December 2010 - 37

It's Your Call

Robinson agrees with 3NT. "My
spades aren't good enough to sit for
the double," he says
"I don't have enough spades or
tricks to pass the double," say the
Coopers.
"3NT will probably make in com‑
fort," says Stack. "The penalty pass is
possible, but it's a lot more fun to play
the contract than defend."
"I hate to bid 3NT, but I have way
too much to do less," says Falk. "I
hope East has no entry or we have
nine top tricks in notrump."
"I hate to punish partner for balanc‑
ing," says Cohen, "but I'll punish him
with the auction that gets him minus
50 or minus 100, if wrong, instead of
minus 470. I wish I had the 10."
"3NT is the practical bid," says San‑
born.
"3NT is my choice," says Meyers,
"but my second choice is a lebensohl
2NT followed by 3NT which shows
more doubt than a direct 3NT bid."
"3NT, even though North is bal‑
ancing and it may not make," says
Lawrence. "Pass is acceptable, too,
and can easily be right."
Four experts choose to pass.
"I pass, hoping to hold declarer to
his spade winners," says Rigal. "A lot
depends on whether partner has a
spade void or not. I vote not because
the opponents may have raised with a
6-3 fit."
"If we had the 10, we might try
3NT," say the Gordons. "With our
poor spade intermediates, game is no
guarantee and tilts the odds towards
defending."
"Our defensive potential is good
and we probably can't make game,"
say the Sutherlins.
"Let's pass and take the 'bird in the
hand,'" say the Joyces.
"2NT," says Kennedy. "Yes, it's leb‑
ensohl, but I want to hear more about
my partner's hand. If partner bids 3
or 3, I'll bid 3NT. If partner bids 3,
I'll bid 3."
Most of the time, responder bids
3 in answer to lebensohl, but it
can't cost to bid this first unless it has

another meaning. Some partnerships
play as Meyers suggests. Others play
a direct 3NT shows 12-15, and going
through lebensohl, then 3NT, shows
16-17.
"3," says Meckstroth. "Because
lebensohl is on, 3 is invitational. My
spade stopper is thin and I don't have
a real trick source, so I'm willing to
stop below game."
If North has 13 or more high‑card
points, bidding 3NT would probably
work out. If North has a distributional
takeout double, however, such as
1=4=4=4 and 10-12 HCP, pass or 3
might work out better.
5. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
 A K 7 4  8 6  2  A K J 10 9 2
West

North
Call
4
Dbl
Pass
5
3

East
3

Votes
10
8
0
0
0

South
?
Award
100
80
40
20
10

Is it safe to double?
A takeout double promises at least
three cards in each unbid suit (or very
strong values), but eight experts are
willing to make that call with two low
hearts. What are their reasons?
Lawrence: "Double, likely followed
by clubs. This is a miserable prob‑
lem."
Stack: "If partner passes or bids
3NT, we will be happy. If partner bids
3, we are delighted and will raise
to 4. If partner bids 3 or 4, we
are strong enough to correct to clubs.
The other choice is to bid 4 and put
all options in one basket."
Meyers: "Double and correct 3
to 4. If partner jumps to 4, I will
pass."
Meckstroth: "Certainly a tough
problem. Over a 3 bid from partner,
I will correct to clubs and hope for
the best."
Rigal: "Double, planning to convert
4 to 5 - a little of an overbid, but

I have some quick tricks."
Robinson: "I think I can handle
heart bids from partner."
Sutherlins: "We want to keep
spades in the picture. If partner bids
3 or 4, we will bid the minimum
number of clubs."
Ten experts bid 4.
Falk: "The last time I made an off‑
shape double, I was the only panelist
to do so. This time, I suspect I will
be in the minority of those who don't
double. I'd rather bid 4 now than
5 over 4. Anyone who says they
will double, then pass 4 is a sadist."
Sanborn: "This isn't the right hand
to double and convert, as that should
show more values than what I have."
Kennedy: "Perhaps I'll get another
opportunity to show my spade suit."
Gordons: "We would love to be
able to get spades in the picture right
away, but the wheels could come off
after double. We just hope partner or
left‑hand opponent will save us with
a bid."
These were the two best comments,
and summarize the problem:
Cohen: "Double. Maybe for once,
the dope won't mention hearts."
Walker: "4. When my opponents
double with this hand, their partners
always bid 4. Mine bid hearts."

You can participate in It's Your Call.
Go to www.acbl.org and click on My
ACBL. 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 October are:
Robert Giragosian, Bakersfield CA
James Hudson, Elmhurst IL
Samuel Baskinger, Totowa NJ
James Andrews, San Diego CA
Katrin Litwin, Burnaby BC
Joe Lentz, Alexandria VA
Tien-Chun Yang, San Jose CA
Charles Gale, Cocoa Beach FL
John Hogan Jr., Wayne NJ
Chris Brown, Modesto CA
Jim Wildey, Annapolis MD
Edwin Katten, Cave Creek AZ
Ned Hager, Tulsa OK
Charles Seelbach, Lexington KY

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430

December 2010 Bridge Bulletin

37
http://www.acbl.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2010
