September 2019 - 38

Ainsley
2♣
3♦
4♣
5♣
6♦
Fraser
2♣
3♦
4♣
4♥
5♦
Pass

Spier
1♦
2♥
3♥
4NT
5♥
Pass
Tradewell
1♦
2♥
3♠
4♦
4♠
6♦

Identical starts here, with 2♣ a natural game force, 2♥ potentially only
4-4 in the reds, and diamond support
from West. Spier continued with 3♥,
hoping to suggest this shape, though
admitting it might just be construed as
a cuebid for diamonds. The 4♣ cuebid
prompted a key-card ask from Spier
("Wish we played Redwood [where 4♥
would be key card for diamonds]."),
with Ainsley showing one. 5♥ asked
for the trump queen, and lacking such,
Ainsley signed off.
Tradewell cuebid his ♠A, and after
Fraser's return cuebid, 4♦ was "minorwood," asking for key cards. 4♥
showed one, then confusion set in over
the 4♠ king-ask. Fraser thought 5♦
showed two, but Tradewell thought it
showed specific kings and was hoping
to hear 5♥. They too settled for the
small slam.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♦-2♣;
2♥-3♦; 3♥-4♣; 4♦-4♥; 4NT-5♦;
5NT-7NT; Pass. East should bid 4♦
over 4♣ to see if West can cuebid
hearts. He should also assume diamonds are solid, as West wouldn't bid
3♦ with three low ones. West can pretty much count 13 tricks when he finds
out that all key cards are accounted for.
Thanks to Barry Rogoff of Nashua NH
for this hand.
Scores: 7NT 12; 7♦ 10; 7♣ 8;
6NT 7; 6♦, 6♥ 5; 6♣ 3; 5NT 2; 5♥ 1
Ainsley-Spier 11, Fraser-Tradewell 11

38 Bridge Bulletin September 2019

Problem 3

South deals. E-W vulnerable.
South opens 1♠.
West
♠75
♥ A 10 7 2
♦AJ
♣ Q 10 8 4 3

East
♠AQ
♥93
♦ Q 10 6 5 4
♣AKJ7

Ainsley North

Spier

Pass
3♥

Dbl
3NT

(Pass)
(Pass)

Fraser North
Pass
2♣
2NT

(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)

South
(1♠)
(Pass)
All Pass

Tradewell South
(1♠)
1NT
(Pass)
2♦
(Pass)
3NT
All Pass

Neither West considered their hand
strong enough to overcall vulnerable. East then had to decide whether
he was too strong for a balancing
notrump. Spier decided he was, so he
started with a double. Ainsley chose to
focus on the major, so he invited with
3♥. Spier had an automatic 3NT bid.
After a 1♠ opening Tradewell defines his balancing notrump as 13-16,
higher than the range used over other
suit openings. This is fairly common,
as there's more wiggle room starting
with a double over lower suit openings,
but after 1♠ you'd have to rebid 2NT
if partner bids your doubleton. Fraser
trotted out Stayman, then gave partner
a lot of leeway by only inviting with
2NT. Tradewell had an easy raise.
Bridge Bulletin auction: As Fraser-
Tradewell, with West bidding 3NT
over 2♦.
Scores: 6♣ 12; 3NT(E) 7; 4NT(E) 6;
3NT(W), 5♣ 5; 6NT 4; 4NT(W), 5♦ 3;
7♣(E), 7NT 1
A-S 18, F-T 18

Problem 4

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
♠KQ5
♥ A 10 8
♦4
♣ A J 10 8 5 4

East
♠A643
♥KQ9
♦ 10 7 5 2
♣Q7

Ainsley
1♣
1♠
3♣
Pass

Spier
1♥
2♣
3NT

Fraser
1♣
2♣
3NT

Tradewell
1♠
2NT
Pass

Spier's 1♥ response showed spades,
and Ainsley showed two or three
spades with a minimum. 2♣ was the
XYZ convention, typically a relay to
2♦ to either play there or show some
invitational hand. 3♣ was unusual,
promising three good spades, six clubs
and a maximum hand in context. Spier
bid 3NT, but chided himself later for
not bidding 3♥.
Fraser-Tradewell had a standard
auction, with Fraser simply raising to
game with his maximum.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♣-1♠;
2♠-2NT; 3♣-3♥; 4♥(?)-5♣; Pass.
When East doesn't bid notrump over
3♣, West wants East to pick the best
suit game. 4♥ suggests West's actual
shape, as with 3=4=1=5, he'd have bid
3♥ over 2NT.
Scores: 5♣ 11; 4♣ 7; 2♠ 5; 3♠ 4;
2NT, 4♠ 3; 3NT 2
A-S 20, F-20

Problem 5

North deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
♠ 10 4
♥K95
♦Q982
♣AK64

East
♠AJ65
♥8
♦K6
♣QJ9852

Ainsley

Spier
1♣
2♣
2NT
Pass

1♠
2♥
3♣
Fraser
1♣
1NT
Pass

Tradewell
Pass
1♠
3♣
September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2019
