November 2017 - 43

long suit (boo). So, I'm bidding what I
think I can make. Of course 6♦ may
be too high or too low, but how would
partner react to 4♦ if his hand is:
♠x ♥A K x x x ♦K x ♣K x x x x?
Well, maybe he'd bid 4♠ and maybe we
get to 7♦ making. But if he has
♠- ♥A K J x x x x ♦x ♣K x x x x,
he bids 4♠ and over our 5♣, bids 6♥
or even 7♥? I just hate these ambiguous auctions! As for 4♠ with a void in
partner's suit, count me out."
Rigal passes. "Pass is forcing. Maybe
we will learn something to our advantage. The free three-level call by
partner sets up a game force, but I am
not sure how to find the 7-1 diamond
fit, not the 7-0 heart fit ... anything is a
blind guess, and I haven't decided what
to do if partner bids 4♥. Not pass, I
think. I'm glad you didn't ask!"
Robinson leaps to 5♦. "Shows extra
values and good diamonds."
5. Matchpoints. Both vulnerable.
♠9 8 5 4 ♥A K J 10 ♦K 10 9 ♣7 6
West
1♠

North
Pass

Call
Pass
1NT
Dbl
2♥

East
Pass

Votes
7
6
1
1

South
?
Award
100
90
60
50

Balancing act
The bidders focus on the form of
scoring while the passers draw attention to the vulnerability.
Weinstein passes. "This is a great
matchpoint problem. (Kit, put it in the
next version of your book!) I'd bid 1NT
white/white. Red/red, I'd rather try for
plus 100 on defense than minus 100 or
plus 90 declaring."
Lee agrees. "I think the vulnerability
makes it unattractive to come in, and
with no convenient bid anyway, I'll
aim for plus 100 or minus 80 when the
alternatives are all worse."
Pass by Robinson: "Partner couldn't
bid over 1♠ when he is likely to be

short. Since there is no bid which
shows this hand, I'll make the safest
bid. I'm too weak to balance with 1NT
and can't handle partner's 2♣ response to my takeout double."
Shi is happy to pass. "At IMPs I
would bid 1NT. At matchpoints, both
vulnerable, I think defending 1♠ will
be totally fine."
Rigal passes. "Wrong spade suit, and
either partner is weak or has some
spade length. At any other vulnerability I have to bid, but I don't see why
action is called for here."
Hampson does the math. "Not strong
+ spade length = pass."
Donn sounds a cautionary note.
"Pass. This is the wrong vulnerability
to compete for an unsure partscore.
Maybe the opponents are in the wrong
contract."
Into the fray ... 1NT by Meyers. "I'm
not passing at matchpoints."
Cohen: "1NT. Looks like enough of
a spade stopper to me. If they take the
first five spade tricks, so be it - this
still could be the right spot."
Sanborn says 1NT seems pretty
straightforward. "We still have chances to find hearts if that is right."
Korbel's 1NT: "Close between 1NT
and pass. If partner were a passed
hand, I would pass."
Lawrence, 1NT. "2♥ is possible, but
if it doesn't work, partner will remember."
Meckstroth refuses to choose between columns A and B. He doubles. "I
don't want to miss a heart fit, especially with no spade stopper."
Colchamiro makes good and sure he
doesn't miss a heart fit. He tries 2♥.
"Well, I almost have five of them. Pass
is my second choice. 1NT and double
just don't feel right."
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November 2017 Bridge Bulletin

43
http://www.acbl.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2017
