District 8 Solvers Forum
December, 2011

by Tom Dodd

Welcome to the final (I promise!) edition of The 25 Greatest Rockers of all time. There are seven bands left in our countdown (all of them legendary, most inducted into multiple music halls of fame) and we have only six bidding problems. That means they'll have to share space, but this column is, after all, about solving bridge problems, so I don't think they'll mind.

As for the problems, each presents an interesting exercise, though I never thought I'd see the day where "Pass" would gather as many votes as it did this month.

#7- The Eagles (1971-1980; 1994-present).

Like all the bands in the top seven, The Eagles defy classification into a single subcategory of rock. From slow melancholy ballads (Desperado; Best Of My Love) to country rock standards (Lyin' Eyes; Take It Easy) to hard driving rockers (Life In The Fast Lane), The Eagles ruled supreme in the 1970s, outselling every other band for that decade.

Their live performances are known for their ability to duplicate the intricate instrumental and vocal harmonies present in nearly all of their songs. Despite taking a 14-year hiatus from performing together, The Eagles are the only band in the top seven still actively touring, and are considering the possibility of another studio album. I can't wait.

Favorite song: The Last Resort (Hotel California).

1. Matchpoints, None vulnerable

You, South, hold  QJ9765   AJ5   64   72

Do you or don't you open this in 4th seat? If the long suit were anything other than spades, I daresay pass would be unanimous. Though pass garnered the most votes, most panelists felt the need to not go quietly into the night.

GRANDE: "1S. Partner rates to have a fairly good hand. The bidding is likely to get competitive. My best guess is that both sides can make their respective contracts at the three level."

MERRITT: "1S. I have an easy rebid, and the odds of going plus seem good enough to try and shoot something out. Knowing that I get these decisions wrong 70% of the time, I am sure that Pass is the winning option."

MATHENY: "2S. A fourth seat weak-2 should probably be better but I can't bring myself to pass.

RABIDEAU: "2S. I'm rather light for this action, but what else?"

PAOLO: "2S. According to Pearson, I should pass. Nevertheless, I hope to win the contract or, if an opponent enters the bidding, to score +50."

WALKER: "2S. A fourth-seat two-bid should show a good weak two, not a solid opener. You can argue that this hand doesn't qualify as a 'good' weak two, but 2S is certainly a closer description of these values than 1S, and passing is too cowardly. The odds favor us making 2S. Anyone who can't get to that contract needs to change his system."

I must be getting old, or maybe it's just wanting to save the effort or have the time to go outside and grab a smoke, because I actually favor just tossing this one in.

BRIDGE BARON: "Pass. Just barely fails to qualify for a fourth-seat weak two."

NELSON: "Pass. Can't open 2S in fourth chair as it has a different meaning.....I do use the Pierson points and does NOT qualify."

KESSLER: "Pass. Only if I was in dire need of a board would I open the bidding. It may be hard to balance over 2S, but maybe they do not need to."

FELDHEIM: "Pass. With a barely average suit for a weak two and a less than average point count, I'll preempt by throwing the hand away."

WARD: "Pass. Just my style. I can't argue with 2S."

My style, too.  Hard to get worked up over this one. I suspect the overall aggression of the field will determine the score here, but I can't see bidding this higher than 2S without courting a minus, so perhaps I should take a look at my opponents before shuffling and sliding this hand back into the board. Last word for this one:

SPEAR: "2S is less than an opening 1S bid, although this is a new low. No one on their side can open, but somehow it rarely goes all pass after this bid."

#6 and #5: The Rolling Stones (1962-present) and Led Zeppelin (1968-1980).

Both the Stones and Zeppelin cited blues as the driving force in their music. Other similarities exist: Iconic frontmen, a legendary lead guitarist and concerts that featured thousands of screaming girls. The similarities end there.

The Stones have been active for nearly 50 years and have released at least 50 albums and over 100 singles during that time. Led Zeppelin was active for less than a dozen (disbanding after the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, though they have reunited with different drummers for a number of one-off performances since).

Zeppelin also did not release singles or do television interviews, insisting that fans needed to see their live concerts, which were incredible. The one I attended in 1976 lasted nearly four hours! 

Favorite songs: Sympathy for the Devil (Stones); Dazed and Confused (Zeppelin)

2. Matchpoints, East-West vulnerable

You, South, hold   K654   KJ1042   10   K53

The panel split evenly on this little hand-evaluation teaser. From the far ends of the spectrum:

KESSLER. "Pass. My other choices are 2H and 3C, both levels higher than 1NT, and notrump pays more. 2H opposite two small is no bargain, nor is playing in a possible 4-3 club fit."

