrong spot.

MARTY BERGEN: 3NT. Partner probably lacks four spades. I'm tempted to pass, but we might have too many clubs.

DROR AXELROD: 3NT. I am going to bid the most likely game, although I feel passing may be the right call here.

Some did think this was the time to defend.

LARRY COHEN: Pass. Speeding ticket issued.

PAUL MARSTON: Pass. If partner does not want to bid a suit, it is time to blow the whistle and take the money.

SJOERT BRINK: Pass. This looks like a safe plus score.

Another faction was more ambitious.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: 4♥. I am too strong to bid anything else.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 4♥.

What hand types can partner hold for his responsive double here?

JILL MEYERS: 4♥. I like to play that partner’s responsive double shows either a good 3♠ bid or both minors. I really like my hand, so I will start with a 4♥ cue-bid and go from there.

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 4♥. I do not know if partner’s double promises or denies four spades, so I advance with 4♥ to see what he has to say.

A couple went for all the marbles.

HANOI RONDON: 6♣. My initial double was a little irresponsible; I hope partner did better.

 

 

Whilst a couple settled for game in their good four-card major.

JOEY SILVER: 4♠. We obviously have the values for game. Despite my handsome heart stoppers, I am turned off 3NT by my dearth of diamonds. I am turned on to 4♠ by my chunky holding, which should offer protection if I buy only three-card trump support on the flop.

NICK NICKELL: 4♠.

 

Partner had Kx/xx/KJxx/Axxxx, so 6♣ was an excellent spot. 3NT obviously makes easily and you will get at least +500 from defending 3♥-doubled. A plus score is only in doubt for those playing in a spade game.

 

 

Hand 7

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
4♠	10	14	25
4♦	8	5	6
4NT	8	2	7
4♥	5	2	44
5♣	0	0	7
Pass	0	0	5
5♦	0	0	4
5♥	0	0	1
6♣	0	0	1
6♥	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.74

 

This deal is all about hand evaluation. The panel voted 19-2 in favour of making a slam try, with a clear majority vote for how to do so. A quarter of competition entrants agreed with the panel’s choice, but almost half of competitors were with the couple of panel members who decided that their hand was not good enough. Let’s start with the second largest faction on the panel…

 

WENFEI WANG: 4♦. Last train.

ZIA MAHMOOD: 4♦. Little try (LT) or Last Train, another LT.

ANDREW ROBSON: 4♦. I think this is a classic last train. I have good majors but very unsuitable clubs. I don’t think I can unilaterally go past game here.

LARRY COHEN: 4♦. I have too much to settle for 4♥, but not enough to bid more. Besides, this way I can blame partner in the postmortem if he does the wrong thing now.

SALLY BROCK: 4♦. My first thought was 4♥ because the ♣K is wasted. However, I think if I had my hand without the ♣K, I would still want to make a Last Train bid with an ace and five trumps.

So, what do the majority have to say?

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 4♠. Two key cards and the fifth trump are enough to make a try.

ALAN MOULD: 4♠. The ♣K is waste paper, but the fifth heart and two key cards are great. Easily worth this IMHO.

HANOI RONDON: 4♠. This is my control. I would bid 4♥ without the ♠A, so I can't bid the same here.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: 4♠. Even with a wasted ♣K, this hand can still make slam.

LIZ McGOWAN: 4♠. My club holding is pretty bad, but the fifth heart is huge.

DROR AXELROD: 4♠. The ♣K is not good news but, even so, my hand still looks promising.

David is concerned about the potential ethical problems with a 4♦ bid.

DAVID BIRD: 4♠. For me, a Last Train 4♦ has always been a worry. How can I avoid lingering, never expressed, doubts that a 'fast 4♦' shows a control and a 'slow 4♦' is Last Train? So, I rule that out and must choose between 4♥ and 4♠. The ♣K may well be useless, but two good cards and a fifth trump just about justify going past game.

 

 

Sophia and P-O both consider how the subsequent auction might pan out.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 4♠. I have a good hand (the fifth heart, an ace and a king). Hopefully, partner will be able to Blackwood and count 12 or 13 tricks. He may also have a club void. If I ace ask, even if I find out he has two aces, the ♥Q and both sharp-suit kings, I still won't be able to count 13 tricks.

P-O SUNDELIN: 4♠. Assuming 4♣ is a void, I want to allow him to ask for aces with something like KQxx/AQxx/AKxxx/---.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 4♠.

NICK NICKELL: 4♠. Cue-bidding 4♦ last train is wrong, I think. If he has good diamonds and A-(Q)-x-x of hearts, he may be able to take control over 4♠.

