February 2005 - 35

It's Your Call

the way), can you handle whatever
partner rebids?
Gitelman doubles and explains:
"It's either double or pass - a
game-forcing 3 is too much of
an overbid. I won't like it much if
partner bids 3, but I am prepared
to take that chance in an effort to
show some values.
"This is a difficult problem to
answer, because partner's style, both
in the reopening position and in
response to a negative double,
comes into play."
Meckstroth also doubles. "Not
enough to bid 3, and I certainly
don't want to sell out to 2, so I'll
risk double."
Sanborn doubles. "I can correct
3 to 3 and partner should know
that I have a doubleton heart with
clubs and values in this range. I
can't stand to pass and 3 is too
much of an overbid."

Baze agrees as he doubles. "I just
don't have enough to bid 3, as that
promises another bid unless pard
bids game. If pard bids 3 or 3
over 3, I have no sensible bid."
Kennedy also doubles, adding,
"The preempt has done its job. If
partner bids diamonds, I'll return to
3. Not a pretty picture."
The passers don't like the situation any better than the doublers.
"The problem may come later if
partner reopens with a double,"
says Boehm.
Meyers has a solution. "If partner
reopens with double, I will bid 3."
Montin also passes. "I do not
like passing with a good suit, but
I'm afraid that a bid will propel us
into a bad contract if partner has a
minimum."
Falk passes "in tempo. If I had a
third heart, I would try 3, as then
I would have safety in a fallback

position, but overbidding with no fit
and nowhere to go next is silly."
Four panelists - Carruthers,
Cohen, Robinson and Soloway
- opt to bid 3.
"It's only another bottom," says
Carruthers. "I hate to pass with
these cards and double will provoke
3, so I'll gamble at the level and
hope to land in the correct strain."
Cohen concedes his 3 is "a
stretch, but at least it gets the main
feature of my hand across. If I pass
and partner reopens, I'll never be
able to catch up."
Robinson bids 3, adding,
"Might as well bid where I live. At
least I don't have to worry about
partner jumping in diamonds."
Soloway is optimistic as he bids
3. "It's now or never, hoping for
3NT. It's hard to pass a good sixcard suit."


Women's trials set for June in Las Vegas
There is but one requirement to
compete in the 2005 U.S. Women's
Bridge Championships (USWBC) this
June in Las Vegas at the Golden
Nugget. You must be a woman.
Well, okay, you also need three other
women to play with you. A team
does not have to earn qualifying
points to be eligible to compete at
the USWBC.
The top two finishing teams will
qualify to represent the United States
at the Venice Cup in Estoril, Portugal,
Oct. 22 through Nov. 5, 2005.
Even if your team is up-and-coming or just interested in a fabulous
competitive opportunity, you are welcome and can enjoy the bridge play
- and Las Vegas.
The premier players of the ACBL
and the American Bridge Association
are encouraged to participate in the
USWBC, the top event for women on
the U.S. tournament bridge calendar.
Because of its limited size, a United
States Bridge Federation (USBF)
championship is far more intimate
than an NABC, which hosts thousands of participants.
Although the competition is intense
and the matches are longer, participants enjoy the close camaraderie
of their fellow experts. If you want
February 2005

to compete with the best women's
bridge players, plan now to play in
the USWBC. You will have an opportunity to play against some of the top
women's teams and have a chance
to qualify to represent the United
States at the World Championships.
The first round-robin will begin on
Saturday, June 4 or Sunday, June
5, 2005 depending on the number
of teams entered. The exact starting date will be known on April 15,
2005, which is the deadline for registration for teams without byes.
Any team requesting a bye must
register by March 31, 2005. Registrations may be faxed to Rena Hetzer

at 901-398-7754 or sent by e-mail
to rena.hetzer@acbl.org. You may
also call Rena Hetzer at 901-332-
5586, ext. 1307. The event will end
on Sunday, June 12.
The room rate at the Golden Nugget is $60 plus tax, single or double.
Mention the bridge event or the
USBF to obtain this rate. The entry
fees are $85 per session per team
for the first round-robin and $115 per
session per team for the remainder
of the event.
For more information on the entire
schedule for the event, the conditions
of contest and placing points earned,
visit www.usbf.org.


Bridge Cruises with Audrey Grant
Radisson Seven Seas Luxury Cruises
May 25, 2005 7 nights from New York to Bermuda
Nov. 6-21, 2005 European and Transatlantic Cruise
Monte Carlo to Fort Lauderdale
Inquire about our 2 for 1 special

Carlson Wagonlit Travel
1-800-487-6110

E-mail: Lhayden@carlsontravel.com
35
http://www.usbf.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2005