NELSON: "2S. A little slim on responder's reverse, but with the club fit, I'm looking for three hearts. Tough hand."

Top points (by a hair) went to the somewhat conservative suit rebid. I suspect the more aggressive vote (2D) would have won the day if the scoring format had been IMPs.

PAOLO: "2H. Hearts should develop one more trick than notrump."

MERRITT: "2H. This limits interference and has the bonus of probably being a better spot."

WALKER: "2H. Not enough for a New Minor Forcing 2D unless we're playing two-way NMF. Passing 1NT could be right, and I may wish I had if partner is 3-1-4-5."

SPEAR: "2H. I wish we were playing 2-way New Minor Forcing, which is perfect for this hand. But 2H may score well, especially if 4H doesn't make."

Indeed, Two-way NMF (2C here is always game invitational; 2D is a game force) was probably invented for hands like this. As you may have noticed, the issue is not as critical if the auction had gone 1D-1H-1NT-? . Now, now everyone would likely rebid 2C with this hand because North could bid 2D without either major and our subsequent 2H would show this sort of hand. Alas, that wouldn't have made it into this forum! Let's see what the 2D bidders (New Minor Forcers) have to say:

WARD: "2D. Easy if partner bids 2H or 2S. Impossible if he bids past 2NT."

BAINTER: "2D. Tasty texture to those hearts. 2D NMF seems reasonable. If pard has just two hearts, well, we just try 3H over his expected 2NT or 3C rebid. If partner rebids 2H, though, I invite game."

GRANDE: "2D. Despite the risk of being forced in diamonds, the club fit makes a heart game a reasonable venture. If partner has no heart fit, contracts of 3C (if partner is minimum) or 3NT (if partner is maximum) will probably be reasonable."

The only way I want to play 3C at matchpoints is if 1NT is going set, which seems highly unlikely here. I doubt you're ever going to play 3C either, unless North rebids the suit and you pass (and then get up and run before the fur starts flying!).

FELDHEIM: 2D. New minor forcing. What's the problem? Surely no one wants to pass 1NT."

MATHENY: "2D. It's worth a game try. I will raise 3H to 4H but pass any other response."

With all the different plans from the NMF bidders, I'm liking my simple 2H rebid more each minute. North doesn't have to pass with a max fit, but if he does, it gives him a chance to rest or go and grab a smoke.

#4- The Beatles (1960-1970).

Some will cry foul at rating the Beatles at "only" #4, but I believe this is fair even for an avowed Beatlemaniac who cried real tears when John Lennon was murdered in 1980 and again when George Harrison passed away in 2001. I asked my folks for my first guitar after seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

The Beatles transcended rock, becoming icons almost immediately upon hitting the US scene. Their evolution from the skiffle pop sound of the early 1960s to movie soundtracks to the beginning of the psychedelic wave in the late 60s, it is hard to imagine the Beatles were together for less than six years after their explosive entry into the US.

As individuals, they each possessed a singular talent for both playing and singing, but their true gift to music, in one man's humble opinion, was their ability to arrange and then perform the various instrumental and vocal parts in such tight harmony, both in the studio and live. Each individually has had success apart from the band, but The Beatles will always be remembered for their collaborative achievements long after Paul and Ringo depart this world.

Favorite song: I Am The Walrus

3. Matchpoints, Nobody vulnerable

You, South, hold  972   A764   Q62   KQ7

Here's one you don't see every day. Of course, West's third-seat opener (and North's takeout double) may be just a tad light, so I'm not too worried about there being extra aces in this deck. This seemed more of a strategy problem than anything else, since not too many articles have been written about South's position here. The vast majority of the time you're holding garbage in this auction.

It does seem clear that a jump in a new suit does not show the same hand it would had East passed instead of redoubling.

BAINTER: "2H. 45-46 pt deck. I will believe pard. 2H gets my high-card-point values on the table for pard to make any sensible choice presented to him"

MATHENY: "2H. It sounds like someone is not being truthful. I downgrade my diamond queen."

PAOLO: "2H. Anyone is feigning. Trusting partner, I make a strength-showing bid."

