November 2017 - 42

Colchamiro takes partner back to
spades. "It's been a long time since I
made a preference bid with a stiff, but
here, the singleton king ain't all bad.
Besides, if partner wants to bid again
holding something like:
♠A Q x x x x ♥- ♦A K J x x ♣x x,
I'm in - I've got two great cards."
Lee, too. "It's a little weird to take the
spade preference with this shape, but if
partner wants to bid on, my hand won't
disappoint. Partner is a solid favorite to
have six spades given our hand and his
failure to double."
Korbel bids 3♠, but he isn't quite as
sanguine. "If I ever end up in hell, I will
pick up this hand and face this auction
over and over. If partner does raise this,
I expect my extra values will give him

NEXT MONTH'S PROBLEMS
1. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
♠J 9 8 7 3 2 ♥A 9 ♦- ♣Q 10 8 7 4
West

North
Pass

East
Pass

South
?

2. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠A 8 7 5 ♥A K Q 8 ♦A 5 3 2 ♣8
West

North

East
3♦

South
?

3. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠A 4 3 ♥J ♦A Q 10 2 ♣A K 8 6 3
West

North

East

2♠

Pass

Pass

South
1♣
?

4. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠- ♥K 9 8 6 5 4 ♦K Q 7 6 5 3 ♣8
West

North

East

South
?

5. IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠K J 10 4 2 ♥4 ♦K 9 7 6 4 ♣Q 3
West
Pass

North
1♥
2♣

East
Pass
Pass

42 Bridge Bulletin November 2017

South
1♠
?

think as a free bid it has to be forcing;
some play."
weaker hands just have to pass."
Sanborn bids 3♠ with the justificaCohen, 4♦. "They look rebiddable
tion that if partner has one six-bagger,
to me. We are in a game force, so no
it's spades. "The thing about passing
reason to do something other than
3♦ is hoping for a trump lead to make
play a little easier. But given my hearts, describe my hand."
Korbel points out that partner
it looks like that suit will be easy for
started the game force with 3♥. "I have
RHO to lead."
strong slam aspirations, so I will rebid
3♠ by Lawrence. "Passing is poswhere I live and see what happens.
sible, but my two prime cards carry a
Partner often has a singleton spade, so
lot of weight here. Not 3♥ because my
diamond support is likely,
hand isn't that good."
and even 7♦ is very much
Rigal, 3♠. "Again, I'm
in the picture."
just hoping no one is
Donn: "4♦. 3♥ is forcreading this, but what am
ing to game, so I don't see
I going to do but whinge
the problem here."
at partner for not reopenLee: "4♦, which is
ing with a double? I would
surely
forcing, seems like
have passed and led a
the only bid."
trump. Maybe I should just
Hampson: "Feels like
pass 3♦ knowing we have
we have something big in
a 5-2 or better fit ... I really
diamonds unless partner
don't know what is best."
bids 4♥."
Donn wins this month's
4♦ by Sanborn. "Must
optimist award. He cues
Josh Donn
be forcing. I want to hear
3♥. "I will pass 3NT or
the natural next bid from pard. If 5♦, I
raise 3♠ or 4♦ to game. Partner's 3♦
will make some grand slam try. By bidshows a good hand, so I think my hand
ding a virtual small slam, I am inviting
is too useful to give up."
a grand and must have huge controls. If
I hear 4♥, who knows? That's the next
4. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠A 9 3 ♥- ♦A Q 10 9 8 4 3 ♣A J 9 problem."
Shi, 4♦: "The normal way to get to
West North
East
South
6♦ eventually, I'm sure."
1♦
Meyers: "I play that 4♦ is forcing in
2♠
3♥
3♠
?
this auction. It is the best description
of my hand."
Call
Votes
Award
4♦ by Meckstroth. "3♥ is game
4♦
11
100
forcing. I want to try to get to a dia6♦
2
60
mond slam."
5♦
1
60
Boehm: "4♦. North created a game
Pass
1
50
force, so what's the rush?"
Dbl
0
50
Lawrence and Colchamiro zipline
3NT
0
40
straight to 6♦.
4♠
0
0
Lawrence: "Unconfusing and to the
point.
4♠ would create something I
May the force be with you
don't
want
to deal with. As with the
4♦ - gotta be forcing here, right?
previous
hand,
I'm worried about not
Make sure you and your partner are on
being
high
enough."
the same page.
Colchamiro: "I've scored zero before
Weinstein: "There's only one thing
and
may now again here, but I just
highlighted in purple in my notes with
don't see how 4♦ (forcing) or 4♠ will
Bobby Levin: 'Assume four of a minor
is forcing in unclear situations.' I'll feel accomplish anything with me having
three aces (yay) but a void in partner's
pretty sick if partner passes this, but I
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2017
