August 2008 - 34

It's Your Call

loses the heart suit and 3 overstates
the hand."
"We need to get hearts into play
because partner may be 1-5 in the
majors," say the Sutherlins. "Game
is unlikely if it goes all pass after we
rebid 2."
Bidding 3 was the choice of
seven experts.
"3 is a slight stretch," say the
Colchamiros. "Hands like these are
handled better by a big club system."
"The hand has too much playing
strength just to bid 2," say the
Stansbys. "It would be useful to play
that 3 showed five hearts while a
jump shift to 3 showed a variety of
hands including exactly four hearts."
"If all partner needs is J 10 8 6 to
make game, then I must jump shift,"
says Robinson.
Cohen reasons similarly. "If I bid
2 and partner thinks it over and
passes, I'd know we had lost 10
IMPs," he says. "True, I'm a bit light,
but how can I bid less when 4 is
playable opposite J 9 8 6 2 and
out?"
Three panelists choose 3.
"This hand is too strong for 2
and not nearly enough for a gameforcing 3," says Walker. "The only
rebid that isn't misleading, therefore,
is 3 which shows this suit quality
and hand strength. I'm not that worried about burying the heart suit, as
even if we have a heart fit, spades
may play better."
Freeman agrees and gives similar
reasons.
The problem tests modern expert
style. Fifteen of the 18 panelists
agree they must introduce the hearts;
rebidding spades can wait. By a
slight margin, more panelists choose
the conservative 2 call, hoping to
survive this round of bidding. If they
do, they will likely get to the right
contract.
4. IMPs. None vulnerable.
Q 9 2 A K J 9 7 K 9 8 A 3
West
North
East
South
1
1
1
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
2
Pass
?

34

Call
3
2NT
3
3NT
4
5NT
4
3

Votes
8
5
1
2
1
0
1
0

Award
100
90
50
30
20
20
10
0

Does partner have five spades, or is
he stuck for a bid?
Is North showing at least 5-5 distribution in the black suits, or was he
stuck for a bid over your 2 cuebid?
The experts are not sure.
"3," says Lawrence. "North's
bidding sounds like 5-5, but he may

It's Your Call
Next Month's problems
From Polish Bridge magazine
1. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
K J 4 8 6 K 10 3 2 A 5 3 2
West
North
East
South
?
1
1
3 (1)
(1) Weak.
2. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
Q 9 3 2 8 6 2 A K 9 7 5 3
West
North
East
South
Pass
Pass
1
1
5
?
3. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
A Q J 7 6 4 A Q 9 3
West
North
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
1
Pass
Pass
2
Pass
Pass
3
Pass

A 4 3
South
1
2
3
?

4. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
Q 7 5 4 3 A Q 3 Q 3 K J 5
West
North
East
South
Pass
1
Pass
Pass
Dbl
Pass
?
5. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
- A K 9 7 6 A 3 2 A Q 10 9 6
West
North
East
South
2
Pass
4
?

not have it given that I pushed him
into a corner. He could have a hand
with four good spades and no other
message he wanted to send (no diamond stopper, no heart fit)."
"3," agrees Sanborn. "The question is whether 2 really showed
five spades, or was it a 'punt' bid."
Other 3 bidders have similar
reasons.
"I want to hear more from partner,"
says Meckstroth.
"This hand is worth one slam try
before signing off in 4," says Baze.
"Should 2NT be forcing?" asks
Rigal. "It should be, but I'm not
going to risk it. I'm hoping for further clarification from partner."
Five panelists vote for 2NT.
"Having cuebid, I may as well
make a notrump suggestion," says
Falk. "It also saves bidding space.
Anyone who thinks North has shown
5-6 in the black suits is nuts. The 2
bid is how North might be forced to
bid with chunky spades, no diamond
stopper and no heart tolerance, such
as:
A K J 3 5 7 6 5 3 K Q 7 5."
"2NT," agrees Boehm. "Because
partner may be anywhere from 5-6
in the black suits to 4=2=3=4 with
five low red cards, it seems important
to leave maximum room to sort this
out."
"I will bid 2NT for the moment
to see where partner is going," says
Meyers. "Partner's 2 bid did not
show long clubs and spades, but
rather inability to make another bid."
"There is every reason to go slowly
and hear more," says Cohen. "Partner
is not showing five spades for sure.
He could be stuck for a bid and 2 is
a 'punt.' Over 2NT, if he bids 3, I'll
know he really has 10 or more black
cards."
"2NT lets partner describe his hand
more fully," agree the Sutherlins. "If
partner can support hearts with Q
4, we will play hearts in game or slam
instead of notrump. 3NT is a poor
bid because it will end most auctions
when we may easily make a slam."
Two experts choose 3NT.
"This is a very tough hand," says
Walker. "3 is pointless and it's not
clear if 2NT, 3 or 3 is forcing.
Bridge Bulletin
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2008
