November 2020 - 34

prefer responder take control, as opener can show the majority of the hand's
assets with key card responses. Thus,
opener cuebids in hearts (implying a
club control as well, or else he would
sign off in 4♠). Responder finds all the
key cards and the ♣K, but can't quite
count 13 tricks. Most of opener's assets
are accounted for given the limited 3♠
bid, so responder settles for the small
slam, though a 6♥ counter-try is possible, over which opener would likely
accept with the helpful trump fillers,
club length and doubleton heart.
Scores: 7♠ 11; 6♠ 8; 5♠ 5; 6NT 4;
4NT 2; 7NT 1
Freeman-Zhao 13, Zhu-Dong 16

Problem 4

West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
♠AQ4
♥ K Q 10 8 5 3
♦K3
♣85

East
♠865
♥4
♦75
♣AK97632

Freeman
1♥
2♥

Zhao
1NT
Pass

A common start left the first decision up to responder. 3♣ would have
shown roughly 8-11 and was strongly
considered, but responder chose to
keep the contract low in the higherscoring strain by passing.
Zhu
1♥
2♥
3NT

Dong
1NT
3♣
Pass

A routine start over which responder
introduced the club suit. While they
had not discussed the "impossible 2♠"
rebid here, East-West do play 3♣ as
constructive but not forcing. Opener
took a rosy view and reached for the
brass ring with 3NT. Both thought they
each might have passed at their previous turns.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1♥-1NT;
2♥-3♣; Pass. Readers may be familiar
with the "impossible 2♠" rebid after

34 Bridge Bulletin November 2020

1♥-1NT; 2 minor to show a strong
raise for opener's minor, but applying it
as well when opener rebids hearts is a
handy extension of the principle. Pairs
that use 1 major-3♣ as other than
a natural invitation will have a wide
range for a 3♣ bid here, and the 2♠
call can help to separate the lower and
higher ranges. Other distinctions can
be used at the individual pairs' discretion, and what's more, it's a bid that is
rarely used otherwise. BBS does not
have that tool available, so responder,
with a hand that is far more promising with clubs as trump, shows the
club suit and hopes for the best. With
a maximum, but lacking club help,
opener is content to pass.
Scores: 3♣ 10; 2♥ 7; 4♣, 3NT W(5);
2NT 4 ; 3NT(E) 3; 3♥ 2; 5♣ 1
Freeman-Zhao 20, Zhu-Dong 19

Problem 5

North deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
♠Q
♥A85
♦J63
♣ A 10 9 8 7 2

East
♠J9765
♥Q764
♦AK
♣K5

Freeman

Zhao
1♠
2♥
Pass

1NT
2NT

A mostly natural auction with
responder selecting a 2NT rebid to
narrow the strength of the hand and to
make it more attractive for opener to
show a sixth spade or fifth heart.
Zhu
2♠
3♦
3NT

Dong
1NT
3♣
3♠
Pass

With almost all his assets in the
minors, Dong started with an 11-14
1NT. 2♠ showed a balanced invitation
or clubs. 3♣ showed a maximum. 3♦
asked for a five-card major. Responder
instead considered bidding 3♠ instead
here which would show a club suit and

spade shortness, but a stronger hand
would be expected. When opener admitted to holding five spades with 3♠,
that concern was alleviated and Zhu
tried 3NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction: As Freeman-Zhao. The 2♥ rebid has a wide
range, so responder certainly must
take another call. 3♣ suffers from the
same issues as in Problem 4, a wide
range. 2NT has the advantage of a
narrower target, and opener is more
easily able to show a fifth heart or a
sixth spade, or even bid a minor when
three-suited.
Scores: 3♣ 10; 2♥ 7; 3NT(W), 4♣ 5;
2NT 4; 3NT(E) 3; 3♥ 2; 5♣ 1
Freeman-Zhao 27, Zhu-Dong 22

Problem 6

East deals. E-W vulnerable.
North bids 2♠ if possible.
West
♠5
♥KQ954
♦J
♣ J 10 8 6 3 2

East
♠A3
♥ A 10 6
♦ A K Q 10 9 4 3
♣K

Freeman North
2♦
3♥
4♣
5♣
6♥

(2♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

Zhao
2♣
3♦
3♠
4NT
5♦

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

Zhao deemed the East hand worthy
of a 2♣ opening, over which 2♦ was
waiting, though Freeman considered
an immediate 2♥. 3♦ and 3♥ were
natural. 3♠ was ambiguous, but both
felt when followed by 4NT it was an
advanced cuebid in support of hearts.
5♣ showed one key card, and responder showed the ♥Q but no kings over
the 5♦ queen-ask.
Zhu

North

1♥
4♥
5♣
6♥

(2♠)
(Pass)
(Pass)
All Pass

Dong
1♦
Dbl
4NT
5♦

South
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
(Pass)
November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2020
