June 2006 - 33

It's Your Call

2. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
7 3 J 5 4 K 10 9 5 2 K 10 7
West

North

4

5
Call
6
Pass
5NT
6
6

East
Pass
Pass

Votes
11
7
1
0
0

South
Pass
?

Award
100
60
40
20
10

A jump to the five level
What does a jump to the five
level mean after an opening 4
bid? The panel was divided into
two groups. There were those who
decided 5 was a strict ask about a
heart control. The second group felt
that having that interpretation is too
limiting - 5 shows a good trump
suit and invites slam.
"Pass," says Walker. "An
undiscussed auction, but whatever
partner is looking for, such as a
heart control, I don't have it."
The Colchamiros agree. "It's hard
to imagine partner's hand, given our
minor-suit kings. 5 asks about
hearts and we can't help. Our guess
is that partner has:
A K Q 8 7 5 3 2 5 4 A 3 A."
This example hand needs more
than a heart control to make slam.
You have a diamond loser that
partner needs to cover.
"Pass," echoes Lawrence. "Given
what I have, it is hard to be sure
what North wants. Typically, he is
asking for heart control, and I do
not have it."
What is the difference between
bidding 5 immediately and first
bidding 4NT (takeout) and then
bidding 5?
"The 5 bid should deny a heart
stopper," says Meyers. "Partner
would bid 4NT and then bid 5
with hearts controlled."
Cohen agrees. "Never seen this
one before. What would it have
meant if partner started with 4NT
takeout and then bid 5? I'll
interpret this (5) as a strict heartcontrol ask. Maybe he has:
A K Q J 10 5 4 3 5 3 A A Q."
June 2006

None of the panelists who thought
that 5 asked for a heart control
considered this: Some of the time
the opening 4 bidder will have an
eight-card suit, and East won't have
one to lead. If so, North is likely
to make 6. For example, using
Cohen's hand, declarer wins the
opening lead, draws trumps, cashes
the A and crosses to dummy in
clubs to pitch a heart on the K.
The panel majority disagrees that
5 is an ask about a heart control.
"6," says Robinson. "5 shows
a better hand than 4. My kings
should be valuable."
Kennedy agrees. "I believe partner
is asking if I have outside values.
If so, my two kings should fill the
holes in his side suits."
Rigal is another who bids 6.
"Partner has a hand too good for
4, and I'm going to gamble that I
have a working card or two. I expect
partner to have 10 or 11 tricks."
Soloway echoes 6. "Sort of a
guessing game, but I have values in
the right places," he says.
The Sutherlins say "Partner
thinks he can make 5 opposite
very little. We have more than he
expects. 5 is not an asking bid."
Falk points out the difference
between this auction and others

where the jump to five would be an
asking bid.
"If we had been bidding and
raising spades, I'd need a heart
control to bid slam. But here,
partner said, 'I have 11 tricks in
my hand; do you have anything to
contribute?' I certainly do and this
seems like a no-brainer. I'm likely
to find partner with:
A K Q J 5 3 2 5 A Q J A Q
or a similar hand."
"6," says Boehm. Partner
is making a general slam try,
something like:
A K J 10 7 6 4 A 3 A 7 A 5."
"6," says Baze. "Partner has 11
tricks in his own hand, and I have
at least one. There was not enough
room for him to suggest nine solid
spades, two small hearts, and two
aces, so we are forced to assume
partner needs a trick for slam, not
heart protection."
Sanborn bids 6. "I can't quite
believe that partner has the other
11 spades and a doubleton heart. I
think that he has a great spade suit
and a request for some tricks. I can
visualize:
A K Q 9 7 6 5 4  - A 4 A 7 6."
Freeman thinks you likely have
a grand slam. He bids 5NT in an
attempt to get to seven.


Panel's answers
1
Grant Baze
Pass
August Boehm
Pass
Larry Cohen
Pass
Janet & Mel Colchamiro 3
Allan Falk
Pass
Richard Freeman
3
Betty Ann Kennedy
3
Mike Lawrence
3
Jeff Meckstroth
Pass
Jill Meyers
3
Randi Montin
Pass
Shawn Quinn
3
Barry Rigal
3
Steve Robinson
3
Kerri Sanborn
3
Paul Soloway
3
Peggy & John Sutherlin 3
Karen Walker
3
Bridge Buff
Pass

2
6
6
Pass
Pass
6
5NT
6
Pass
6
Pass
6
Pass
6
6
6
6
6
Pass
Pass

3
2NT
Dbl
Dbl
2
Dbl
2
Dbl
Dbl
2NT
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
2
2NT
2NT
2NT
Dbl
Dbl
2

4
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2

5a
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

5b
5
5
5
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
5
Pass
5
Pass
5
5
5
5
5
5
Pass

Total
440
435
440
395
450
375
470
340
440
445
465
430
435
460
460
460
485
460
375
33
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2006
