February 2015 - 41

expect this to be a triumph."
Meyers says, "It might be right to bid
2♦, but I want a heart lead if they compete. And because it is matchpoints, I'll
try the seven-card major-suit fit."
Ditto Sanborn: "Partner has a good
hand short in clubs. The obvious question is the rest of the shape. I'm thinking that with 4-5 in the reds, he might
have doubled the previous round,
correcting clubs to diamonds. But with
4=4=4=1, that option wasn't on the
table. I am aware that our longest fit
could well be spades, but that might
not play too well."
Even "knowing" partner has four
spades doesn't make 2♠ the best
choice, as it is more likely to be doubled
if it is wrong.
Stack eyes the 2♠ possibility, but
selects 2♥ as his call. "It is tempting to
bid spades since partner is sure to have
three, if not four, of them."
Colchamiro, who mercifully has
collected his wits, bids 2♥. "Partner
obviously has spades and is probably
4=4=4=1 or 3=4=5=1. With as many as
two clubs, he would have opened 1NT
(15-17) or bid 1NT over 1♠ (18-19). So
partner has some extras, but needs a
stiff club to justify coming in opposite
my 0-5 point hand."
2♥ is Boehm's call. "North should
have 4-5 in the reds and strength
between a minimum and a reverse. We
may scramble home ruffing diamonds
with high trumps."
Korbel likes 2♥. "Yes, I know partner has spade length for this sequence
- often 4=4=4=1. I'm not willing to bet
on it, or bet that 2♠ will necessarily
play better than 2♥. This could be a
3-3 fit."
Weinstein: "2♥. I would need better
clubs to pass."
Meckstroth calls his 2♦ an ugly
choice. "Perhaps I should bid 2♥ with
three of them."
Hampson chooses 2♦. "I have no
tricks, so I can't possibly pass a takeout double. I hope partner has a fifth
diamond."
Lee: "2♦. Looks like playing the
(hopefully) 5-2 fit is as good as

anything."
Cohen goes with 2♦. "Partner's most
likely shape is 3=4=5=1. I am just trying
to survive with a number under 100
one way or the other. Pass brings minus 180 into play. Bids higher than 2♦
bring more than minus 100 into play."
Rigal ponders the possible patterns.
"Partner rates to have a 3=4=5=1 with
extras - maybe 16-plus, but not a full
reverse, or he might have doubled 1♠
planning to correct 2♣ to 2♦ or 2♥;
he might also have bid 1NT over 1♠
with the right 2=4=5=2. Dummy will
be 5=3=3=2, declarer 1=3=3=6 maybe
- but either red suit could be 4-2, of
course. Knowing the shapes doesn't
really help. I envisage that we won't get
more than plus 100 here if I pass, and
2♦ might play for 90 or 110 if all the
cards are onside."
The Sutherlins offer another possible pattern: 3=3=6=1. "Let's start
wriggling out with 2♦."
2♦ by Falk. "I expect North has
some 3=4=5=1 hand, and while 2♦ has
no bells on it, 2♣ is going to make with
overtricks, so I'm going to hope 2♦ is
our smallest minus."
3. IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠A J 4 3 ♥8 5 4 ♦A K 6 ♣A Q 10

Panel's answers
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Allan Falk
Geoff Hampson
Daniel Korbel
Mike Lawrence
Roger Lee
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Don Stack
The Sutherlins
Steve Weinstein

1
Dbl
Pass
Pass
Dbl
Pass
Dbl
Dbl
Pass
Pass
Dbl
Pass
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
Pass
Pass

2
2♥
2♦
2♥
2♦
2♦
2♥
2♥
2♦
2♦
2♥
2♦
2♥
2♥
2♥
2♦
2♥

West
4♦

North
Pass

Call
Dbl
Pass
4NT

East
Pass

Votes
9
6
1

South
?
Award
100
80
50

Just one annoyance after another
Cohen doubles, "unless ACBL has a
new rule for 2015 which allows you to
bid 3NT over the opponent's four-level
preempt ... I have too much to settle for
50 a trick. I am content with anything
partner does."
Ditto Korbel: "Sure, we could pass or
bid 4NT, but doubling gives partner a
chance to pass with a weak balanced
hand, which will be our only plus
score."
Ditto Stack, still paranoid and now
a little ghoulish: "Must bid with this
collection, whether it works out or not.
We cannot pass and take a small profit
when partner may bid a game that
makes. He might even pass from fright,
which we would love."
Double by Meckstroth. "Way too
much not to bid."
Lee, too. "Just too much wood to
pass."
The Sutherlins say, "Partner is a
favorite to have a five-card major,

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

4
3♥
3♥
3♥
3♥
Pass
3♥
3♥
3♥
3♥
3NT
3♥
4♥
3♥
Dbl
Dbl
3♥

5
3♠
3♦
3♦
4♠
3♦
3♦
4♠
3♦
3♠
3♦
3♦
4♠
3♦
3♦
3♦
3♦

Total
450
490
480
420
430
490
430
490
450
430
490
410
440
450
450
480

February 2015 Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2015