September 2020 - 37

question that has many of the experts
puzzled (and some of them not too
happy). "Was partner's 3NT regressive or extra values? In any event, 4♦
opens up heart possibilities as well as a
diamond slam."
Lawrence continues his grumbling.
"4♦. It would be nice to know what
3NT showed. In any event, 4♦ should
give North reasonable guidance."
4♦ by Donn, who, rather than berating partner, constructively works
to figure out what partner is trying
to say. "I assume 3NT showed extra
values. If we have slam, it rates to be
in diamonds, and my 4♦ paints a nice
picture. I really don't believe partner
has just four diamonds on this auction.
What is his distribution? If, for some
reason, he really does have only four
diamonds, all I can think of is 2=3=4=4
with bad clubs, given their 2♦ response, in which case I still want to get
out of 3NT."
Korbel bids 4♦. "3NT shows extra
values and I have a very suitable hand
for diamonds. 2♦ promising four
here is a misleading statement; the
only distribution remaining with four
diamonds is 2=3=4=4, and with that,
I would hope partner would have responded 2♣. Let's get the ball rolling. I
guess I'll pass 4NT."
Rigal, 4♦: "Yes, we may get too high.
But we can stop in 4NT, which is normally easier to maker than three ..."
Meckstroth doesn't get quite as emotionally invested as some of the other
panelists (that's you, Zachary). "4♦.
The 3NT bid should be extras, so I will
show my fit and try and bid slam."
Meyers, 4♦, "patterning out. I think
it is the perfect description of my
hand."
Colchamiro bids 4♦. "Either partner has 15-17 or no interest in either
major. We could be cold for 6♦ or 7♦
opposite as little as:
♠A ♥K x ♦A J 10 x x x ♣Q 10 x x.
Would be more difficult to continue
with 4♦ at matchpoints, though not
that much more."
Sanborn votes with the majority: 4♦.

"I need not insist on a major and I don't
want a preference to spades. Raising
diamonds works well when partner is
2=2=5=4 or the like. She could also have
a six-card suit. Imagine:
♠x ♥K x x ♦A K x x x x ♣A 10 x.
This hand becomes golden facing support and short clubs."
Lee, 4♦: "I play that partner's 3NT
shows about a balanced 16-17 with
exactly two spades and clubs decently
stopped. Passing 3NT is too big of a position with this shape. I'm going to pass
partner's 4♥ cue. (Maybe I should just
bid 4♥)."
Cohen passes. "The knee-jerk reaction is to pull, but if partner bids this
way, he should know what he is doing. I
expect something like:
♠Q x ♥10 x ♦K J 10 x x ♣A Q J 9.
If we belong elsewhere, partner should
have rebid 2NT. Clubs is the suit where
he likely has the most honors."
Robinson agrees. "Partner jumped to
3NT, so I'll assume he knows what he's
doing. If he wanted further information, he should have bid 2NT, or he has
no idea how to bid."
Grossack also passes. "I'm not sure
what 3NT is, partner, and I don't appreciate it! I think partner is showing a
strong desire to play notrump, perhaps
with chunky clubs and diamonds and
maybe a lack of aces. Perhaps if partner
had a good hand, they would go slowly

Panel's answers
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Mike Lawrence
Roger Lee
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn

1
2♦
2♣
1NT
1NT
1♠
1NT
2♣
1NT
1NT
1♠
1NT
1NT
3♦

2
4♦
Pass
4♦
4♦
Pass
4♦
4♦
4♦
4♦
4♦
4♦
Pass
4♦

with 2NT."
3. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
♠J 2 ♥A K Q 5 2 ♦9 ♣Q J 8 5 3
West

North

East

Dbl
Pass

Redbl
3♣

Pass
Pass

Call
3♥
5♣
4♦
4♣
3♠
4♥
Pass

Votes
8
2
1
0
1
1
0

South
1♥
2♣
?
Award
100
70
70
60
50
50
40

Trending up
Sanborn explains the wave of support for 3♥. "I have shown weakness
by bidding ahead of my partner's
potential double of their runout. That
said, I have a rather constructive hand.
Let's give our best description of where
the high cards are. If I had a weak 6-4
hand, I would have bid 2♥ instead of
2♣."
Cohen: "3♥. Because my 2♣ was
weak, I have too much now to pass
vulnerable at IMPs."
Boehm moves forward with 3♥. "I
have already shown a weak, distributional hand with 2♣. If partner is still
interested, so am I. I would welcome a
heart raise on the doubleton jack."

3
3♥
3♥
5♣
3♥
3♥
5♣
4♦
3♠
3♥
3♥
3♥
4♥
3♥

4
5♥
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
Pass
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT

5
Pass
Dbl
5♥
Dbl
5♣
Pass
4NT
Dbl
Pass
Pass
Pass
5♣
4NT

Total
420
410
440
480
400
470
400
430
460
460
500
390
420

September 2020 Bridge Bulletin

37
September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2020