Our champion French pair are of different minds on this one, but Pierre carried the partnership into the majority.

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 4♠. Joanna would bid 4♥ only. I'm more optimistic, because the ♣K might not be a wasted value opposite something like Kxx/AQxx/AKxxx/Q.

SJOERT BRINK: 4♠. 4NT Blackwood could also work.

A couple followed Sjoert’s alternative route…

ANDY HUNG: 4NT. Partner probably has a (tad) higher minimum for the splinter bid as we are a passed hand, so slam should have a decent shot opposite something like Kxx/AQxx/AKJxx/x.

JILL MEYERS: 4NT. I am going to bid whatever is key card here. I am a passed hand and partner is suggesting we might have a slam by going through the motions of splintering. I have two key cards and a fifth trump, so I really like my hand.

There were just two conservatives on this deal.

JOEY SILVER: 4♥. I take it partner has splintered in support of hearts. With my ♣K of little value, I sign off despite my five-card heart suit and my three controls in the majors.

PAUL MARSTON: 4♥. If 4♣ is a splinter, I have an obvious 4♥ bid. There is no chance of 26 slam points after discounting the ♣K.

At the table, partner had KQx/AQxx/AK109x/x, so 6♥ was a very good proposition.

 

 

Hand 8

 

ACTION	MARKS	PANEL VOTES	Competitors' Entries (%)
3NT	10	18	15
3♥	6	4	11
5♦	5	1	46
Pass	3	0	13
4♣	2	0	4
4♦	2	0	4
4NT	0	0	5
6♦	0	0	2
3♠	0	0	1

 

Competition Entrant Average Score: 5.01

 

This deal arose during a class. My students were surprised by my prediction that an expert panel would vote in large numbers for 3NT, despite holding only a singleton king in North’s overcall suit. It proved to be by far the largest majority of the month, although perhaps the most surprising thing was that ‘Hamman’ did not get a single mention. The largest group of competitors (approaching half) preferred an action that garnered the support of just one panelist, with only 15% scoring a maximum.

 

JILL MEYERS: 3NT. The end!

PAUL MARSTON: 3NT. A good story to tell if it works.

HANOI RONDON: 3NT. It's hard to think of another game.

WENFEI WANG: 3NT. I hope to make it.

PIERRE SCHMIDT & JOANNA ZOCHOWSKA: 3NT. Does this really deserve a comment here? We keep it for our teammates at half-time.

A number did mention the alternative game.

MARTY BERGEN: 3NT. Nine tricks are usually easier than eleven.

MIGUEL VILLAS-BOAS: 3NT. This rates to be easier to make than 5♦.

ANDY HUNG: 3NT. 5♦ probably needs a bit too much from a pre-emptive raise, so 3NT it is. Wish me luck!

 

 

A number mentioned the lead…

ZIA MAHMOOD: 3NT. Why not enjoy the next few minutes while North contemplates his lead, and…

JOEY SILVER: 3NT. On the theory that nine tricks are easier to take than eleven, and that the villain on my left is not psychic, I grab the contract with some confidence!

DAVID BIRD: 3NT. The chance that partner has assistance in clubs is not high, but neither is North certain to lay down his ♣A at trick one. 5♦ is a distant target, so this looks to be the best shot.

LARRY COHEN: 3NT. Let them lead the ♣A. Or let them lead a spade to the ace and then a club. Anyway, who is to say partner won't have a little club help. Trying for 11 tricks in diamonds isn't practical.

NICK NICKELL: 3NT. I am hoping for a club lead away from the ace or, at least, no spade lead to South’s ace. Who knows? 5♦ can be cold or no play.

SALLY BROCK: 3NT. Fingers crossed. North is unlikely to lead out the ♣A.

Some relied on partner to produce a suitable club holding.

LIZ McGOWAN: 3NT. Even if he leads ♣A from AQJxxx (which he probably won’t), partner will have ♣10-x-x-x….

Even 10-x-x may be enough if South holds something like J-x, blocking the suit.

CATHY BALDYSZ: 3NT.

SOPHIA BALDYSZ: 3NT. Partner has to have something in clubs. Jxx will be sufficient (or 109xx). Or, of course, North might not lead the ♣A from AQJxxxx.

There were just a handful of dissenters.

GIORGIO DUBOIN: 3♥. Of course, 3NT is an attractive alternative.

SJOERT BRINK: 3♥. I am going for 3NT or slam.

ALAN MOULD: 3♥.

DROR AXELROD: 3♥. Showing my values, and waiting for further information from partner.

P-O SUNDELIN: 5♦. Another unclear description (pre-emptive).

