TGIF May 2026: Scores
| 1. IMPs. N-S vul.
|
Q 5
Q 8 6 5 2
K 9 6 5
K 3
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
| |
|
Pass
|
2
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 11
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 5
| 80
|
|
2
| 2
| 70
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 50
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: We start this month with a classic 10-count. Is it worth an invitation? Or should you go low? The panel majority raise diamonds.
Larry Cohen: 2NT. Yes, I'd like better stoppers and spots, but with those, this wouldn't be much of a problem. Vulnerable at IMPs, with the fitting honours in partner's suits, I have to take the high road and try for game.
Jeff Meckstroth: 3. Just a question of how to continue over 2. Stoppers for notrump are too thin to bid 2NT since you could get hurt in either suit.
Harrison Luba: 2. Might occasionally miss a game but don't want to get any higher.
Michael Dimich: 2. This is a bad hand unless partner is 5-3-4-1 or 5-3-5-0. I will try a low scoring 2 bid.
David Waterman: 2. We aren't playing 5, but we might play 4 or 3NT.
Christopher Diamond: 2. I'd like to make some move towards game. 2NT is about the only one I can think of but flawed. 3 could be ugly.
Gabor Sandi: 2. I can always retreat to 3 if partner bids NT.
Larry Meyer: 2NT. Showing 9-11 HCP and likely doubleton spade.
Paul McMullin: 2NT. Optimism abounds!
Allan Simon: 2. What else?
Perry Khakhar: 2. I don't like to get ahead of partner with hands like this. I will take a simple preference for now.
Louk Verhees: 3. Matchpoints I may try 2, but here it seems 3 is more appropriate.
Timothy Wright: 2. I have to suggest hearts at IMPs. (This would be an easy raise to 3 playing Standard American.)
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
K J 8 3
K 5
Q J
A 9 8 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 18
| 100
|
|
1NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 40
|
|
1
| 0
| 30
|
|
2
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: Unanimity at last! The panel think double is clearcut despite the diamond flaw.
Radu Nistor: Dbl. Not perfect, but would rather double than pass.
Michael Dimich: Dbl. Everybody should double at matchpoints.
David Waterman: Dbl. Unanimous.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. I'd bid 1 before 2 but pass and hope to get in later.
Larry Meyer: Dbl. If partner takes out to diamonds, at least I will give him 2 honours.
Paul McMullin: 1. Lead directing if we wind up on defense.
Allan Simon: Dbl. The safest of the possible bids.
Perry Khakhar: 2. If I don't act now, it may be too late to act. Not happy with my suit quality, but we may own the hand. So least of all evils.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Not pretty, but seems to be right.
Timothy Wright: 2. Double is a gross distortion of my hand, and my spades are not nearly good enough for 1.
|
| 3. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
A 4
K Q 9 8 6
4
A Q 10 9 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
1
|
2
| |
|
2
|
3
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3NT
| 8
| 100
|
|
3
| 7
| 90
|
|
4
| 3
| 70
|
|
Moderator: The moderator held this hand at the recent San Diego regional bridge tournament and was very unhappy with their choices. The panel was unable to reach a consensus as well.
Josh Donn: 4. I think the combination of playing any of the suits beats the odds we belong in 3NT. This hand screams to me of going down in 3NT but making 6 if, for example, partner has: x x J x A K x x x x K J x.
Sheri Winestock: 3NT. What else can I do? 3 will get us to notrump from the right side if partner has Q x x, but if he does not have a stopper, we will never get there. Hopefully there will be nine toppers.
Barry Rigal: 3. Not sure where I'm going. I admit if partner has solid diamonds, 3NT could be best, but I don't want to give up on slam. Perhaps 4 is also possible here, but why bid when you can cuebid?
Michael Dimich: 3. If partner has a spade stopper we have right sided our matchpoint NT contract and have time to set up our outside winners.
David Waterman: 3NT. No choice.
Christopher Diamond: 3. 3NT maybe better from his side if he gets this.
