September 2021 - 37

Bridge Bulletin auction: 1l-1;
3-4; Pass. It would be hard to
fault a pair for bidding this way, even
though they would get too high this
time. It is the wasted club values opposite
the shortness on this combination
that prevents game from being a
good contract.
Scores: 2 11; 3 9; 4 4; 1NT 3
Ges 9, Malazdrewiczes 11
Problem 2
East deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
East
 A 5
k 10 9 8 5 4
l 9 4 2
' A K 10
Brandon
1NT
4NT
5k
6NT
 K Q J 9 8 7 4
k A 3
l A 10 8
' 2
Xin
1
4
5l
6
Pass
The 1NT response was semiforcing.
Xin decided to rebid 4
because he would have rebid 3 on
the same hand with one less spade.
Brandon had a close decision over
4. He liked his three sure tricks,
feeling it was enough to move toward
slam via key card Blackwood. Xin
responded 5l showing zero or three
key cards (clearly three due to his
earlier bidding). Brandon checked
on the trump queen via 5k, and Xin
showed that card by jumping to slam.
Brandon decided to go for the higher
matchpoint score in 6NT. He judged
well that notrump would play equally
as well as spades, but unfortunately
there were only 11 tricks to be taken
in either strain.
Gerardo
1NT
Pass
Trisha
1
4
Scores: 5NT 12; 5 9; 6, 6NT 1
Ges 10, Malazdrewiczes 20
Problem 3
South deals. E-W vulnerable.
South opens 2.
West
 6
East
 J 9
k K Q 2
l A K Q 10 4
' K 6 3 2
k 8 7 5
l 9 8 5
' A Q 9 8 4
Brandon North Xin
Dbl
South
(2)
(Pass) 3' (Pass)
3 (Pass) 4' (Pass)
5' All Pass
Our father-son combo had a nice
auction to the best contract. Brandon
doubled 2 for takeout with his
extra-value hand. Xin bid 3', promising
about 7-10 points; with less they
bid 2NT first, the lebensohl convention.
Brandon cuebid spades, perhaps
hoping his partner could bid 3NT. But
with nothing in spades and no other
suit to bid, Xin rebid his clubs. Brandon
raised to game, judging exactly
right.
Gerardo North Trisha South
(2)
3l All Pass
This problem hinges on West's
Brandon
1'
2k
5'
Pass
Brandon opened his longer suit,
following a sound policy of bidding
the suits in the most natural order on
a good hand. Xin responded 1, and
Brandon reversed into hearts, showing
longer clubs. 3' by Xin showed
support and was forcing. Brandon
jumped to 5' to emphasize the
minimum nature of his hand, having
justified a light reverse due to his
excellent distribution. But Xin was
not to be denied, and bumped the
contract into slam.
Gerardo
1'
2k
3k
4
5NT
Pass
Trisha
1
3'
4l
4NT
6'
»
September 2021 | Bridge Bulletin |
37
Xin
1
3'
6'
The Canadians had the same start
to the auction, and the same close
decision over 4. Gerardo decided
to pass, saying he thought bidding
on would be " a shot in the dark. " His
judgment was rewarded when game
turned out to be the limit of the hand.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-1NT;
3-4; Pass. 3 by opener might
be enough of a rebid; if partner passes
that, then game is unlikely to make.
Getting to 3NT here is just too difficult.
decision
of how to enter the auction
over the preempt. Gerardo decided to
overcall his excellent diamond suit,
not wanting to double with just three
hearts. Although this pair has a sound
overcall style in this situation, Trisha
just couldn't find a bid, and there they
rested.
Bridge Bulletin auction: As the Ges.
Scores: 5' 11; 5l 8; 4' 5; 4l 3
Ges 21, Malazdrewiczes 23
Problem 4
West deals. Both vulnerable.
West
 -
East
k A K 9 6 4
l 5 2
' K Q 9 6 5 2
 9 6 5 4 3
k Q
l A K 9
' A 8 4 3
September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2021
