October 2018 - 42

bidding space."
Colchamiro bids 5♦, saying "I don't
want to contend with 5♥ or 5♠."
Rigal's content with 2♦. "If the auction ends now, I'll eat my hat and that
of the nearest traffic warden. Seriously,
we will always get a second chance, and
I reckon I'll learn more the next time."
No rush by Boehm. "2♦. Can't adequately describe at this point, so let's
listen."
Sanborn: "2♦. I'm hoping to follow up with some number of notrump
to show a hand that's two-plus cards
longer in the first suit, but with both
minors."
Korbel bids 2NT. "This looks weird,
but I can always outbid any number
of clubs, and this will give me the best
chance of learning of a big club fit. I
don't expect a big score for this."
He is, however, not the only unusual
notrump user. Meyers bids 4NT. "Then
if partner bids 5♣, I will bid 5♦. That
is the best way I can think to show a
moose with self-sufficient long diamonds and five clubs."

3NT if partner has a spade stopper, and
probably 5♦ otherwise, but 4♥ could
be right (1NT doesn't deny a four-card
major). 3♥ keeps all three games in
play."
Boehm, too: "3♥. We may belong
in 4♥, 3NT, 5♦ or a diamond partial.
Much uncertainty makes this a good
time to consult partner."
Korbel bids 3♥. "If partner has
spades and clubs stopped, we'll try a
light 3NT."
3♥ by Meyers. "I have too much to
bid 3♦ and do not unilaterally want to
bid 3NT."
Ditto Sanborn. "It looks like I can
provide seven tricks to the offense. If
partner can give me a stopper and a

4. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.

2. IMPs. Both vulnerable.

♠3 ♥A 7 6 3 ♦A K Q 10 6 2 ♣8 2
West

North

East

Dbl

1NT

2♠

Call
3♥
3♦
3♠
2NT
Dbl
3NT

Votes
7
2
2
2
1
1

South
1♦
?
Award
100
70
70
70
50
50

Game options
3♥ by Cohen. "I'm not really worth
this, but I can't imagine buying it for
only 3♦; the opponents have at least
nine spades. So I might as well make
the call that helps partner judge.
Maybe he has a black ace and ♥K x,
and can figure out to bid 5♦."
Donn bids 3♥ "so partner knows
whether it's a good idea to bid 3NT or
not."
Weinstein likes 3♥. "I'd like to be in

42 Bridge Bulletin October 2018

NEXT MONTH'S PROBLEMS
1. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠K 3 ♥K 9 8 5 3 ♦- ♣A K Q 10 6 5
West

North

1♠

Dbl

East
Pass
2♠

South
1♣
?

♠K 9 6 ♥9 8 ♦- ♣A K Q 10 9 7 6 3
West

North

East

1♥

1♠

Pass

South
1♣
?

3. IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠A Q 9 2 ♥A K Q 10 8 7 6 ♦- ♣A 3
West

North

Pass

1♥

East
1♦
Dbl

South
Dbl
?

4. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠K 8 4 ♥10 9 5 ♦A J 10 6 5 ♣J 10
West

North
3♦

East
Pass

South
?

5. IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
♠A Q 3 ♥4 2 ♦A K 5 4 ♣A Q 10 6
West

North

East

3♠

4♥

Pass

South
1♦
?

couple of tricks, we can play 3NT. If
not, maybe he can bid to 5♦ with the
appropriate cards."
Colchamiro prefers 3♦. "3♥ could
work big opposite ♥K and ♠A. Could
partner have bypassed a four-card
major? I know I wouldn't."
3♦ by Shi. "13 points and a six-card
suit ... no need to get fancy. We could
have 3NT, but my diamonds aren't
guaranteed to be running."
Lee tries 3♠. "I'll take a stab at the
nine-trick game opposite a stopper.
3♥ could be right if partner has suppressed a four-card heart suit, but it
sounds too much like 6-5 to me."
3♠ by Robinson. "Partner made
a free bid, so why can't he have two
tricks? If he has a spade stopper, he'll
bid 3NT. Otherwise we'll probably get
too high in 5♦."
Meckstroth doubles then follows up
with 3♦.
Lawrence invites the notrump game
with an old-fashioned, no-nonsense
2NT. "Hoping partner finds a 3NT call.
Not up to bidding it myself."
Grossack, too. "2NT. Without agreement, this should be invitational, not
just competitive. And I think invitational defines this hand well; I can
probably count on partner for one trick
here, but certainly cannot count on
two. If she likes her hand for 3NT, she
will probably like mine, too - so long as
she picks up the ♦J x x x onside."
3NT by Rigal. "Here I (and I suspect
the vast majority of experts) play 2NT
as artificial - a good/bad lebensohl
sequence. My guess is to bid 3NT in the
absence of such agreements and make
them guess. Will I sit for it doubled?
Not sure."
5. IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠A 8 5 4 2 ♥10 8 6 3 ♦- ♣A J 9 3
West

North

East

1♣

Dbl

1♦

South
Pass
?

(a) Do you agree with your first-seat
pass?
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2018
