April 2020 - 45

of the hand because I have no scientific
way to find out what partner has."
Cohen shoots the moon. "7♠. No
way to scientifically find out if this is
right, but with both pointed-suit aces, I
just have to do it. If partner has
♠K x x x, my spade holding is good
enough - just like having the queen."
2. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠A 7 6 ♥9 ♦A 6 ♣A J 9 7 6 4 2
West

North

East

Pass
Dbl

1♥
3♣

Pass
3♠

Call
3NT
5♣
4♦
4♠
4♣
Dbl

Votes
12
2
1
1
0
0

South
1♣
2♣
?
Award
100
80
60
60
40
30

Nine
Donn bids 3NT. "I can hardly do less.
Slam could be there, but trying for it
seems like a bit of a reach."
Lawrence, 3NT. "All I need is ♣K x x
or perhaps ♣Q x x. I have too many losers to consider 5♣. Second choice - a
distant one - is double."
Robinson, 3NT: "Playing partner for
♣K x x. 5♣ could go down if he has:

3NT, says Grossack, should roll so
long as partner has some help in clubs.
"And even if we have to lose a club,
spades might well be 4-4 on this auction, so that gives bidding 3NT even
more upside."
Meyers, 3NT, but not so fast ... "This
is difficult. 3NT could be right and 5♣
could be right. At the table I would bid
3NT. If partner has the ♣K or ♣Q, I
am likely to make 3NT by playing RHO
for the ♣K if I need to."
Sanborn, who also calls it close
between 3NT and 5♣, opts for the
nine-trick game. "Here we can survive
a club loser if spades are 4-4. In 5♣,
we probably cannot avoid three losers.
If partner has a stiff spade, I will wish I
had bid 5♣."
"I suppose 3NT is what we are
angling for," says Shi, "giving me nine
tricks opposite partners ♣K x x. Otherwise I need a fast entry and a club
finesse. 5♣ is in the game, too, as partner is likely to have a doubleton spade,
but I always feel dumb playing five of
a minor when 3NT is a good option. So
let's go for that."
5♣ by Cohen. "Partner could be light
for his raise in competition, but with
all of these controls and great playing
strength, how can I not bid a vulnerable game at IMPs? We could even have

♠x x ♥Q J x x x ♦Q x x ♣K Q x."

Panel's answers

Meckstroth plays 3NT really well.
"All I need is the ♣K. Even if we have
to give up a club, spades are likely 4-4."
Becker's 3NT: "Partner is just competing, but my hand is so good. I'm
hoping ♣K x x isn't too much to hope
for. If we have a club loser, all is not lost
on a spade lead if partner has the ♥A.
I suspect spades are 4-4, which also
argues against trying 5♣."
3NT by Lee. "I'm not interested in
bidding my partner's spade shortness
for him when I'm staring at a ninetrick game opposite almost nothing."
Rigal: "3NT is a suggestion, not a
command. Partner will need a club
honor to pass, but he can bid either 4♣
or 5♣ if he removes."

Drew Becker
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Mike Lawrence
Roger Lee
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Sylvia Shi
Steve Weinstein

1
6♣
6♦
7♠
6♣
6♠
6♦
6♠
6♣
6♣
6♦
6♦
6♠
6♠
6♦
6♦
6♠

2
3NT
5♣
5♣
3NT
3NT
3NT
4♠
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
4♦

play for a slam opposite not much, say:
♠x ♥J x x x x ♦K x x ♣K x x x!"
Weinstein tries 4♦. "I don't think
we're going down in 5♣, so I might
as well look for a perfecto slam. I've
already limited my hand, so partner
won't expect any more than this."
Korbel perks up. "4♠. Wow, this
hand has certainly grown up. We might
have a slam if partner somehow turns
up with:
♠x ♥A x x x x ♦x x x x ♣K x x."
3. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠A 5 ♥8 7 4 ♦9 7 5 4 ♣10 4 3 2
West
Pass

North
1♥
2NT

East
2♠(1)
Pass

South
Pass
?

(1) Weak
Call
Pass
3♥
4♥
3NT

Votes
8
7
1
0

Award
100
90
60
40

Do I stay or do I go?
Without a lot of conviction, Becker
passes. "At least I have a trick and can
hope my three hearts help set up that
suit for more tricks. I actually think

3
Pass
Pass
3♥
3♥
3♥
3♥
Pass
3♥
3♥
3♥
Pass
Pass
4♥
Pass
Pass
Pass

4
4♣
4♣
4♣
4♦
4♣
4♣
4♣
4♣
4♣
4♣
4♣
5♣
6♦
4♣
4♣
4♣

5
3♥
2♠
3♥
3♥
3♥
3♥
2♠
3♥
2♠
2♠
2♥
2♠
2♠
3♥
3♥
2♠

Total
490
470
420
430
470
490
430
480
470
480
470
430
390
500
500
430

April 2020 Bridge Bulletin

45
April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020
