January 2017 - 43

Because partner is likely to have a few
diamonds, he will probably pass if I
double. If he bids 5♥, I won't know
how many hearts he has."
5♠ by Cohen, who is afraid to double. "Too likely it'll get left in opposite
something like:
♠x x x x ♥A x x ♦x x x ♣Q x x."
Colchamiro's 5♠: "Double and pulling 5♥ to 5♠ to show spades and clubs
is misdirected with a two-card differential, especially when the six-bagger
is a major."
Donn's choice is 5♠. "You have to
double with so many hands at this
level, and partner will pass it way too
often for my liking to do that here. So
I will resort to the tactic of bidding my
longest suit and hoping for the best."
5♠ by Hampson. "I could double and
probably get a small plus when partner
has nothing to bid, but it won't take
much to make 5♠. Double is likely to
end the auction."
Rigal bids 5♠ and backtracks a little.
"Yes, double could work very well in
two disparate ways: when defending
is right or when spades are wrong. But
I'm prepared to gamble that my choice
is more likely than those two chances
combined."
5. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠8 ♥Q 9 8 6 ♦A J 6 2 ♣A J 10 9
West
Pass

North
Pass

Call
1♦
Pass
1♣
1♥

East
Pass

Votes
9
5
1
0

South
?
Award
100
80
70
50

Pearson schmearson
Many players use Pearson point
count as a guideline for opening the
bidding in fourth seat with a marginal
hand. Add your high-card point total
to the number of spades you hold, and
if the total is 14 (or, more commonly
these days, 15), open the bidding.
Pearson point count recognizes that

whoever has spades owns a competitive bidding edge.
Is this a marginal hand? With two
quick tricks, good intermediates and
interesting shape, most players would
open it in seats one through three.
What about fourth position?
Meckstroth says he'd open in any
other seat and he's certainly opening
here. "We could be cold for 4♥."
Donn stares down Pearson. "1♦. I
have an opening hand so I open it. With
my 12 points and RHO passing in third
seat, it is clear we rate to have the majority of the strength. And if the opponents have a spade fit - not a guarantee
like many players seem to think - then
maybe the suit is breaking badly."
Lee couldn't agree more. "1♦.
Because we'd rather have clubs led,
I think 1♣ is fine, too. But I strongly
disagree with passing. When I have
comfortable opening values, I open the
bidding."
"I got an opening bid, yo," says Weinstein. "Even if they find spades, there is
a good chance partner has four of them
and I go plus that way."
1♦ by Lawrence. "Passing is always
a consideration when you don't have
enough Pearson points in fourth seat.
This hand, however, does have some
defense, and the shape will allow me to
compete aggressively if partner acts.
The auction I most fear is for partner to bid 1♠. That gives me a rebid
problem. No one asked, but I suspect I
would bid 1NT. Glad there won't be any
mandated penalties for that."
Korbel bids 1♦. "I've had good success opening marginal hands in fourth
chair, and I have defensive tricks -
even against a spade contract."
Shi opens 1♦. "Sure, I don't have
spades, but I have a nice playing hand
and good spots. I expect to be in three
of something making."
"Isn't there some rule about this?"
asks Cohen, who slides the 1♦ card
onto the table. "I prefer CRIFS - that's
Cohen's Rule in Fourth Seat - which
says to open borderline hands against
weak opponents, otherwise pass them

out. Of course I don't know who my opponents are here."
Rigal's call is 1♦. "Pearson point
count points one way, my gut points
me the other way. I've never gotten rich
passing 12-counts. When RHO doesn't
open, partner rates to be the strongest
at this vulnerability, I believe."
Without sufficient Pearson points,
Colchamiro passes. "My hand doesn't
get to 15 and my rebids are awkward
for many reasons here. If I had a fifth
heart, I'd try 1♥ and hope they didn't
outbid me."
Sanborn is a Pearson point person.
"Pass. The old Pearson point formula
of adding your high-card points to your
total and opening if your total comes
to 14 doesn't quite reach here. We all
open so much lighter now that I don't
think we are missing anything."
Hampson passes. "I could open, but
I might find myself fighting to achieve
minus 50 when the opponents find
their spade fit. Being an aggressive
opener in second position reduces the
urge to open light in fourth."
Pass by Robinson. "The singleton
spade and a rebid problem over a 1♠
response lean toward pass. If, however,
I was playing with a sound opener -
someone like Al Roth - I would certainly open 1♦."
Boehm passes. "I suppose there's a
case for opening if two experts oppose two weak players; otherwise, not,
despite some good spot cards. Besides,
the rebid of 1NT over 1♠ is less than
ideal."
Meyers bids 1♣. "And if partner bids
1♠, I bid 1NT."
◾
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January 2017 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.acbl.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2017