August 2022 - 42

Call
2
Dbl
2l
Pass
Votes
11
2
1
Award
100
70
70
50
" I can't do everything here, " Lawrence
admits. " 2. If partner does
not like spades, I can raise diamonds.
If I double and partner bids hearts,
we could be in a seven-card fit when
we have nine spades. Or eight. Worse,
if I double, partner might lead something. "
Cohen
says he, too, is afraid to
make a responsive double. " Partner
could easily leave it in. " So he bids
2. " 620 in spades is where the
money is, so let me get the spades in;
I can raise diamonds later if there is
a later. "
" 6-4, bid some more, " Rigal chatters
as he slides the 2 card onto the
table. " Well, as the Mad Hatter might
say, you can't bid less. Anyone who
doubles is abnegating responsibility
and grievously misdescribing their
hand. Nothing personal, Mr. X. [That
would be Messrs. Meckstroth and
Weinstein.] "
2 by Meyers. " I have six spades, I
am bidding them. If the opps bid 3', I
can bid 3l. "
" Hate it, but I bid 2, " Molson mutters.
" I have a two-card discrepancy.
I could double, but if partner is 2-3 in
the majors, how do I explain this? "
Donn doesn't pass up the opportunity
to lay claim to the master suit.
" 2. I can compete to 3l over 3' on
my own, but I might as well check for
a spade fit on the way. "
2 by Robinson. " I can support
diamonds later. If I double, I'd hate for
it to go all pass. "
" I wish I had more, " complains
Colchamiro as he calls 2. " With the
three-card diamond support, six-bagger
and the void, this hand screams
offense. "
Korbel, 2. " I don't want to give
42 | Bridge Bulletin | August 2022
partner a chance to pass a double. I
also want to show my six spades. "
Boehm: " 2. Double is too apt to
be left in and it conceals the six-card
major. If the opponents compete in
clubs, I can back in with diamonds. "
" Very hard problem, " Grossack
grouses, even as he finds himself in
the company of the majority of 2
bidders. " I don't really have enough
for anything but a 2l raise, but red at
IMPs, I feel that is simply not enough.
My other choice is double, but I fear
that will cause too many issues later
in recovering the spade fit, and even
scarier, partner relying on me for
some defense and going after 2'
doubled. 2 will almost certainly
bury the potential heart fit, but I feel
it is the most practical call with this
hand. "
Weinstein chances the double.
" Maybe I should bid 2, but I can't
quite bring myself to. I really hope
partner doesn't pass. "
Double by Meckstroth. " I will start
by advertising the majors and support
diamonds if partner doesn't bid
one. "
Sanborn offers a simple raise. " 2l.
I just can't risk a responsive double
with minus defense. And if I double
here, I can't bid 3l later with this
poor a hand. "
4. Caught red-handed
IMPs. None vulnerable.
- kA 6 5 4 3 lQ 10 9 8 6 5 4 '9
West North East
South
1' 4 ?
Call
5l
4NT
Pass
Dbl
Votes
8
6
Award
100
90
50
30
Look at all those red cards!
Lawrence: " 5l. A guess, which is
true of almost anything. "
" I can't think of anything cleverer
than bidding the seven-card suit, "
says Donn. " Trying to get hearts
into the picture seems more likely to
reach the wrong fit. "
" Close your eyes - you are only
young once, " Rigal prefaces 5l. " So
many things could go wrong whatever
I decide to do. "
" Ghastly! " cries Boehm. " Imagine
partner's hand being almost as black
as my hand is red. At least my void is
in the opponent's suit. "
Grossack, 5l. " My first instinct
is 4NT, followed by 5l to show the
red suits. This hand, however, really
screams diamonds. I don't want
partner correcting with three hearts
and two diamonds under any circumstance.
Also, if West bids 5, partner
will have a much better idea of what
to do over 5l rather than 4NT, as
4NT could be any two suits. "
5l by Meckstroth. " I don't want to
show two suits with 7-5. I prefer to
play it in my long suit; I am worried
about playing in hearts when partner
has three of them and fewer diamonds. "
Meyers,
same philosophy. " 5l. It
is tempting to bid 4NT and correct
5' to 5l, but partner is never going
to play me for 5-7 and I would rather
play the 7-1 than the 5-3. "
5l bids Korbel: " I have no idea
and I doubt anybody else does either.
Would be nice if 4NT was for takeout. "
Most
of the panelists agree that
4NT is for takeout.
" 4NT, takeout after a minor-suit
opening in most partnerships, " says
Sanborn. " Clearly I will pull clubs to
diamonds. "
Molson, likewise. " 4NT and correct
clubs to diamonds. "
4NT is Colchamiro's call. " I presume
this is for takeout, whereas
1 major-(4 minor)-4NT would be
Roman key card Blackwood. "
Cohen says his 4NT takeout - planning
to correct clubs to diamonds
August 2022

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