October 2012 - 32

The Bidding Box

Melander
2
3
3NT

Westlin
1
2
3
Pass

The Swedes also play that 2 is
just a one-round force. Westlin temporized with 2, and the 3 follow-up
by Melander simply shows an invitational hand with long clubs. Holding
a maximum, but lacking a true spade
stopper, Westlin bid 3 to check if
West held a spade stopper. Melander
confirmed one with 3NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction:
1-1NT[forcing]; 2-2NT; 3NT-Pass
Scores: 3NT(W) 10; 4 8; 5 7;
3NT(E) 6; 2NT(W) 5; 2NT(E) 4; 3 3;
4 2
Tacchi-Horton 17,
Melander-Westlin 18

Problem 3

South deals. E-W vulnerable.
West
-
A765
76
AKQJ853
Tacchi
1
2
2
3
4
5
7

East
AKJ75
KJ9
AK83
4
Horton
1
2
2NT
4
4
5NT
Pass

Tacchi contented himself with a
heavy 2 rebid, and after Horton
continued with 2, Tacchi created
a game force with 2. Horton's 2NT
rebid kept things low, and the 3
follow-up by Tacchi showed very long
clubs.
Horton embarked on a RKCB sequence with 4. 4 shows zero or
three key cards. 4 asks for the Q;
the 5 answer confirms that card.
Horton's 5NT is a probe for a grand
32 Bridge Bulletin October 2012

slam, and Tacchi - who couldn't like
his hand any better - jumped to 7.
Melander
2
3
4
5
Pass

Westlin
2NT
3
4
6NT

The Swedes again began with a
natural 2 opening. 2NT is a gameforcing enquiry, and 3 is natural, as
is the remainder of the auction, which
was capped by Westlin's guess to bid
6NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1;
3-4NT[RKCB, clubs]; 5[0 or 3 key
cards]-5[queen?]; 6[Q, no side
king]-7; Pass
Scores: 7NT 11; 7 8; 7 5; 6NT 4;
6 3; 6 1
Tacchi-Horton 25,
Melander-Westlin 22

Problem 4

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
QJ5432
6
J
AQ984
Tacchi
1
2
4

East
 A 10
KQJ73
95
 J 10 7 2
Horton
2
3
Pass

Yes, the West hand has only 10 HCP,
but the 6-5 pattern will induce many
players to open this offensively oriented construction.
Although the 2 response is not
game forcing by this duo, many 2/1
players would likely treat East's pretty
11-count as good enough to start with
a game-forcing 2.
Melander
1
2
4
Pass

Westlin
2
3
4

This is essentially the same auction as their counterparts conducted,
with Melander offering a control bid
in clubs on the way to 4 in case his
partner had slam interest.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-2;
2-3; 4-Pass
Scores: 4 10; 3 8; 3 6; 4 5;
5 3; 5 1
Tacchi-Horton 35,
Melander-Westlin 32

Problem 5

North deals. None vulnerable.
South bids 1 if possible.
West
 A J 10 8 3
AKJ6
AK7
6

Tacchi North
(Pass)
Dbl
(Pass)
3
(Pass)
4
(Pass)
6
All Pass

East
K7654
982
-
 K J 10 5 4
Horton
Pass
2
4
5

South
(1)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)

Even for those players who don't
mind heavy one-level overcalls, West's
prime 20-count is just too strong to
risk 1. Tacchi doubled, therefore,
and cuebid the enemy suit to show
a super-powerful hand. (Tacchi and
Horton play that the cuebid confirms
a spade fit.)
A series of control bids followed,
but when Horton tried 5, Tacchi
regretted his decision not to use
Blackwood earlier in the bidding. He
guessed, therefore, to bid 6.
Melander North Westlin South
(Pass) 2
(Pass)
2NT
(Pass) 3
(Pass)
6
All Pass
This pair plays that a two-of-a-major
opening shows a major-minor twosuiter, with 5-4 or better length, and
6-10 HCP. 2NT asks for further description, and 3 shows the second
suit.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2012