Trust me, a jump in this auction does not show strength. Even dinosaur Bridge World Standard (1968 version) classified a jump shift over this redouble as a preempt. The real issue for the remainder of the panel was whether to show our values now or wait. I choose to wait, but have no issues with:

MERRITT: 1NT. I want to win the race and get there first. With my soft diamond card, extra values and poor distribution, I prefer this."

WALKER: "1NT. I expect to hear 2D from an opponent, over which I'll bid 2H. I admire the sneaky pass, but I'll have a hard time recovering if it turns out that East or West has psyched (not unlikely)."

Why is everybody so obsessed with whether East or West is psyching? Light opening bids, light takeout doubles, even short redoubles, okay. But in 20+ years of playing tournaments I think I saw an average of a true psychic bid about once a year...and in a forum especially, one is expected to bid the cards you are dealt and nopt assume your opponents or (heaven forbid!) your partner threw in a fakery.

KESSLER: "Pass. If 2D was a cuebid, that's what I would do -- but it is not. Perhaps we can cuebid or take a reasonable action next bid."

SPEAR: "Pass. My plan is to raise hearts if pard bids them, pass if pard bids 1S, or bid hearts myself if lefty comes out into 2C or 2D. Hope we can't make game!"

GRANDE: "Pass. Bidding anything except perhaps notrump would show a significantly weaker hand. I think bidding 2H in this auction would be preemptive."

NELSON: "Pass. Just bidding 1H doesn't show this hand. A jump is preemptive, so pass then bidding shows more."

I don't agree that pass is sneaky. I'm not planning on swinging the axe at a low level call by East-West. It's unlikely it would be read as penalty anyway. A pass is moderately dangerous and could end up with us missing a game if West's opening was complete tomfoolery. More likely, though, the high cards are pretty evenly distributed and this will turn into a partscore battle, and I trust my judgment (and North's) will allow us to end in a decent spot. Passing now gives North the chance to bid spades cheaply, which tipped the scales in my decision to wait.

#3- Queen (1971-1989; 1992-present).

If The Beatles made me want to pick up a guitar, the first time I heard Freddie Mercury's voice, I knew I also wanted to sing  like him. Why not? Mercury is at the top almost every list of rock lead vocalists, and as a showman he had few peers.

Musically, Queen was always pushing the envelope. Rock, jazz, camp, vaudeville, fusion, new wave, reggae, even show tunes, hip hop and disco came easy for this quartet of virtuoso musicians (all contributed songs to each and every Queen album). Layer after layer of harmony went into their studio recordings, both instrumental and vocal parts alike. Some were so layered, like the 24-track vocals (and nearly 200 overdubs) in Bohemian Rhapsody, that they could not be reproduced live.

Nevertheless, my two experiences with live Queen concerts left me breathless and counting the days until their next tour. When Freddie passed away in 1990, my wife and I both wept. Brian May (guitars) and Roger Taylor (drums), both top-five musicians, have pressed on as Queen performing with other lead singers, most notably Paul Rodgers, always honoring Freddie's memory.

Favorite song: March of the Black Queen (Queen II)

4. Matchpoints, North-South vulnerable

You, South, hold   A10964  Void   QJ63   K952

Another unique hand. The majority saw it fairly simply:

NELSON: "Pass. I am converting to penalties. However, West may run out to hearts, but partner has that suit. I can always bid later if West moves out."

BRIDGE BARON: "Pass. Two spade honors in a five-card suit, scattered strength otherwise, no four-card major, no five-card minor. Sure, South is probably going to rebid 2H, but if we want to mention our minor suits later, we can."

FELDHEIM: "Pass. A percentage call. Hoping for +300 against no game contract. Everything depends on North's heart holding. If he holds high hearts, we're duplicated and should defend. If not, we may have a minor suit game."

I think it's likely this will go all-pass actually (no I didn't try a hand generator to develop odds), so I'm hopeful for the same thing as Feldheim and a few others. With North on lead, this could be a virtual bloodbath, relatively speaking. I can't see East-West taking more than five tricks with even pedestrian defense, and my iffy minors coupled with the likelihood of bad trump breaks in either suit makes game very problematic. In short, if you don't pass with this hand, it's unlikely you'll ever be passing a one-level takeout (and actually get to play there).

SPEAR: "1NT. The filthy bid of 1NT may score best without a heart lead. They can't see my hand."

GRANDE: "1NT. It appears as though 1NT is the best description -- a moderately good hand with spades double stopped."