I’m not sure how that is unclear – you can expect much the same from partner as you would hold for a pre-emptive 3♦ bid in this position.

 

The most pertinent question is, “How likely it is that North will lead the ♣A from A-Q-x-x-x-x-(x)”. As it happened, at the table, partner had enough help even if North did lead his ace. 3NT was an easy make opposite Qxxx/x/Qxxxx/J9x, but 5♦ had three unavoidable losers.

 

 

Good luck to all members of the panel competing in Buenos Aires. Next month, I hope to report that a number of them have left with medals.

 

As always, thanks to all members of our esteemed panel for devoting their time to educate and entertain our readers with their insights.

 

I look forward to see you all again next month. MS

 

 

 

 

PANEL

 

David BIRD	Dbl	4NT	5♦	3♣	4NT	3NT	4♠	3NT	80
Pierre SCHMIDT and Joanna ZOCHOWSKA	Dbl	4NT	5♣	3♣	4NT	3NT	4♠	3NT	77
Hanoi RONDON	Dbl	4NT	5♦	3♣	6NT	6♣	4♠	3NT	76
Dror AXELROD	3♥	4NT	5♦	3♣	4NT	3NT	4♠	3♥	74
Sophia BALDYSZ	Dbl	4NT	5♠	5♦	6NT	3NT	4♠	3NT	74
Jill MEYERS	3♥	4NT	5♦	3♣	4NT	4♥	4NT	3NT	74
Alan MOULD	Dbl	4NT	5♠	4♦	4NT	3NT	4♠	3♥	74
Miguel VILLAS-BOAS	Dbl	Pass	6♥	3♣	4NT	4♥	4♠	3NT	74
Zia MAHMOOD	Dbl	4NT	5♠	4♦	6♦	3NT	4♦	3NT	73
Nick NICKELL	Dbl	4NT	5♦	4♦	6NT	4♠	4♠	3NT	73
Andrew ROBSON	Dbl	4NT	5♠	4♦	6♦	3NT	4♦	3NT	73
Cathy BALDYSZ	3♥	5♣	6♥	3♣	4NT	4♥	4♠	3NT	71
Wenfei WANG	3♥	Dbl	6♥	3♣	4NT	3NT	4♦	3NT	71
Sally BROCK	Dbl	Pass	5♦	3♣	6♦	6♣	4♦	3NT	70
Larry COHEN	3♥	4NT	5♠	4♦	6NT	Pass	4♦	3NT	70
Andy HUNG	Dbl	Dbl	4NT	4♦	Pass	3NT	4NT	3NT	68
Marty BERGEN	3NT	5♣	5NT	4♦	Pass	3NT	4♠	3NT	67
Giorgio DUBOIN	3♥	Dbl	6♥	3♣	4NT	4♥	4♠	3♥	67
Liz McGOWAN	3♥	Pass	5NT	5♦	Pass	3NT	4♠	3NT	66
P-O. SUNDELIN	4♦	Pass	5♦	4♦	6NT	3NT	4♠	5♦	66
Sjoert BRINK	Dbl	Dbl	4NT	4♦	6NT	Pass	4♠	3♥	65
Joey SILVER	3♥	4NT	4NT	3♣	6NT	4♠	4♥	3NT	64
Paul MARSTON	3♥	Pass	6♣	4♠	6NT	Pass	4♥	3NT	59
TOP SCORE	Dbl	4NT	5♦	3♣	4NT	3NT	4♠	3NT

 

 

MARKS

 

HAND 1:	Dbl 10	3♥ 8	3NT 6	4♦ 5	5♦ 2
HAND 2:	4NT 10	Pass 8	Dbl/5♣ 7
HAND 3:	5♦ 10	5♠ 9	6♥ 8	4NT/5NT/5♣/6♣ 7	5♥ 2
HAND 4:	3♣ 10	4♦ 9	5♦ 6	4♠ 5	2♦ 2
HAND 5:	4NT 10	6NT 9	6♦/Pass 7	5♠ 4	5♦ 3	6♠ 2
HAND 6:	3NT 10	4♥ 8	Pass/6♣ 7	4♠ 5	5♣ 3
HAND 7:	4♠ 10	4♦/4NT 8	4♥ 5
HAND 8:	3NT 10	3♥ 6	5♦ 5	Pass 3	4♣/4♦ 2

 

 

AVERAGE SCORE

 

HAND 1:	5.21
HAND 2:	7.33
HAND 3:	5.83
HAND 4:	5.89
HAND 5:	6.67
HAND 6:	5.55
HAND 7:	5.74
HAND 8:	5.01