September 2022 - 45

Call
3
4k
4l
5l
3NT
Pass
Votes
6
3
2
1
1
Award
100
80
70
60
50
30
Donn bids 3. " I need partner's
help to choose the best strain, so I
will bid the only suit we both know
can't be natural. "
Korbel, 3 with a caveat. " I object
to the 2NT call. What was wrong
with a simple 3l? Now I'll try 3, as
I don't like my spade stopper for 3NT.
Not sure how partner will be able to
evaluate, though. "
Cohen punts the decision back to
partner with 3. " This isn't a control
or slammish; I already limited my
hand. If partner has a singleton honor
in spades, he can bid 3NT and I will
be content. If he bids 4k likely showing
good hearts - like kK J x - I will
play there. Otherwise, we are likely
playing in 5l. "
Rigal's 3 expresses doubt. " Bidding
3NT could be absurd with 5l
cold opposite:
x kK x x lK Q 10 x x 'A K x x.
I'd expect partner not to bid 3NT
unless he has a spade card. "
Meckstroth, 3: " This bid should
say I am not sure what strain I want to
play in. That is exactly the case here.
Will abide with partner's decision. "
Molson also uses 3 to offer partner
a choice of games. " No idea which
one to bid, so I will see what partner
thinks. "
Colchamiro bids 4k. " My previous
2NT was barely adequate on this
quackery, but I think 3k is forcing.
4k offers more chances than 3NT. "
Meyers opts for the Moysian. " 4k. I
am not bidding 3NT because partner
should have short spades and I
can't count eight other tricks without
letting them in. This assumes they're
leading a spade. We might make 5l,
but 10 tricks are easier than 11, and
the spade ruffs would be in the short
heart hand. "
Sanborn bids the heart game. " This
prepared auction shows extra values,
but my Q J x is somewhat wasted.
That said, they might make control
a bit easier in the 4-3 fit. It is a trick
lower. I'm picturing:
x kK x x lA K x x x 'K Q x x
or the like. With less, partner might
have raised to 2k on the previous
round. "
Good partners show support when
they have it (see Korbel's comment)
and at IMPs, even the minor suits
have value.
Weinstein, 4l. " It's tempting to bid
3 and keep 3NT in play, but I really
want to let partner know I have a
fourth diamond. "
Robinson bids 4l. " My hand has
gone from a bad 11 to a very bad 8. I
don't know why I didn't bid 3l over
2' because I have four-card diamond
support. "
After penciling out possible hands
for partner, Lawrence lands on 3NT.
" I suppose:
2 kK 7 4 lA K 9 6 3 'K 7 6 5
is a possible hand for North. But I'd
guess he has a little more. 3NT seems
likely to depend on the diamond suit
coming home. 5l, however, won't be
gin, either. I think North actually has
more than that. With that hand, I'd
raise to 2k, not bothering with clubs.
Partner's 3k is forcing.
2 kK J 4 lA K 9 6 3 'A 7 6 5
is closer to my idea of partner's bidding
and 3NT is still a sane choice. If
partner has:
2 kK J 4 lA K Q 6 3 'A 8 7 4,
all games make and slam fails. Finally,
there are the cases where 4k is the
winner. I don't see how to determine
that. Frustrating hand. Put me down
for 3NT. "
Boehm belatedly shows the diamond
support Korbel felt was missing.
" 5l. Partner has shown 1-3-5-4
or maybe 0-3-6-4 and about 16-17
points. Can hardly bid less. "
3. Headhunters!
IMPs. Both vulnerable.
4 kQ J 8 4 lA Q 7 3 'A Q 9 4
West North East
South
Pass Pass
1k 1 Dbl (1)
PANEL'S ANSWERS FOR AUGUST PROBLEMS
1
2
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Daniel Korbel
Mike Lawrence
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Janice Molson
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Steve Weinstein
4NT
3
6 5l Redbl
3 Pass
6 4k 1NT
5k 3 Pass
3 Pass
3NT
5l 3NT
6 3 Pass
4NT
4NT
5NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4k Pass
3 Pass
3 Pass
4l Pass
4k Redbl
4l Pass
1' Pass
?
(1) Three-card heart support

4
5
Total
3k 3' 370
2' 2NT
490
4NT
2' 3' 370
2' 2NT
3k 2NT
3k Pass
2' 2NT
2' 2NT
3k 2NT
2' 2NT
3k 2NT
450
500
320
460
470
500
450
470
3k 3' 420
3k 3' 440
September 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
45
September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022
