February 2008 - 29

See the East and West hands that
appear on pages 58 and 24 respectively, and try bidding them with a
regular partner. The North-South
players are silent unless otherwise
noted. Compare how you performed
with the expert pairs whose auctions
you can read about in this month's
column. The form of scoring is
matchpoints with a 12 top.
John Stiefel and Rich DeMartino,
both of Connecticut, have been partners for more than a decade. Stiefel
and DeMartino were members of the
winning squad in the 2006 and 2007
Senior Swiss Teams, and each has
previous NABC victories with different partners. Stiefel won the Open
Swiss Teams in 1976; DeMartino
won the 1980 North American Swiss
Teams and the 2000 Senior Knockouts.
Stiefel and DeMartino play 2/1
with a 15-17 1NT and a familiar collection of gadgets.
Dave Smith and Brent Manley are
Bridge Bulletin editors, part of the
Memphis-based ACBL Headquarters
staff. Smith, a Platinum Life Master,
and Manley, a Gold LM, enjoy a casual partnership. They play Precision,
with a strong, artificial 1 opening
(with transfer positive responses)
and a 10-12 HCP 1NT range nonvulnerable in the first three seats
(15-17 otherwise).

Problem 1

North deals. None vulnerable.
West
AQ862
KQ75
-
 K 10 8 2

East
 10
AJ84
 K Q 10 9
AQJ3

Stiefel

DeMartino
1
2
4
5
Pass

1
3
4NT
6

DeMartino chose the 2 reverse
as his rebid, allowing him to describe
a strong hand at the cost of telling a
small lie about his pattern. (Typically,
the first suit - diamonds - is longer
February 2008

Moderator: Paul Linxwiler
Scores: Bobby Wolff

than the second suit.)
The fib didn't cost on this layout
since Stiefel had a heart fit. After
3, DeMartino declined to cuebid
the A, and chose to simply bid the
heart game instead to show a minimal
reverse. Stiefel wasn't through yet,
however. He had extra values, but
no good way to proceed, so he tried
Roman Key Card Blackwood despite
holding a void in partner's first suit.
New players are frequently cautioned
against this "mistake," but Stiefel had
enough values opposite a reverse to
just guess which key cards his partner
held. When DeMartino showed two
without the Q (5) Stiefel felt that
6 would have a good play opposite
any two aces.
Smith
1
2
4
6

Manley
1
1NT
3
5
Pass

In response to the strong 1 opening, Smith replied a conventional 1
showing five or more spades and
8-plus HCP. Stuck for a good rebid,
Manley elected for the off-shape
1NT, guaranteeing 16 to 19 HCP.

Smith chose a natural 2 continuation, avoiding 2 to keep the auction
low. When Manley raised clubs,
Smith tried 4, intending it as a
splinter. Manley, however, thought it
was Roman Key Card Blackwood for
clubs, and therefore showed two key
cards and the Q with 5. Smith,
meanwhile, thought his partner was
making a minimal noise after the
splinter bid, but drove to the slam
anyway with such a good hand opposite a strong-club opener.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1;
2-2 (fourth suit forcing);
3-4; 4NT (Roman Key Card
Blackwood)-5 (2 key cards with
the Q); 6-Pass
Scores: 6 11; 6 10; 5 6;
4NT 5; 5 3; 7 2; 7 1
Stiefel-DeMartino 11, SmithManley 10

Problem 2

East deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
J4
 Q 10 7 4
AQ854
Q4

East
A83
6
KJ62
 K J 10 6 5
29

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2008
