January 2022 - 43

dummy. But 2l has the advantage
that I can be one of the 12 or so people
who say, 'If I can just survive this
round ...' "
2l by Cohen. " As a famous expert
used to say, 'If I could just get past
this round of bidding ...' I will bid
hearts if I get a next turn, and will
have somewhat described my impossible-to-describe
hand. "
Molson, 2l: " Hope I don't play it
here, but if I survive, I will be very
well placed. "
Meckstroth joins the 2l voters.
" Hopefully partner can scrape up
another bid. I will bid game over a 2k
preference. "
Meyers bids a logical 2l. " No reason
not to show my second suit. "
2l by Weinstein. " Feelin' good
about this one. "
Grossack bids 2l, though he was
quite torn between 2l and 3k. " 3k
is a good problem-solver bid that I
would make with many partners, but
at the end of the day, it's best practice
to try to show as much of your shape
as possible. I'll probably raise to 4k if
partner preferences back to 2k over
2l. "
" 3k does not show this hand, nor
does 3l, " asserts Lawrence. " 2l
leaves me well positioned if partner
bids almost anything. If he passes, he
will table:
K J 8 7 4 k4 lQ 8 5 'Q 5 4 3. "
Robinson leaps to an invitational
3k. " This hand probably belongs in
hearts, not diamonds, so I don't want
to confuse things by introducing diamonds.
If I could bar partner, I'd jump
to 4k. All 4k needs is:
x x x x x kx x lA 8 x 'x x x.
If I jumped to 4k, however, and partner
has an opening bid, we could get
too high. "
Sanborn bids an antsy 3k. " If partner
would promise to bid over 2l, life
would be easier. Perhaps this is a case
for Gazzilli? " [Gazzilli is a convention
that accommodates 1M-1NT or
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Mike Lawrence
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Janice Molson
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Steve Weinstein
1k-1 auctions where the major-suit
opener is too strong for a minimum
rebid but not strong enough to reverse
or make a game-forcing jumpshift.]
Colchamiro's 3k. " The k9 sways
me. "
Korbel jumpshifts to 3l. " I think
I'll overbid slightly to ensure we don't
miss a game. "
Boehm makes the leap, too. " 3l. A
slight stretch, but I can't stomach the
thought of playing in 2l. "
3. With So Little To Be Sure Of
IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
A Q 5 k9 8 7 5 3 lA K Q 4 '9
West North East
South
1l 3' ?
Call
3k
Dbl
4'
Votes
7
6
1
Award
100
90
70
3k is Donn's call. " I can see why
someone would want to double or
immediately raise diamonds, but a
5-3 heart fit might still be our best
game. "
Sanborn: " 3k. Ugly, right? But it
will be good to hear partner's support
or not. Obviously we would rather
hear not. "
PANEL'S ANSWERS
1
2
6' 3l
6l 2l
6' 3k
6l 2l
6l 2l
6' 3l
2l
2l
3
6NT
6NT
6' 2l
6' 2l
6l 2l
6' 3k
6l 3k
6l 2l
Dbl
3k
Dbl
3k
Dbl
3k
Dbl
3k
Dbl
Dbl
3k
3k
3k
4'
4
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
5
4k
Pass
3NT
Pass
4 3NT
Dbl
Dbl
4
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
Dbl
4
Pass
3NT
4k
4k
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
4k
Total
440
500
440
500
430
470
430
420
470
490
500
480
480
420
January 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
43
Cohen bids 3k. " How else will we
reach a 5-3 heart fit opposite something
normal like:
K J x x kA x x lJ x x x 'A x? "
Rigal queries: " A 3k call might
see partner bid 3, and then what?
If I double, could I blame partner for
passing with, e.g.,
K x x kA lJ 10 x x x 'A J x x?
Still, partner may have a different
sort of problem and think it is right to
raise hearts with a doubleton honor.
Oops. I'll bid 3k and tough it out. "
3k by Robinson. " I can't drive this
hand in diamonds because opener
could have:
K J x x kA K Q x lx x x 'x x.
The possible problem would be if
opener has to raise 3k to 4k on a
doubleton, but that would be unlikely.
If he raises hearts, he'll have at least
three of them. When the opponents
preempt, you have more problems,
which is why one should preempt
more often. "
Meckstroth likes 3k. " Can't give up
on a heart fit, can't commit to diamonds. "
Korbel
votes for 3k and adds, " I
could get behind a negative double
with hearts this weak. "

January 2022

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