October 2021 - 45

clubs, I might try 5', but he could
have something like:
K Q x x x kA x x x lx x 'J x. "
" Passing never works here for me, "
Rigal schemes, finding a way to pin
some of the blame on partner if it
doesn't go well. " I guess if I bid 4l and
convert 4k to 5' or pass 4, we will
end up in an almost sensible spot. "
" A very tough problem, " says Meckstroth,
who shoulders partner's load
with 4. " I'm sure this won't be a
popular answer. "
5. Costume party
IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
Q J 3 k9 7 4 3 lA K J 5 '7 5
West North East
South
1 Pass
Pass 2' 2k ?
Call
Pass
3'
2
Dbl
2NT
Votes
4
4
4
2
1
Award
100
100
90
80
50
Scorer Walker was swayed by the
conservative bias of the panelists
(Pass and 3') to break the tie between
the top-ranked calls.
Pass, grumbles Grossack. " Unhappily,
yet still I pass. Double is an idea.
I just hate to have no help in clubs and
such slow values in the majors. I don't
want to punish partner for balancing,
and I think our chances for game are
slim (but not impossible) if partner
cannot take another
call. "
" Pass, " by Molson.
" Hard hands
this month. I have
points but nothing
to bid. "
Meyers passes.
" I have nowhere
to go. "
Sanborn passes.
" I don't see an
alternative. "
Lawrence suggests
3'. " Looks
like 3' or pass. Other bids are grungy.
I suspect that pass will end the
bidding. 3' keeps the auction going.
Might nudge East-West to bid one
more time. "
3' is Robinson's call. " I don't want
to defend 2k, so 3' is the best way to
accomplish that. "
Lee bids 3'. " I think 2 overstates
my hand and pass leaves me with no
clue what to do if partner competes
to 3'. "
Colchamiro feels compelled to do
something. " 3'. I've got too many
hearts to expect partner to pass and
too many spades for him to double
if West preferences to 2. I know
I'm short a club - but red vs. white at
IMPs, partner should have a suit -
and a little heavy on values, but I'll be
able to handle anything he continues
with, including pass.
Meckstroth advances with 2.
" I need to show my values; no heart
stopper for notrump. "
Korbel tries 2. " I'm short a club,
but this is the best way I know to get
my strength across. "
2 by Weinstein. " 2NT is the value
bid, but if we play notrump, I really
want to play it from partner's side.
I'm pretending the '7 is an honor. If
I had thought of it in tempo, I might
have passed, 'cause that might well be
right. "
Donn also uses 2 to investigate
a possible notrump game. " I wish I
had better club support, but double
sounds too much like going for penalties
and nothing else makes sense
to me. "
Au contraire ... double, says
Cohen: " Cards. No low-level
penalty doubles. "
Boehm tosses out a double. " I
don't much believe in these DSI
doubles, but they seem to score
well in IYC. "
2NT by Rigal, " closing my eyes
and guessing. This time I'm not
even going to say I expect to end
up in a sensible spot. "
Jill Meyers
October 2021 | Bridge Bulletin |
45
IT'S
YOUR
CALL
August Top Online
Scores. See page 76.
NEXT MONTH'S PROBLEMS
It's Your Call uses the Bridge Bulletin
Standard system. Enter the MyACBL
member portal at acbl.org and click on
It's Your Call on the left-hand menu.
You'll find a link to the system notes at
the top of the page.
1. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
- kK J 5 lK 10 9 7 6 5 'A 9 7 2
West North East
South
1 Pass
3NT(1) ?
(1) 9-11, four-plus spades and any
singleton
2. Matchpoints. North-South
vulnerable.
A k9 8 2 lJ 8 7 4 'A J 10 9 6
West North East
South
1l 1 2l ?
3. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
K Q 6 5 4 k10 4 2 lK 7 3 'K 4
West North East
Pass
Pass 2k Pass
South
Pass
?
4. Matchpoints. East-West
vulnerable.
Q 10 4 3 2 kA 6 lK Q 8 '5 3 2
West North East
1k Pass
Pass 2l Pass
South
1
?
5. Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
J 10 4 kK J 10 5 lA '10 8 7 4 2
West North East
South
1 2l ?
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October 2021

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