September 2022 - 44

IT'S
Boehm, too, worries that 4NT
YOUR
CALL
1. Playing catchup
Matchpoints. Both vulnerable.
K 9 kA Q 10 7 lA 'K 10 9 8 7 6
West North East
South
1'
Pass
Pass 3k Pass
Pass 4 Pass
Call
4NT
6
5l
5k
5NT
Pass
6NT
Votes
7
3
1
1
1
1 2k Pass
3NT
?
Award
100
70
60
60
60
30
20
4NT by [trumpet fanfare] new
ACBL Bridge Hall of Famer Larry Cohen:
" I severely underbid last round.
Now I am driving to slam, but trying
to find a way to reach seven opposite,
say, A Q J 10 x x x and the 'A -
which is quite possible. Hopefully my
partner takes this as Roman key card
Blackwood in spades; I really can't
overrule him and bid 4NT naturally
here. "
Robinson bids 4NT. " Because he
could have jumped to 4 over 2k,
partner has shown a slam try in
spades. I'll key card and play in five,
44 | Bridge Bulletin | September 2022
DIRECTOR: SUE MUNDAY
SCORES: KAREN WALKER
might be ambiguous. " 6. It would be
nice to ask for key cards, but partner
might construe 4NT as a natural
retreat - a stiff spade and double
stoppers everywhere. 5l might help
the opponents with the lead. "
By a rather large margin, 5l was
This month's problems come from
bidding polls posted on Bridge Winners
earlier this year: No. 1 by Mark
Jones on June 7; No. 2 by Karen Walker
on June 2; No. 3 by Reyk Schaefer on
May 31; No. 4 by Bill Segraves on May
30; No. 5 by Eric Leong on Jan. 14.
six or seven spades, depending on his
response. If he bids 5 showing two
keys and the queen, I'll bid 7. "
4NT by Korbel. " I have a huge hand
and I will force this to slam. I think
4NT has to be Blackwood, as I don't
think I can ever run from 4 on this
sequence. "
Meyers launches key card. " Partner
has shown a good hand with long
spades. We could have a grand if
partner shows two key cards and the
spade queen. "
4NT key card, announces Molson.
" Partner made a slam try. I'm all in. "
Sanborn bids 4NT. " I can't imagine
this to be auction-correcting, so, ergo,
key card. I have a proverbial moose
here. Question is between 6 or 7. "
" This is an amazing hand, " notes
Weinstein, who bids 4NT. " Partner
made a slam try in spades, so this has
to be Blackwood. If partner is on a
different page and passes ... I will take
a cigarette break. A long one. "
6 by Meckstroth, with some
misgivings. " I am a bit worried that
we might belong in seven, but I really
don't think there is an intelligent way
to get there. Notrump might also be
where we belong, but the possibility
of ruffing diamonds or needing a ruff
to establish clubs is too high. "
Colchamiro brushes aside other
possible calls to go right to 6.
" Partner didn't bid 4 over 2k, so
he's showing slam interest. If partner
is interested, so am I. Bids like 5k or
5l don't figure to be illuminating in
the end, and I'm not about to try 4NT
Roman key card Blackwood(?) after
my previous 3NT. "
the favorite in the Bridge Winners
poll. Here, Lawrence is the only panelist
who found that call. " North has
shown six spades and a great hand.
Because I did not raise spades earlier,
I have a maximum holding. Hence:
(1) This is an easy problem. 4NT, if it
asks for key cards; (2) This is not an
easy problem because 4NT would be
a signoff. So far, I have not shown a
good hand, and I have a great hand.
Because I believe 4NT is signoff, I
best not do that. 5l feels right. If
North has a void in hearts, he will
be more interested in my diamond
holding. My next bid will be harder.
Don't ask. Not sure 3NT was the best
choice on the previous round. "
Donn tries 5k. " I think 4NT should
be Blackwood, but I would hate to
bid it, then learn partner is not on
the same page. If partner can show
me the 'A, I will be very happy to
bid 7. If partner bids 5, I will try
again with 6l, and partner should
have a very clear idea what I'm looking
for. "
5NT by Rigal. " Partner has made a
slam try and I have some extras. Note
partner had a 4k jump over 2k. Not
sure if that sets spades or clubs. As it
is, though, I think I can drive to slam.
But looking for a grand slam looks
excessive. Maybe 6 is excessive (or
lazy), but if I convert partner's response
to 6, that feels about right. "
2. Groping for a game
IMPs. East-West vulnerable.
Q J 8 kA Q 8 3 lJ 7 5 4 'J 2
West North East
1l Pass
Pass 2' Pass
Pass 3k Pass
South
1k
2NT
?
September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022
