July 2020 - 35

a lot of the time. I might be missing out
on a slam, but with my 5♦ bid, partner
should expect some quality and can
always bid on with a huge hand."
Both Brandon and Kayden Ge vote
for 4♠. Here's Brandon: "I think 4♠
describes the hand better because it
shows the shortness. Slam is entirely
possible, and it seems pard has a very
strong hand, something like:
♠x x x x ♥A Q x ♦A K x x ♣A J.
3♠ should show 10-ish points with a
balanced hand, and is open to playing
notrump. 4♠ also takes away opponents' bidding space, making it hard to
find their fit in spades."
Duffie second- (and third-) guesses
himself with 3♠. "I'm on a finesse for
seven opposite:
♠x x x x ♥A x ♦A K 10 x x ♣A J,
so not forcing to game feels crazy. I
could bid a direct 5♦, but that doesn't
get us to slam when it's right, and
maybe more importantly, I won't
know what to do if the auction continues (5♠)-Pass-(Pass) to me, or
(5♠)-Double-(Pass). 3♠ helps with
this by setting up a force. I'm clearly
not sitting for 4♠ doubled, but say
the auction continues: (4♠)-Double/
Pass-(Pass); 5♦-(5♠). I want partner's input now I think."
Xu bids 3♠. "3♦ and 4♦ are both
way too much of an underbid. If
partner bids 4♦, I will bid 5♦, knowing that partner is not going to have
spade wastage, as he did not bid 3NT.
If left-hand opponent bids 4♠ and it's
passed to me, I will definitely bid 5♦.
If partner bids 3NT, I think I have to
pull it. Just ridiculous to play in 3NT
opposite:
♠A x x x ♥A x ♦K Q x x ♣A J x.
3NT could go down while 6♦ has
play. I will pull 3NT to 4♦, as partner
could have spade wastage and it isn't
clear game is making. Partner should
know I have spade shortness or I would
have passed, which lets him evaluate
whether to bid on."

2. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠Q 10 9 4 ♥- ♦J 10 8 6 2 ♣K Q J 5
West
1♣
2♣

North
1♥
Dbl

Call
Pass
2♦
2♠
3♦
3♣
3♠
3NT
2NT

East
Pass
Pass

Votes
8
4
3
1
1
1
1
0

South
1NT
?
Award
100
80
70
60
50
50
40
40

Is that your final answer?
Despite evidence to the contrary, junior players know exactly where to find
the pass card in their bidding boxes. It
is something they are especially fond of
doing when it means converting partner's takeout double to penalty.
Kaplan explains. "I have a great hand
to defend and very little reason to think
we can make game. Right-hand opponent will also be overruffing clubs, and
LHO rates to be short in hearts, making
declaring any contract unpleasant."

Panel's answers
Louis Beauchet
Marley Cedrone
Charlie Chen
Cornelius Duffie
Brandon Ge
Kayden Ge
Zach Grossack
Michael Haas
Adam Kaplan
Emma Kolesnik
Finn Kolesnik
Ben Kristensen
Samuel Pahk
Kevin Rosenberg
Daniel Sonner
Brent Xiao
Michael Xu
Jonathan Yue
Brian Zhang

1
3♦
5♦
3♦
3♠
4♠
4♠
3♦
3♦
3♦
3♦
3♦
4♦
3♦
3♦
5♦
5♦
3♠
4♦
4♦

2
3NT
2♦
2♠
2♦
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
2♦
Pass
2♦
2♠
Pass
2♠
3♣
Pass
3♠
3♦

Kayden Ge passes.
"We probably aren't
making game, so
playing a partscore
is not going to give
us IMPs, especially
when I think I can
beat 2♣. Partner
Kayden Ge, 11
probably doesn't
USA2 U16
have four spades,
otherwise he might
have doubled the
first time. Partner's
shape is probably
3=5=4=1. I'll get lots
of trump tricks, plus
we'll get a couple diamonds and spades.
If partner has a good
Finn Kolesnik, 16
heart suit, then I
USA1 U21
don't need to ruff,
and declarer is likely going to lose control. ♥K Q J x x will suffice."
Finn Kolesnik: "Pass. I have a million
club honors and a void in partner's suit.
Seems perfect to defend 2♣ doubled. I
have no alternatives."
2♦ by Emma Kolesnik. "I was very
close between pass and 2♦. 2♠ is rea-

3
6♣
5♥
5♦
5NT
4NT
4NT
5NT
4♠
5♥
4♠
4♠
Pass
5♥
5NT
4♠
4♠
5NT
5♦
Dbl

4
3♠
4♦
3♠
3♠
4♦
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
3♠
4♦
3♠
3♠

5
Dbl
4♥
Dbl
4♥
4NT
4NT
4♥
4NT
4♥
4♥
Dbl
4♥
Dbl
Dbl
4♥
4♥
4NT
Dbl
5♥

Total
370
380
410
420
330
370
490
460
470
480
480
440
420
470
440
420
360
360
330

July 2020 Bridge Bulletin

35
July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2020
