August 2020 - 33

Dunitz
2♣
3♣
3NT

Baqai
1♠
2NT
3♠
Pass

Though playing a light opening style,
responder made the practical decision
to force to game with prime cards and
a fitting spade honor. 2♣ was, again,
artificial, asking for shape information,
over which opener showed 5=(3-3-2)
shape via 2NT, and a heart doubleton
with the 3♠ response. Dunitz was prepared to play 4♠ opposite a doubleton
club, but 3NT was the choice here. The
mesh was not ideal, but one that would
fare better at the table than in a bidding
contest.
Merblum
1♦
1NT
2♦
3♠
Pass

Lee
Pass
1♠
2♣
2♠
4♠

The East hand didn't meet East-
West's opening standards, so Lee
passed as dealer. There was a subsequent mixup here though, because
responder's 2♣-2♦; 2♠ sequence
systemically showed an unbalanced
spade invitation. With 5-3-3-2 shape,
responder bids 2NT over 2♦; opener
can then show three-card support
when accepting. With prime values,
Merblum liked his hand, though he
admitted 3♥ would have been a more
descriptive choice over 2♠: That bid
would have shown values in that suit,
as game has better chances when
responder has minor-suit shortness.
Expecting three-card support, and
with help in opener's minor, responder
carried on to game. Had Lee bid 2NT
instead of 2♠, opener admitted he'd
likely have raised to 3NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction: Pass-1♦;
1♠-1NT; 2♣-2♥; 2♠-Pass. The
spade suit is excellent, but with 5-3-
3-2 shape and stray quacks, the East
hand is not quite an opening bid. Over
1NT, responder uses new-minor forc-

ing holding a maximum, as game is still
just possible with the ♦Q now rating
to pull full weight; also, notrump might
not be the best strain. Opener shows
hearts in case responder also has four,
and responder rebids the meaty spade
suit. With a good honor structure, but
no fit facing a passed hand and club
concerns for notrump, opener goes for
the "sure" plus at matchpoints.
Scores: 2♠ 11; 2NT 9; 3♠ 6; 3NT 4;
4♠ 2
Dunitz-Baqai 6; Merblum-Lee 9

Problem 3

South deals. E-W vulnerable.
West
♠AKJ8
♥ A J 10 4
♦532
♣A4

East
♠-
♥852
♦AKJ8764
♣K82

Dunitz
1♣
2NT
3♥
4♣
5♠
7♦

Baqai
2♦
3♦
3♠
4♠
6♣
Pass

1♣ was artificial and forcing, 16-plus
if unbalanced or 17-plus balanced, over
which 2♦ was natural and game forcing. 2NT showed 17-18 balanced. After
responder repeated his diamond suit,
several cuebids followed. Baqai's 6♣
asked for third-round control in that
suit, over which Dunitz bid a trusting
7♦ to reach the top spot.
Merblum
1♦
4NT
Pass

Lee
3♠
6NT

Opener opted to upgrade out of the
pair's 1NT range based on prime cards
and holding both majors, though the
diamond suit was a tad lacking. 3♠
was a game-forcing diamond raise
with spade shortness. Opener could
have checked on key cards with 4♥,
but with poor diamonds, opted to show
18-19 balanced with the 4NT jump.

The pair plays natural follow-ups over
that, but had not discussed how to
show/check for key cards. Rather than
risking a misunderstanding, Lee bid
what he thought they could make.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1NT-
2NT[diamonds]; 3♦-3♠[shortness];
4NT[RKCB]-5♠; 5NT-6♣; 7♦-Pass.
There's a strong argument to upgrade
the West hand for the reasons mentioned above, at least in a bidding
contest, but the diamond suit is just too
woeful to tempt us in Bridge Bulletin
Standard, so 1NT is the choice. 2NT
shows diamonds, and opener encourages with 3♦. 3♠ shows shortness,
over which opener, with his controlrich hand, checks on key cards; although the notrump opener rarely does
so, this hand looks like the exception.
Given opener's "acceptance" of 3♦, responder can expect at least 10 trumps
and thus shows the ♦Q with the 5♠
response. Note that if opener has the
♦Q here, he will know responder has
seven of them for this bid, which can
help to count tricks. Showing the spade
void would preempt this inference,
and because opener surely has the ♠A
on the auction, given the extraordinary 4NT call, is of lesser importance.
Opener confirms all the key cards with
5NT, and when responder shows the
♣K, takes a shot at the grand.
Scores: 7♦ 11; 6NT 8; 6♦ 6; 5NT 4;
5♥, 6♥, 7NT 2; 5♦ 1.
Dunitz-Baqai 17; Merblum-Lee 17

Problem 4

West deals. Both vulnerable.
North overcalls 2♣ (natural) if possible.
West
♠ A K 10 5 4
♥A83
♦KQ
♣Q93
Dunitz
1♣
2♠
3NT

East
♠8
♥ K Q 10 4
♦ J 10 9 6 5 3
♣54

North
Baqai
(2♣)
Dbl
(Pass)
3♦
All Pass

South
(Pass)
(Pass)

August 2020 Bridge Bulletin

August 2020

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