MERRITT: "2D. While I would almost certainly pass at the table, to create fear and the air of randomness that I like to foster, I think that the innocent 2D may be more strategic. This gives space to try 3C later and also may lure the opponents into getting pounded a level higher." Sometimes bidding the same thing in the forum as at the table scores better in both cases. There's nothing random about passing 1S doubled here, though I can detect the fear emanating from East when he sets down his queen-high dummy with a singleton spade. If you pass, that is. Hey, I'm a lawyer, and like any good shark, when I smell blood in the water . . .

WALKER: "Pass. The spade 9 talked me into it. I have no big reason to worry that we're missing a game."

KESSLER: "Pass. Great problem. I'm going for +300,and maybe even +100 would be all rright. There are several contracts and bids that could be right, but we should go plus. If partner has a 5-card minor, we probably missed a game, when he does not, we may go minus."

#2: Elvis Aron Presley (1953-1977). AKA "The King."

What else can one say? Elvis was the epitome of the word "Entertainer." No one before or since comes close (though Michael Jackson fans might disagree).

From his quiet beginnings as a gospel singer in Memphis to the outsized production of "Aloha from Hawaii", The King commanded a stage like no other. Elvis was comfortable performing just about any song live, and he breathed life into even the most mundane music and lyrics.

Elvis exploded onto the American music scene like no one before or since in 1956-57. His first four albums (all #1's) generated twelve (!) #1 singles in both the rock and country charts. After spending two years in the US Army, he returned to release three more #1 albums and six #1 singles, plus begin an acting career that lasted for much of the 60s. His comeback TV special in 1968 generated a then-record 42-percent viewer share.

Though Elvis did not release another #1 US rock song, his live performances were legendary, culminating in the "Aloha from Hawaii" concert in 1973 that drew an estimated 1.5 billion viewers across the globe. His death in 1977 was mourned by millions and spawned an entire generation of Elvis impersonators.

Favorite song: In The Ghetto

5. Matchpoints, Nobody vulnerable

You, South, hold  K965   K93   A4   KQ84

My fervent wish is that someday one of these problems is put to the panel from the receiving side of an "action" double. Then we'll see how much they enjoy responding to one rather than tossing them out.

WALKER: "Double. Keeps all options open and is perfect for this hand. Double shows a little extra, good defense, some doubt about whether we should declare. There's no reason to bid hearts, as partner will almost always bid 3H over the double if he has 5+ cards."

MERRITT: "Double. The ever popular 'Do something intelligent' double. I have a max hand without four hearts, which is clearly what this bid must being showing. Partner can now pass or correct at the 3 or 4 level with the additional information."

PAOLO: "Double. I assume that this deal has 16 total tricks. When East wins seven or eight tricks, the double can't lose. In the wrong case (East making the contract), the difference between -110 and -470 is not significant."

I agree with the last statement at least. Any minus here is not going to be any good whatsoever. Which is why balancing with 3H seemed to me more like playing Russian Roulette with a single empty chamber.

NELSON: "3H. I certainly dislike a penalty double. I think they found their home in 3D. I hope partner has a fifth heart."

BAINTER: " 3H. Pard freely called. I give him 5+ hearts. I owe him a bid."

KESSLER: "3H. Take the push. Opponents have landed in what appears to be the right contract, which is bad for us. Best shot for a decent score is to bid."

Like I said before, I'll trust my judgment (and North's) better than East-West. Here, I'm kinda trusting all three of them, since I don't believe they're making three of anything. But the cards could all fall right for East-West, in which case they make 3D . . . in which case, how much can we hold our losses to? And if we can make 3H because all the cards fall right for us?

Too much thinking . . . I almost switched to the doublers just so I could blame North for a bad result. Nope, for the fourth time this month, I go quietly, which should be a sign of the Apocalypse, because for those who know me (and KESSLER as well) know that we both think of PASS as a four-letter word.

MATHENY: "Pass. Nothing more to say."

SPEAR: "Pass. Maybe 3H is the winning action, but pard might have bid that if it were right. My pard hates playing 4-3 fits."

Yup, we'll surely beat the minus 470s and maybe all the minus 50s and 100s. Then again . . .

And the Greatest Rockers of All: Pink Floyd (1965-1996; 2005).

Named for two blues musicians, our #1 rockers started out playing in London underground music clubs. From its first shows, the band pioneered the use of lights, sound manipulation and imaging to create a live show that was more of a full immersive experience.

