February 2012 - 35

It's Your Call

Two panelists make a stab at the
vulnerable 3NT game. One is Meckstroth; the other, the Sutherlins, who
"go for the big payoff."
Last but certainly not least is Falk,
who bids what he believes to be a
"straightforward" 5. "Give partner
something like:
- K J 10 x Q 10 x x x x K J x.
3NT will be quite iffy, while 5 requires only the K or Q onside."
2. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
10 3 2 A K Q 10 2 Q 10 5 2 8
West

North

East

Pass
Pass
Pass

2
2
3NT

Pass
Pass
Pass

Call
4
Pass
4
5

Votes
10
4
4
1

South
1
2
3
?
Award
100
70
60
50

*&%$#*!!!
A simple majority of the panel
chooses to bid 4, belatedly showing
the diamond fit that many insist they
should have been allowed to show
earlier in the auction.
The Gordons want to take their
cards and go home. "4. We are
tempted to abstain because we would
never be in this position. Why 2 and
not a direct diamond raise? We can't
catch up so now we have to guess."
The Coopers are none too happy,
either: "On this auction, partner has
some concern about clubs. We do,
too. Why didn't we raise diamonds or
splinter over 2? We do not understand the 2 bid."
And Boehm: "4, but under protest.
Why on earth didn't I raise diamonds
immediately? It's not even matchpoints!"
The Sutherlins suspect that partner
may have but one club stopper. "If
diamonds don't run, 3NT is failing
when 5 or even 6 may be making."
Sanborn's analysis leads to a similar

conclusion as she, too, bids 4: "Partner could be pointing out weakness in
her club stopper. If she bids 4, I will
show my club control. Meanwhile,
we're just looking for the right game."
Kennedy says, "IMPs makes the
decision easier."
Lawrence is very upbeat: "4. Slam
is still possible, perhaps even likely
here. Give partner:
A x x x x A K x x x Q x x,
and 6 is the place to be."
Also on the slam track are Meckstroth, Rigal, Weinstein and Colchamiro. But they're proceeding
forward via 4.
Weinstein explains: "I expect to
make 4 or 5 with a shot at 6.
Partner might have a hand like:
A K x x x A K x x x Q 10 x.
I cuebid clubs since that is what
partner might need to hear."
Rigal says that the auction as given
suggests only three-card diamond
support in our hand. Partner's sequence suggests doubt about strain
and level "and we certainly know we
have doubt. 4 might be read as a
choice of game by the cognoscenti
(not a bad description of my hand),

but I think it is simply a club control
for diamonds."
Colchamiro bids 5 and picks up
where the Gordons and the Coopers
left off - griping about the 2 rebid.
"4. Why didn't I bid 3 the first
time? I know that going to the three
level shows a good hand but this is
a good hand: plenty of trumps, side
control and a source of tricks ... Also,
at IMPs, a 4 splinter over 2 might
well be the majority choice. 2 just
seems so misplaced with two other
good options. I would call 2 fairly
stupid."
The passers of 3NT trust partner to
know what he's doing.
Says Cohen: "I don't like my earlier auction, but now that I've shown
nothing but red suits and partner offers 3NT, why should I overrule him?
I still have nothing but red suits. He
could easily be 4=0=5=4."
Walker, too, passes 3NT. "Partner
knows he's getting a club lead. I don't
have enough undisclosed values to
overrule him."
Stack passes, but regrets not raising
diamonds immediately. "There is no
reason to overturn partner's decision
to play 3NT. We have already painted

➤

Panel's answers
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
The Coopers
Allan Falk
The Gordons
The Joyces
Betty Ann Kennedy
Mike Lawrence
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Don Stack
The Sutherlins
Karen Walker
Steve Weinstein
Bridge Baron

1
Pass
Dbl
Pass
Pass
5
Pass
Dbl
Dbl
Pass
3NT
Pass
Dbl
Dbl
Pass
Dbl
3NT
Pass
Pass
4

2
4
Pass
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Pass
4
Pass
4
Pass

3
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
1
2
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
1
Pass
Pass
2
2

4
Dbl
3NT
3NT
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
3NT
Dbl
3NT
Dbl
3NT
3NT
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
3NT
Dbl

5a
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No

5b
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3

Total
495
380
415
500
370
495
370
415
455
410
460
400
480
500
380
450
465
355
325

February 2012 Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2012