Fireside Wednesday Morning IMPs League
Round #1

     Well, Round #1 of our Wednesday morning Fireside IMPs
League went off well.  We were able to find fill-ins for
the players that couldn't make it this week, and play got
under way in good order.  As with the Tuesday League games,
this one was not close.  Team CapHotel made their absent
Captain, Pinky, proud by winning 58-6!  For the next two
weeks Team Ulli3 will try to recover group without their
Captain.  Perhaps a guest appearance by a Celebrity will
work wonders for Team Ulli3's luck. :)

     The match was still well within reach for Team Ulli3
when this critical hand opened the floodgates:

Dlr: South Ulli3
Vul: Both  S            west    north east    south
           H K          Lharvey Ulli3 Baybars Neophyte
           D AK4
           C AKT875432                        pass
west            east    1S        X   (all pass)
Lharvey         Baybars
S AJT75         S 643   Opening Lead: DK
H AQ982         H J6543 Result: -1
D Q65           D T832  Score: 200,  IMPs: -10.00
C               C 6     
           south
           Neophyte
           S KQ982              
           H T7           
           D J97           
           C QJ9           

     At the other table, North (Martho) made a "this
is what I can make" 5C overcall over 1D, making six.
Had South held the other pointed Queen, though, this
approach could have missed a biddable Club slam.     

     South's penalty pass is entirely reasonable:  
five good Spades, 8+ HCPs, equal vulnerability.  So
what CAN North do if using standard methods?

     Answer:  Nothing.  We have to start with a 
double and follow it up with a jump in Clubs or
a 2S cuebid to force things along.  The obvious
flaw in this ointment is that the double of 1S
itself might be passed!  Sigh.  Clearly, there 
is something missing from standard methods!

     With my steady partners, Moogal and Wintaka,
I play a Dynamic (i.e. forcing) 1NT overcall.  I
figure we can afford to live without a NATURAL
1NT overcall because, with 15-18 points, we can
double.  Also, with (15 + 13) 28 or more points
already accounted for the chances of Partner
(i.e. Advancer) having enough for game opposite
a flat 15-18 are dimmed.  At least as often the
1NT overcall is doubled and goes for a number. :(

     How does this fancy "Dynamic 1NT Overcall"
gadget work?  Easy.  Advancer replies:

  2C  = Artificial Negative response, 0-5.
  2D  = Artificial Positive response, 6+ points.
  2H  = 0-5 points, 5+ Hearts, 0-1 Spade.
  2S  = 0-5 points, 5+ Spades, 0-1 Heart.
 2NT  = 6-8 points, natural, flat with a guard.
  3C  = 0-5 points, 6+ Clubs, 0-2 in the majors.
  3D  = 0-5 points, 6+ Diamonds, 0-2 in the majors.

     This guarantees 1NT Overcaller a rebid, 
whereupon Overcaller can jump or cuebid to force.

=====================================================

IMPs       north         TN.IMP Board 17
Dlr: North Ulli3
Vul: None  S K           west    north east    south
           H T975        Lharvey Ulli3 Baybars Kaltica
           D A762
           C Q832                pass   1S     pass
west             east    1NT     pass  3NT  (all pass)
Lharvey          Baybars
S T8             S AQ653 Opening Lead: C3
H J6432          H AQ8   Result: +3
D QJ53           D T8    Score: -400,  IMPs:  -6.00
C A5             C KJT   
           south
           Kaltica
           S J9742           
           H K         
           D K94          
           C 9764         

     This hand should have been a push.  We might 
expect to see the auction 1S:1NT:2NT:3NT at both
tables.  East's hand starts out as a flat 18 HCPs
and doesn't improve at all when West denies support
for the long Spade suit.  With 8 HCPs and a five
card suit of her own, though, West should be HAPPY
to accept any 1S:1NT:2NT invite.  Sadly for her 
side, West *passed* the 2NT invitation at the other
table.

     The morale of the story:  "If you are gonna
bid badly at IMPs, bid badly to GAME!"  LOL. :)
 

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