July 2020 - 39

"I think 5♣ or double might also be
against our game. Or maybe we don't
reasonable bids, however we're too
have a game. If partner bids four of a
likely to end up in spades when hearts
red suit, I will bid 5♣ to invite slam.
is better. With the ♥10, 4♥ seems like 4♥ will be passed too often when slam
a decent spot. Of course we could easis cold. Double allows the most flexibilily be making 6♥ or 6♦ if partner has
ity because there are many possibilithe right hand. Many 9-counts would
ties with this hand."
produce slam. Ultimately actions like
Beauchet doubles. "The hand is too
this just show again that preempts are
good for a direct 4♥ and I wouldn't
effective."
want 4NT to be interpreted as an offer
to play. So I double, planning to pull
Finn Kolesnik decisively doubles.
partner's 4♠ to 5♥ or raise
"The decision here is whethto 6♥. On a bad day, 5♥
er I am closer to a slam
could be too high, but in that
invite or a 4♥ bid. To me, a
case, they may make 5♣.
slam invite looks clear. I am
And doubling 4♣ also gives
expecting a 4♠ response
partner the option to convert
from partner, which I can
should he hold the unlikely
correct to 5♥ to show a slam
3=3=3=4 hand with a couple
invite."
of club tricks."
Yue chooses to double. "I
Michael Xu, 16
Xu puts 4NT out there.
plan on correcting 4♠ to 5♥.
USA1 U21
"Just the ♥A x from partner
4NT would be the other opgives me pretty reasonable
tion. But what do you do after
play for slam. Also, when the
partner makes a preference of
opponents are unfavorable,
5♦ or 5♥? Partner can have
they are more likely to have
anywhere from a yarborough
values in the suit, and conto a decent hand because 4NT
sequently, it makes my club
is so wide-ranging."
void even better, as partner
Rosenberg thinks that with
is a lot less likely to have club
slam potential and all three
wastage. I think 4NT should
Jonathan
Yue,
17
strains possible, double feels
be a two-suited hand, so I bid
USA1 U21
right. "Partner is very unthat. Any other bid cannot
likely to pass this double (a
convey both of my two suits,
red/white preempt tends to
and I want to get both my diabe very sound here, so if they
monds and hearts in, albeit
do pass, I think we should be
my hearts are longer. While
OK), and I will get to show a
I am close to a grand try with
flexible hand with slam inter6♣, I will settle for a simple
est by correcting 4♠ to 5♥.
six of whatever my partner
Bidding 4♥ is also reasonbids over 4NT."
Kevin Rosenberg, 23
able, but my hand is so good
Haas, too, likes 4NT, showUSA1 U26
for slam opposite any red suit
ing two places to play. "Partfit (or a long, strong spade suit
ner will pick between red
like ♠K J 10 x x x with the ♦Q), that
suits at the five level. If I had spades
I think it is worth the risk here. 4♥
and a red suit, I would bid 4NT and
could go down while 6♦ is cold. With
correct the wrong red suit to 5♠."
so many possible strains and some
Brandon and Kayden Ge both voted
slam interest, this feels correct. I don't
for 4NT. Here's Kayden: "This hand is
even need to mention how big double
very, very powerful. 4NT, two places to
will win if partner bids four of a red
play, is the perfect description. Either
suit."
LHO or partner has a bunch of spades.
Pahk doubles. "Yes, partner will pass
I will accept either red suit preference
often, but when he does, perhaps the
by partner, and will raise that to six
opponents are going for 500 or 800

afterwards. All I need from partner is
the ♥A and/or ♦Q."
Zhang eliminates a lot of calls before
plunking down 5♥. "I'm pretty sure
4NT shows the three unbid suits, so
I can't bid that. However, I think this
hand is a bit strong to bid just 4♥,
although partner is a passed hand.
There's a risk of missing slam here
with all of this playing strength. I could
go very aggressive with 5NT - hopefully partner doesn't bid 6♠ - or just
bid 5♥. At IMPs I know it's not wise to
just randomly guess, but I'll just settle
for 5♥."
◾

MAY TOP ONLINE SCORES
(754 players)
Rick Prouser, Portland OR
Pierre Daigneault, Montreal QC
J.J. Gass, London, England
Finn Kolesnik, Ventura CA
John Bryden, Surrey BC
Valentin Enache, Bloomfield Hills MI
Sherman Gao, Brea CA
Martin E. Henneberger, Coquitlam BC
James Hudson, Chicago IL
Sean McNally, Minneapolis MN
Maria C. Pendergast, West Hollywood CA
Richard Rosenthal, Bedford Hills NY
David Shepler, Knoxville TN
Bob Simkins, Decatur GA
Peter Stein, Hillsborough NJ
Brad Theurer, Gaithersburg MD
Adrian Barna, Etobicoke ON
Michael Dimich, Burnaby BC
Christopher Donnelly, Belmont MA
Kayden Ge, Cupertino CA
Jason Liao, Madisonville KY
Yu-Keng Shih, Redwood City CA
Elliot Sternlicht, New York NY
Robert Winkler, Baden, Austria
Dayou Zhou, San Diego CA

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July 2020 Bridge Bulletin

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July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2020