June 2020 - 38

Problem 2

East deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
♠ Q 10 8 7 2
♥QJ98
♦A9
♣J7

East
♠AK6
♥AK65
♦ 10
♣AK853

David

Tobi
1♣
2♥
4NT
5♦
7♥

1♠
3♥
5♣
5NT
Pass

Opener started with 1♣, as it's an
awkward hand to describe after a 2♣
opening. Responder's 3♥ raise was
constructive, so Tobi simply checked
on key cards and then the trump queen.
David's 5NT showed the queen with
no side kings. East thought this was a
stronger action than a jump to 6♥ and
bid the grand. West's ♠Q and ♥J were
welcome assets.
Danny
1♥
3♥
3NT
5♣
6♥

JoAnn
1♣
2♥
3♠
4NT
5♦
Pass

A similar start, but with 1♥ showing spades (a transfer). Opener chose
to cuebid 3♠, hoping that responder
could take control with Blackwood.
3NT was a non-serious slam try, i.e.,
one with some interest but less than a
cuebid would show. East then used key
card Blackwood, though later considered that 4♣ might have achieved the
goal of getting West to do so instead.
In a similar position as his counterpart over the trump-queen ask, Danny
- having made a cooperative move
- jumped to 6♥ showing the ♥Q, no
side king and a weaker hand than 5NT
would show. Opener considered a long
time before passing.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♣-1♠;
2♥-3♥; 4NT-5♦; 5♠-5NT; 6♣(?)-

38 Bridge Bulletin June 2020

7♥; Pass. A 2♣ opening crowds the
auction on a complex deal. Opener
then checks on key cards and the
trump queen after the heart fit is established. Opener can't count 13 tricks
yet, but doesn't want to give up, so tries
6♣ as a last effort for seven. With the
♠Q, excellent trump intermediates
and a club filler, responder accepts the
invitation.
Scores: 7♥ 11; 7♠ 10; 6♥ 8; 6♠ 7;
6NT 6; 5♥ 4; 5♠ 3; 5NT 1
Sokolows 18, Sprungs 15

Problem 3

South deals. E-W vulnerable.
North overcalls 1♥ if possible.
West
♠KJ3
♥J95
♦AQ
♣ K 10 8 7 3

East
♠ Q 10 8 2
♥643
♦J82
♣AQ5

David North

Tobi

1NT
2♦

2♣
2NT

(Pass)
(Pass)

Danny North
1NT

All Pass

JoAnn

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

Facing a possible 17-count with
the 14-17 1NT range, Tobi invited via
Stayman only to find opener with a
bare minimum and lacking four spades.
Playing the same range, JoAnn took
the low road by passing with 4-3-3-3
shape.
Bridge Bulletin auction: (Pass)-1♣-
(1♥)-Dbl; (Pass)-1NT-All Pass. Those
playing a negative double showing four
or five spades might favor a 1♠ rebid
with the West hand, but when responder is showing exactly four spades, 1NT
is the practical rebid with a balanced
hand and something resembling a
stopper. Lacking the ♥J, 1♠ has more
appeal. Many pairs play a 2♠ rebid by
opener here is just an opening bid with
four-card support, as we are effectively
raising a 1♠ response. That leaves
opener the option to rebid 1♠ with just
three cards on hands that don't have a

great alternative.
Scores: 2♠ 11; 1NT 7; 2♣ 6; 2NT 5;
3♣ 4; 3♠ 2
Sokolows 23, Sprungs 22

Problem 4

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
♠A8
♥K2
♦AJ984
♣AQ95

East
♠ K J 10 7 3 2
♥7
♦K3
♣ K J 10 4

David
1♦
2NT
4♣
4♠

Tobi
1♠
3♠
4♦
Pass

3♠ was natural and slammish over
the 2NT rebid (18-19 HCP). Opener
lacked a great fit, but had good controls, so he cooperated with a 4♣
cuebid initially, but signed off over the
4♦ cuebid. Tobi considered checking
on the ♠Q via RKCB, but would not be
confident about bidding slam even if
opener had that card, so she opted to go
low even though the five level figured
to be safe.
Danny
1♦
1NT
2NT
3♦
4NT

JoAnn
1♠
2♥
3♣
3♠
Pass

1♦ was natural, showing at least five
cards in the suit and an unbalanced
hand. The 1NT rebid showed clubs.
2♥ was an artificial game force, after
which the bidding was natural. Facing
a possible singleton spade and with a
minimum for this sequence, responder
chose to pass 4NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♦-1♠;
3♣-4♥(?); 4NT-5♦; 6♣-Pass. An
optimistic sequence to be sure, but
opener opts to show the club suit just
in case it hits responder, planning
to rebid 3NT over 3♦ or 3♥ next to
give a reasonable picture of the hand.
Responder would like to have the ♠A,
June 2020

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