Larry Meyer: 4. Bid out my shape. Since they have a fit, we should also have one somewhere.
Paul McMullin: 4. 3N just does not feel right!
Allan Simon: 3. Trying to put East on lead if partner has Q x x. If partner's diamonds aren't solid the hearts or clubs should run.
Perry Khakhar: 3NT. The hand likely belongs in 3NT.
Louk Verhees: 3. Could bid 4, but first would like to know more.
Timothy Wright: 3. I want partner to bid 3NT with Q x x.
|
| 4. Matchpoints. Both vul.
| |
10 4
A Q 7 3
2
J 10 8 6 5 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
4
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 7
| 100
|
|
Pass
| 6
| 90
|
|
4NT
| 5
| 80
|
|
5
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: When filling out a convention card, there is that space that denotes how high your partnership plays takeout doubles. This one seems to be very dependent on how you interpret this double.
Jill Meyers: 5. If I were balanced I would pass, and I am slightly tempted to with a doubleton spade, but with distributional hands I think it is right to bid (and they might bid on to 5).
Steve Robinson: 4NT. Opener is vulnerable and could easily have eight or more tricks. I'll play in 5 if partner bids them, or 5 if partner bids 5.
Zachary Grossack: Pass. Not close for me. Lead my singleton. I play double of 4 just says, 'My hand is too good to pass,' rather than be takeout or penalty. If you swapped my diamond and spade holdings, then I would feel like it's time to bid. Here I have an ace, and a singleton to lead.
Michael Dimich: Pass. Have a bit of excitement and pass for a one trick or more set.
David Waterman: 5. 4NT, showing an unspecified 2-suiter, is an option. But I retreat to the safety of my 6-card suit.
Christopher Diamond: Pass. Could be very wrong but so could everything.
Larry Meyer: 5. With a 6-card suit and a singleton, my hand is more suitable for offense than defense.
Paul McMullin: Pass. At least I get to lead my stiff diamond; hard to imagine we are missing a slam.
Allan Simon: Pass. . . and lead my diamond.
Perry Khakhar: 5. As tempting as it is to bid the major because of matchpoint scoring, I think that I can handle the issues suggested by the law of symmetry.
Louk Verhees: 4NT. Personally I play Dbl as just cards except in front of the bidder which is more takeout. I just take a shot. It's really close between 4NT and 5, so I choose the more flexible one.
Timothy Wright: 5. I can always bid 5 if partner corrects to 5.
|
| 5. IMPs. N-S vul.
| |
K 10 3
Q 9 2
J 10 8 6
A 4 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
|
Pass
| |
|
Pass
|
1
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
1NT
| 15
| 100
|
|
2NT
| 3
| 60
|
|
2
| 0
| 50
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Surely there must be a hand with 10 HCP that would entice the panel to respond 2NT? Well, it's not this one.
Jeff Meckstroth: 2NT. Just too heavy for 1NT in my opinion. I want to go for the game bonus!
Kerri Sanborn: 1NT. If partner raises, they will usually be short in the other minor, and my hand looks golden for a diamond game.
Michael Dimich: 2NT. Perfect bid by a passed hand.
David Waterman: 2NT. It's a Jack light, but the best description of my hand. I won't bid 1NT at this vulnerability.
Christopher Diamond: 1NT. This is the time for the always ill fated 'should be unanimous' line. And I'm sure some will stretch this to 2NT at this scoring.
Larry Meyer: 1NT. Showing 6-10 HCP, balanced, and denying a 4-card major.
Paul McMullin: 1NT. Mildly underbid my high cards because of the flat shape.
Allan Simon: 2NT. Borderline between 1NT and 2NT. Vulnerable at IMPs I prefer the slight overbid.
Perry Khakhar: 1NT. Seems very normal.
Louk Verhees: 1NT. To me easy.
Timothy Wright: 1NT. 2 could be right, but 1NT does not prevent us from landing in diamonds.
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