February 2014 - 42

possible plus or minus."
Lee bids 2♣ because he has to bid
something. "Everything else just seems
worse. I refuse to show 18-19 balanced
when I have an unbalanced 16-count.
If I bid 1NT, partner will often bid 2♦
with a weak hand and five diamonds,
and I'm not going to pass, so this is all
that's left."
"This is a hard problem," says Weinstein, who decides on 1NT. "Double,
2♣, 2♥ or even pass could be right."

2. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.

1NT by Kennedy. "Not ideal, but
probably the most practical bid."
1NT by Falk, too. "2♥ is just too
much on a deal where no one may have
a fit. I can't sell out to 1♠. Even if it is
going down, 50 a trick rates to be a not
very good matchpoint score. Technically 1NT is an overbid - it should show
18+ (and no singletons!), but the alternatives - pass and 2♥ - are worse."
2♥ seems ideal to Cohen: "Shows
four hearts, longer clubs and a good
hand. That happens to be what I have!"
Conceding the hand is a bit light for
a reverse, Boehm bids 2♥. "Partner is
likely to hold a weak hand, reducing
the danger that he will get us too high.
Meanwhile, we bring the other major
into the picture and show at least five
clubs."
Colchamiro waves the green card.
"Pass. I usually achieve plus 100 or plus
150 by passing, usually more than the
plus 90, plus 110 or minus 50 I could get
by bidding. 2♣ is my second choice."

♠9 ♥Q 5 ♦Q 10 8 6 4 3 ♣K 6 5 3

4. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.

NEXT MONTH'S
PROBLEMS
1. Matchpoints. Both vulnerable.
♠ 4 ♥A 5 ♦A 10 8 7 3 ♣A K 10 8 3
West
2♥ (1)

North
Pass

East
3♥

South
?

(1) Weak two-bid.

West
3♣

North
1♥
Dbl

East
2♣
Pass

South
Pass
?

3. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠A K J 10 7 6 ♥K Q 8 3 ♦K 4 ♣3
West

North

East

Pass

1NT (1)

Pass

South
1♠
?

(1) One-round force.
4. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠A ♥K J 6 5 4 3 ♦10 4 2 ♣J 8 7
West
1♠
2♠

North
1♣
Pass
Pass

East
1♦
Pass
Pass

South
1♥
2♥
?

5. Matchpoints. North-South vul.
♠Q 8 5 3 ♥K 5 ♦K 5 3 ♣A J 10 5
West

North

Pass
Pass

Dbl
3♥

East
1♣
Pass
Pass

42 Bridge Bulletin February 2014

South
Pass
2NT
?

♠A K 2 ♥A K 4 ♦J 10 8 5 4 3 ♣5
West

North

East

Pass

1♥

Pass

Call
2♥
2♦
3♥
1♠
3♦

Votes
11
2
2
1
1

South
1♦
?
Award
100
70
60
60
60

Refried eggs
Stack bids 2♥. "This type of problem
has appeared dozens of times in one
form or another in real life and in bidding forums. Usually raising with three
trumps is my solution. Usually I do not
get a top score, but this time the three
trumps are strong, so that appears to be
the correct solution. The question now
becomes how high to raise? This hand
is worth 18 points in support of hearts,
but I dial it back a bit because of the
three trumps."
"How many ways can you fry this

egg?" echoes Lawrence. "This time I
can live with bidding 2♥, something
not possible with some of the other versions of this problem."
Rigal piles on, "Again you are tormenting us with a hand that doesn't
meet any really nice options. I could
imagine bidding 1♠ with the plan of
bidding 2♥, but the simple raise is not
far off what I have - change a majorsuit king to a queen and we would not
be shilly-shallying about 2♥."
Boehm raises to 2♥. "A raise is
more encouraging than a 2♦ rebid - a
desirable goal with my promising hand.
Partner knows we can raise with three.
1♠ is possible, but what if partner
jumps to 4♠?"
Falk bids 2♥, hoping partner can
scrape up another bid. "If not, at least
we'll go plus. We've seen this hand
many times, although usually our black
suits are reversed, and then everyone bids 2♣ saying, 'If I get past this
round of the bidding, I'll know what to
do.' Here, rebidding 1♠ is foolish. If
partner passes, we're likely in a worse
contract than 2♥, and if partner bids,
there's a good chance he'd also bid over
2♥. There is no number of diamonds
I can rebid that will show this hand or
induce partner to do the right thing."
Weinstein chances 2♦. "Vulnerable
at IMPs, partner will bid aggressively
with a diamond card, and whatever
he bids, I am well placed to bid hearts
next. I have a lot of respect for 1♠ - I
just can't bring myself to do it. White
(or at matchpoints), I would raise to
2♥ and not sweat missing game."
Hampson joins Weinstein with 2♦.
"Nothing is perfect, but at least I have
strength and length and that is allowed
for my bidding. 2♥ or 3♥ might work,
but they are distorted."
Colchamiro opts for the "obviously
flawed" 3♥. "At least it's an honest bid.
2♥ is possible ... 1♠ is just not my style
... 3♦ on such a poor suit is yuck and
endplays partner out of our (maybe)
5-3 heart fit. 2♦ is more than a bit
timid."
Cohen is the lonely, secretly admired
1♠ bidder. He calls 1♠ "the sneaky so-
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2014
