August 2010 - 37

It's Your Call

make anything at the five level, so we
need to defend."
Several experts mentioned that
partner could bid 4NT as takeout. In
that case, partner expects you to pass
the double most of the time.
"Partner did not bid 4NT for takeout," says Meyers. "He probably has a
balanced 19 points."
"I can't imagine making 11 tricks
opposite a hand that didn't bid 4NT,"
says Walker. "It's easy to come up
with deals where both 4 and 5
are going down."
"Partner has not rebid 4NT," say the
Sutherlins. "So prospects for making
5 are limited. Let's pass and try to
go plus against 4."
Four experts bid 5.
"This is a real tough one," say the
Gordons. "We would normally pass
with similar bidding, but we have
a big diamond fit and might not be
beating 4. Ask us again tomorrow,
however, and we might change our
minds and pass!"
"5," says Cohen. "Ugh, I really
don't like this answer. It feels like a
LAW violation, but I'll stick with it. If
partner has lots of shape, maybe both
games make."
"4 is probably down one, but
that's too close for me," says Colchamiro. "I'll take out some insurance
and bid 5. This won't make if partner has the balanced 18- or 19-point
hand."
When partner doubles a high-level
bid, don't bid out of fright. Pass and
try for the plus score.
5. Matchpoints. Both vulnerable.
Q J 10 5 4 K 10 9 8 7 3 4 3  -
West
Pass

North
1
Call
Dbl
2
Pass
2

East
2

Votes
7
6
3
2

South
?
Award
100
90
60
60

Good distribution, but not many
high cards
The panel was mainly split into two
groups: those bidding the six-card
heart suit and those making a negative double.
"Double," says Meyers. "If my major-suit length was reversed, I'd bid
2 and follow with hearts. Because
my hearts are longer, I'm going to
start with double and hope I can handle the later auction."
Lawrence agrees. "If I had six
spades and five hearts, bidding 2
would be my choice," he says. "Instead I choose to double and hope my
next bid is not at the five level."
"Double gets both suits in the auction," says Stack. "I will bid 2 if
partner rebids 2. I will bid 3 after
a 2NT rebid. If partner leaves it in,
then c'est la vie."
"Double," echoes Meckstroth. "I
hope this won't be the final contract."
"I double and hope partner doesn't
pass," agrees Kennedy. "If possible,
I'll try and bid hearts at my next turn."
Yes, that's the problem with double.
Partner might choose to leave it in,
and the South hand is better suited
for offense.
Even though the South hand has
only 6 high-card points, six experts
choose 2.
"I'm afraid of a negative double
because I don't want to lead against
2 doubled," says Cohen. "Yes, 2
shows 10 or more points, but I think
my hand is worth it."
"Both double and pass seem too
risky, so I choose to bid 2," says
Boehm. "A two-level response in competition should only be a one-round
force."
"Sorry, I can't risk a negative double
with this hand," says Falk. "If partner left it in, it could be a disaster.
I will overbid slightly with 2 - a
one-round force. I will follow with a
non-forcing 3 if nothing good happens."
"2," agrees Walker. "I can't bring
myself to pass, which lets them steal
the contract, or to make a negative

double which may let them steal it
doubled."
"If we pass or double, it is likely to
be passed out," say the Coopers. "This
seems undesirable with this hand.
With both majors, we bid our longer
suit (2) and hope for good things."
"We have too much to pass, and a
negative double is too risky," say the
Sutherlins. "I don't want to distort
my hand by bidding 2 first, so that
leaves 2."
What about 2?
"Because I have two diamonds and
no clubs, instead of being 2-0 the
other way, I'm bidding to four of a
major despite my weakness in high
cards" says Colchamiro. "Making a
negative double with 6-5 deserves a
boo."
Three experts choose to pass.
"I can't think of anything to say,"
says Rigal. "Maybe I'll get a second
chance or maybe it just isn't our deal
to declare. If I doubled, and it went all
pass, I'd be sick."
"If we make a negative double, partner may pass," say the Gordons. "Our
hope is the auction doesn't end and
we get a chance to do something descriptive the next time. Bidding 2
would be our second choice, but it
has too many flaws."
"We pass and hope to get another
chance to bid," say the Joyces.
No bid is perfect and it's not clear
which will work out.
r
You can participate in It's Your Call. Go
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You can submit answers for a given
month until the 21st, at which time the
next month's problems will be available.
The top scores for June:
Ronald Murray, Redondo Beach CA
David Goodman, Anthem AZ
Angela Cacciatore, Midlothian VA
Douglas McAvoy, Hamilton ON
Jack Margid, San Francisco CA
David Achterkirchen, San Francisco CA
Marc Boisvert, Montreal QC
Marshall Kerlin, Americus GA
George Melhus, Omaha NE
Susan Munday, Camarillo CA
Chad Groft, McLean VA

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August 2010 Bridge Bulletin

37
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2010
