April 2020 - 46

both 2NT and 3♥ are likely to go down,
but I could run into a double in 3♥ if
the trump split is particularly foul."
Sanborn passes. "Maybe the third
round of spades is getting overruffed
with a non-natural trump trick in 3♥.
It's one less trick we have to take."
Pass by Rigal. "2NT is natural, not
a good-bad monstrosity. One trick is
enough, but not enough to go on ... I
think."
Shi passes. "With no ruffing value
(spades get overruffed), and a minimum, I hope partner can take the same
number of tricks in notrump or hearts."
Meyers goes green. "I think it

NEXT MONTH'S PROBLEMS
1. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠K J 6 5 ♥K 9 ♦Q J 6 5 ♣10 3 2
West
2♦

North
1♥
Dbl(1)

East
Pass
Pass

South
1♠
?

(1) Three-card spade support
2. Matchpoints. Both vulnerable.
♠A ♥J 8 6 3 ♦A K 10 9 8 7 3 ♣A
West

North

East
3♣

South
?

3. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠Q J 10 8 6 2 ♥A K ♦A 10 8 3 ♣7
West
Pass
2♣

North
Pass
2♥

East
1♣
3♣

South
1♠
?

4. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠J 2 ♥A K J 10 6 ♦A 5 ♣A 8 6 3
West

North

East

Pass

1♠

Dbl

South
1♥
?

5. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠K 10 9 5 ♥- ♦6 2 ♣A K Q 8 7 5 2
West

North

East

Pass
3♥

1♦
Dbl

Dbl
Pass

46 Bridge Bulletin April 2020

South
1♣
1♠
?

might be easier to take eight tricks in
notrump than nine tricks in hearts.
I really don't have a ruffing value because West would be able to overruff."
Pass by Korbel. "Partner is often
5-3-3-2, 18-19. I see no compelling
reason to raise a level higher."
Weinstein passes. "With side suits
likely splitting badly and spades
being overruffed, I'm not bidding
game. I don't think I have an extra
trick in hearts, so I'll stick it out in
2NT."
Donn prefers 3♥. "Partner shows
18-19 balanced as far as I'm concerned.
That leaves us just a little bit short of
game."
3♥ by Colchamiro. "Whether 2NT is
18-19 balanced or a trick-taking hand,
it seems like 3♥ is best."
Lee, 3♥: "Presuming partner is
3=5=(3-2), it's easy to imagine either
minor being a problem, or us just being
able to profitably ruff a spade in my
hand despite the 6-2 break."
Grossack says it's between 3♥ and
4♥. "With weak trump spots and at
matchpoints, I don't think game is a
worthwhile enough shot. Partner may
need to ruff some spades, and these
will surely get overruffed. The ♥J 10 x
instead of the ♥8 7 4 might well be
enough to get me to game."
Behind the scenes at IYC with Larry
Cohen (who bids 3♥): "I don't understand this problem, which is a way of
saying it is a poor, easy problem. Which
means that I can't win by saying that,
because either:
1. It really is boring and never gets
published;
2. It turns out that I am missing
something and it gets published and I
look silly for saying it was boring."
Meckstroth bids 3♥ somewhat
reluctantly. "I am tempted to pass 2NT,
but will make the normal bid here."
Lawrence bids 3♥. "My values are
too slow to try 4♥."
Robinson makes the leap to 4♥.
"Partner should have the strength of
a 2NT jump rebid. If partner has a
very strong Flannery [four spades, five
hearts], I don't want to play in 3NT,

where we might be off the entire diamond suit."
4. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠A 9 6 ♥A K 10 9 2 ♦K 10 8 7 4 ♣-
West
3♣

North
Pass
Dbl(2)

East
2♣(1)
Pass

South
2♥
?

(1) Six-plus clubs, 10-15 HCP, does not
have four hearts or four spades
(2) Shows spades and diamonds, at
least 4-4
Call
4♣
5♣
4♦
6♦
5♦
3♦
3♠
4♠

Votes
13
1
1
1
0
0
0
0

Award
100
60
60
50
50
30
30
20

Bingo!
Meyers starts with 4♣. "Wow, I love
my hand! I'm not stopping below 6♦.
Partner is a passed hand, but if she has
♠K Q and ♦A x x x x, I want to be in
seven."
Lawrence says:
"♠K x x x ♥x ♦A x x x ♣x x x x
gives us a sane play for 7♦. I expect
more than this. If partner doesn't have
the ♦A but has everything else, we'd
best stop in 6♦. I wish 5♣ was a splinter in support of diamonds. But it isn't.
I'll bid 4♣ here and hate it. Ultimately
I'm bidding at least 6♦."
Shi doesn't hate 4♣. "Well, we could
certainly have a slam, say:
♠K x x x ♥x x ♦A Q x x ♣x x x,
and partner could even have five diamonds with me. I'll bid this on the way
to 5♦ to show a big raise."
Becker agrees. "This hand looks like
a monster, and if I had just one bid, it
would be 6♦. I think we're likely going
there eventually, but for now I'll just
set up a force with 4♣ and see if I can
get some more information."
Donn, 4♣. "I hope to clarify later.
Even jumping to 4♦ would not do jus-
April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020
