December 2010 - 36

It's Your Call

weak, unbalanced hand? Because I
don't, I pass."
Sutherlins: "We don't know whose
hand it is."
Coopers: "We don't have two sure
defensive tricks."
Kennedy summarizes the think‑
ing of the majority: Maybe they'll go
down, or maybe they won't.
3. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
 Q 10 5 3 2  A 7 10 6  Q 8 6 5
West
North
1
2 (1)
5
Pass
(1) Weak.
Call
Pass
6
Dbl

East
4
6

Votes
11
7
0

South
4
?
Award
100
70
10

Is your insurance paid up?
The save in 6 should be cheap
enough to be worthwhile, but can the
opponents make 6?
"Pass," says Stack. "Bidding 6
seems obvious, but the opponents
are guessing, and I think they have
guessed wrong. I'm not taking out in‑
surance."
Rigal agrees. "I rate to lose 1100 in
6 doubled," he says, "but I'm not
sure the opponents aren't off two
aces or a slow club trick. The odds
aren't right to bid."
"We don't know any more about
whether 6 will make than East
does," say the Gordons. "Remember,
East didn't cuebid, and is now taking
a 'shot.'"
"I'm not a big fan of 'insurance'
bids," says Walker, "especially when
the opponents are guessing and I have
some defense."
"Saving is tempting, but I'm not
willing to sacrifice holding the ace of
trumps," says Colchamiro.
"Is this a lead problem?" asks Rob‑
inson. "I would lead a club."
"The opponents have guessed their
way to slam, and we have good poten‑
tial to beat them," say the Sutherlins.
"Taking a save is out."
36 Bridge Bulletin December 2010

"I hate to save on an auction like
this where they could be off two
aces," says Meckstroth.
"For all I know, the defense has
two aces," agrees Boehm. "Who can
be stampeded into saving and who
can't?"
Seven experts are willing to be
"stampeded."

It's Your Call
Next month's problems
1. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
A Q 10 5 2 K 10 6 5 4 2 Q 4 -
West

North

Pass
Pass
Pass

2
2NT
3NT

East
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass

South
1
2
3
?

Two‑part question: 1. Do you agree
with South's opener? 2. What is your
call?
2. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
8 5 2 K Q 10 8 2 6 A Q 6 2
West

North

4 (2)

Pass

East
3NT (1)
4

South
Pass
?

(1) Gambling: Solid minor suit, no
outside ace or king.
(2) Pass or correct.
3. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
 K 5  A 8 7 5  A Q 9 5  A Q 10
West
Pass
1

North
Pass
Pass

East
1
2

South
Dbl
?

4. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
K Q 9 3 J 8 3 2 5 A K 10 7
West
Pass

North
Pass
Dbl

East
1
Pass

South
Pass
?

5. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
A K Q J 7 8 7 5 3 9 4 3  K

West
2

North
1
Pass

East
1
2

South
1
?

"I'm taking out insurance against
their probable make," says Kennedy.
"I guess to bid 6," says Lawrence.
"Oddly, this sequence is one in which
they might consider bidding seven, to
their dismay."
"We feel like wusses letting the op‑
ponents push us around," say the
Joyces, "but the insurance is cheap."
"I'm a believer," says Falk. "To dis‑
believe they can make it, I pretty
much have to play partner for the K
and lead that suit. Then, when in with
the A, I can cash a club trick."
"6," says Cohen. "Okay, they
got me. I expect East to be void in
spades. Other than the A, we prob‑
ably have no tricks and minus 800
is so much better than minus 1430.
Wouldn't it be fun if they went to
7?"
"Our save should be cheap enough,
even if it's a phantom," says Sanborn.
"I would bet on them to make 6,
which is what I'm doing."
"I think they are making," says Mey‑
ers, "and wouldn't it be a bonus if one
of them were induced to bid 7?"
Bidding 6 is cheap insurance if
East-West can make 6. The opera‑
tive word is "if."
4. IMPs. None vulnerable.
A 8 6 2 J 9 2 A K  Q 8 6 2
West

North

Pass

Dbl
Call
3NT
Pass
2NT
3
3
3

East
2
Pass

Votes
11
4
2
1
0
0

South
Pass
?
Award
100
70
50
50
10
10

Did partner balance light?
The majority feel that you won't set
2 doubled enough to make up for
the possible 3NT game.
"Is a straight‑forward 3NT bid out
of style?" asks Colchamiro. "I can
hold up in spades and likely shut out
East."
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2010
