September 2006 - 30

The Bidding Box

Obviously, the wheels came off
in the Miles-Goldstein auction. The
system required Goldstein to open
1 on his void, and he bid his sixcard suit only once. The 2 response
showed diamonds and was forcing to
game or four of a minor. The rest of
the bidding was a series of apparent
misunderstandings that culminated in
a grand slam.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1 - 1;
1 - 2; Pass.
Scores: 5 11; 4 8; 4 6; 3
5; 2NT 4; 3NT 2; 6, 2 1.
Abdou-Goldberg 8, MilesGoldstein 0
Problem 2
East deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
Q7432
A8643
J5
6

East
AK
K92
 Q 10 8 4
A872

Abdou

Goldberg
1NT
2
Pass

2
2

Abdou bid Stayman and rebid in
spades to show invitational values -
or slightly less - with five spades.
Goldberg again went quietly.
Miles
1
2

Goldstein
1
1NT
Pass

Goldstein's 1 opener was strong
and artificial. Unlike other big club
systems, the 1 response did not
promise more than 5 HCP. The 1NT
rebid showed 15-17, and Miles
passed the non-forcing 2 bid.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1NT - 3
(invitational with 5-5 in the majors);
4 - Pass.
Scores: 4 10; 3 7; 4 5; 1NT,
3 3; 2NT 2.
Abdou-Goldberg 11, MilesGoldstein 7
Problem 3
South deals. E-W vulnerable.
30

West
AJ65
J54
63
KJ65

East
KQ7
972
 A 10 9 8 7 4
A

Abdou
Miles
Pass
1
Pass

Goldberg
Goldstein
1
2

The auction was the same for both
pairs as East preferred a three-card
spade raise to the rebid of the sixcard diamond suit, which can make
for some awkward auctions with
certain hands. The West hand is so
flat and jack-laden that it's not worth
a move toward game if partner can
offer no more than a single raise.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1 - 1;
2 - Pass.
Scores: 1NT 10; 2 9; 3 7; 2
6; 2NT 5; 3 4; 3NT, 4 1.
Abdou-Goldberg 17, MilesGoldstein 13
Problem 4
West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
6
 K Q 10 8 2
AQ9
KQ97

East
 A K 10 8 3
9
7642
J84

Abdou
1
2
2NT

Goldberg
1
2
Pass

Goldberg had a tough problem
when Abdou rebid 2. Passing could
be right, but Abdou did not deny a
good hand, so most players would
strain to keep the bidding open. The
rebid of the chunky five-card spade
suit seemed best, and Goldberg felt
better about having bid when Abdou
showed extras with the 2NT bid.
Miles
1
2
Pass

Goldstein
1
2

Miles had already shown a strong
hand when he opened 1, so he had

nothing more to say when Goldstein
made his non-forcing rebid in spades.
Bridge Bulletin auction: The same
as Abdou-Goldberg.
Scores: 1NT 10; 3NT 8; 2NT 7;
2 6; 3 5; 2, 4 3; 2 2.
Abdou-Goldberg 24, MilesGoldstein 15
Problem 5
North deals. N-S vulnerable. North
opens 1.
West
Q8
J65
AQJ72
KQ6
Abdou (North)
(1)
1NT
(Pass)
3
(Pass)

East
 10 5
KQ74
K83
A984
Goldberg
Pass
2
3NT

(South)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

Abdou's balancing 1NT showed
11-17, and when Goldberg made an
inquiry about his range with the 2
bid, he showed more than a minimum
and a diamond suit (they weren't
sure 3 showed six). With an opener
herself, Goldberg made the practical
bid of 3NT - not a good contract
considering the spade layout.
Miles
1NT
2
3

(North)
(1)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

Goldstein
Pass
2
2NT

(South)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)

Miles' 1NT showed 11-16 and
2 was Stayman. When Goldstein
invited with 2NT, Miles bid his
long suit, which seemed like a good
stopping place to his partner.
Bridge Bulletin auction: (1)
- Pass - (Pass); 1NT - (Pass) - 2NT
- (Pass); 3NT - All Pass.
Scores: 2 10; 2, 3 9; 4
8; 3 7; 1NT, 4 5; 3NT 3; 2 2;
3 1.
Abdou-Goldberg 27, MilesGoldstein 24
Problem 6
East deals. E-W vulnerable.
Bridge Bulletin
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2006
