October 2018 - 39

4♣, he knew that 5♦ would be best.
Joel considered rebidding 1NT with
his stiff spade, but chose to rebid the
weak diamonds. 2♥ was a one-round
force, and Joel offered hearts with
his next two bids even as Kent supported diamonds. Kent loved his honor
structure and tried a 4♠ cuebid, but
Joel had no interest with his relatively
short and weak diamonds.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♦-1♠;
2♣-2♥; 3♥-4♦; 4♥-4♠; 5♦-Pass.
We like the 2♣ rebid, as this may be
the last chance to find a club partscore.
Scores: 5♦ 10; 4♦ 7; 4♥ 6; 3♥ 5;
2NT 3; 3NT 2
Joris-Berend 43, Kent-Joel 31

Problem 6

East deals. E-W vulnerable.
South bids 2♠ (weak). North bids 4♠.
West
♠A7
♥ A J 10 4
♦ K Q J 10 9
♣Q3
Joris

North

3♠
5♦
6♦

(4♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)

Kent

North

3♠
5♦
5♠
6♥

(4♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

East
♠5
♥KQ985
♦A3
♣ A 10 7 6 4
Berend
1♥
5♣
6♣
6♥

South
(2♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

Joel
1♥
5♣
5♥
5NT

South
(2♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)

Joris's 3♠ promised four-card support and typically shortness somewhere. 5♣ showed a second suit with
values, meant to help partner evaluate
should the opponents keep bidding.
5♦ was "last train" slam interest, so
the first real cuebids came at the six
level. Berend signed off, feeling he'd
done more than enough, and Joris had
no reason to move.
Joel had no guarantee of four-card
support, but felt comfortable cuebidding anyway. He signed off with 5♥
over partner's diamond cuebid, but

Kent wasn't done, showing his ♠A.
Joel marked time with 5NT, hoping to
hear 6♣, but Kent signed off.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♥-(2♠)-
3♠-(4♠); 5♣-5♠; 6♦-7♦(!); Pass.
West can count 13 tricks in diamonds,
counting on East to hold the ♥K Q for
his strong auction.
Scores: 7♦ 12; 6NT 10; 6♥ 5; 6♦ 3;
(4♠) Dbl 2; 5♥, 5NT 1
Joris-Berend 48, Kent-Joel 36

Problem 7

South deals. Both vulnerable.
South opens 1♠. North bids 2♠ if
possible.
West
♠82
♥AK9752
♦AK854
♣-

East
♠AQ3
♥83
♦J9632
♣ A 10 7

Joris

North

Berend

2NT
4♣
5♣
7♦

(Pass)
3♠
(Pass)
4♥
(Pass)
6♦
All Pass

Kent

North

Joel

2♠
3♥
4♦
5♣
7♦

(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

2NT
3♠
4NT
5NT

South
(1♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
South
(1♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)

2NT showed the red suits, and 3♠
was a cuebid confirming diamonds.
Joris bid 4♣ as a "transfer" to 4♦, intending to bid 4♥ next to show a very
good 6-5 hand. However, Berend was
so enamored with his fit and black aces
that he launched a "redwood" 4♥, asking for key cards: "I expect a missing
red king or two will be finessable."
Joel asked for partner's minor over
the Michaels 2♠, but Kent bid 3♥
with his extra length and strength. Joel
wasn't sure how strong Kent might be,
nor which minor he held. His 3♠ bid
struck gold when Kent showed up with
diamonds, and he was off to the races
with Blackwood. Kent showed three

key cards and happily bid the grand
after Joel confirmed all the aces.
Bridge Bulletin auction: As Kent-Joel.
Scores: 7♦ 11; 6♥ 8; 6♦ 6; 5♥ 4;
5♦ 2; 3NT 1
Joris-Berend 59, Kent-Joel 47

Problem 8

West deals. None vulnerable.
West
♠4
♥AKQ93
♦QJ5
♣K974

East
♠ 10 8 6 2
♥2
♦AK86
♣ A 10 5 2

Joris
1♥
2♣
2♥
4♥
Pass

Berend
1♠
2♦
4♣
5♣

Kent
1♥
2♣
3♦
4♥
5♣

Joel
1♠
3♣
4♦
4♠
Pass

Another Gazzilli auction for the
Dutch (2♣ natural or strong, 2♦ asking, promising 8-plus). Joris didn't
like his stiff spade, so chose to treat
his hand as hearts and clubs with a
minimum, which he conveyed with
2♥. Berend issued a strong invitation
with his great controls, and Joris, with
a maximum in context, offered 4♥ to
play. Berend converted to clubs.
Joel could have had less for his club
raise, but he hated 2NT when his hand
had so much potential for suit play.
When Kent showed his diamond fragment, promising extras, Joel realized
his hand was huge facing short spades
and cuebid 4♦. Kent also attempted to
play 4♥, but Joel continued with 4♠,
showing further slam interest. Kent
signed off.
Bridge Bulletin auction: As Kent-Joel
Scores: 4♥ 11; 5♣ 10; 3♥ 7; 4♣ 6;
2NT 5; 3NT, 4♦ 4; 5♦ 1
Final score: Joris-Berend 69,
Kent-Joel 57
◾
October 2018 Bridge Bulletin

39
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2018