They survived the loss of their creative leader not once but twice. Syd Barrett left the band in 1968, Roger Waters in 1984, yet throughout their long and storied history the band maintained their signature sound and reputation as the hottest ticket in rock. They were the first band to constantly fill outdoor stadiums for every single tour date within hours of a tour's announcement.

Pink Floyd were the antithesis of Elvis on stage, rarely moving from their positions. Their most anticipated album (The Wall; 1978) was in response to music critics opining that the band's performances seemed walled off from the audience.

The live show of The Wall was spectacular, featuring the on-stage construction of a 40' high, 100+' long wall that by the end of the concert almost completely hid the band members. Other concert props featured flying pigs, an airplane crashing into the stage, fireworks, laser light shows, state-of-the-art sound manipulations, and more. None of it detracted from the superbly crafted and note-for-note reproduction of the music of Waters, David Gilmour (guitars, vocals), Rick Wright (keyboards, vocals) and Nick Mason (drums), all of whom populate every top-five list of rock musicians.

Floyd rarely released singles. Like Led Zeppelin, they preferred the album concept. Dark Side of the Moon (1973) has been remastered at least three times and is currently the #1 selling rock album of all-time with over 45 million copies sold.

The band's last official performance as Pink Floyd, Live 8 in 2005 generated more buzz in the rock world than any reunion ever. Rick Wright passed away in 2008, but the surviving members occasionally play together at each other's solo gigs.

6.  IMPs, Both vulnerable

Action	Score	Panel	% Solvers
3S	100	7	17
2NT	80	3	30
3C	80	2	15
4C	70	1	5
4H	60	1	0
3NT	60	1	9
3D	50	0	4
5C	30	0	4
Pass	20	0	16

	West		North		East		South
	--		1C		Pass		1D
	Pass		1H		Pass		2C
	Pass		2S		Pass		?

You, South, hold  A54   3   QJ652   J853

WALKER: "3S. The QJ of diamonds are trash, but the other features of this hand warrant cooperation. Playing notrump isn't appealing opposite a diamond void. 3S should give partner a picture of heart shortness, and my failure to bid notrump should suggest not too much wastage in diamonds."

This pretty much sums up my thoughts for this problem, so I'll let the panel have most of the rest of the ink on this one:

MERRITT: "3C. I have an interesting hand, but with only four trumps, I really can't see how my wasted diamond values would compensate for my useful major suit holding. If partner's hand were so big that game was a good bet, he could have jump shifted instead of rebidding 1H."

NELSON: "4C. Partner is making a help-suit game try. With my ruffing power, I think a jump will show my hand."

PAOLO: "3S. This bid defines, more or less, the shape of a rather weak hand."

WARD: "3S. It's close, but if partner is going to show me 12 of his cards, I should oblige and do the same."

RABIDEAU: "3S. Whatever partner's intentions are, let's show that we like our hand and have a spade stopper."

MATHENY: "2NT. Game is likely and notrump may be easier."

FELDHEIM: "2NT. Not a great hand, but partner is showing extras and I've got a healthy hand for the auction. At  IMPs, I can't risk missing a possible game."

GRANDE (BAINTER and WARD, similarly): "3S. Hopefully this shows a spade fragment, short hearts and a reasonably good hand in the context of the auction. Might be a slight overbid, but partner should be well placed to make an 'intelligent' decision."

SPEAR: "3C. I am a yellow-bellied coward not bidding more, assuming pard heard my 2C bid."

KESSLER: "4H. This is aggressive, but I can't imagine not bidding game, and this is the most descriptive bid I can make."

So ends the rock-and-roll series of our forum. I hope it has been as enjoyable for you to read as it was for me to write about some of the legends of rock. As a kid, I was an aspiring rock star up until the first time my voice cracked on stage (at 13). But I played in bands at weddings, socials, school dances, keggers, etc. right up through the end of law school, all while playing tournament bridge as well! Even today, if I see a chance to get on a stage, I don't pass it up. Certain fires never go out.

If I missed your favorite group (or solo performer), perhaps next go-around. The suggestion box is forthcoming . . . maybe. There's been some call for greatest bridge players of all time, but that's a toughie. There are lots more than 25, and leaving one of the greats off the list would be criminal. Not like leaving a wannabe player off a greatest rockers list. Bridge players have feelings, too!

If I don't see you all before then, have a safe and Happy Christmas or Hanukkah and a great New Year and we'll see you all in 2012!

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