September 2022 - 46

Call
Pass
Redbl
1NT
3NT
2NT
Votes
9
2
1
1
Award
100
70
60
50
50
Meckstroth passes. " It is common
to play redouble shows exactly
two spades and values. So with a
hand like this, you pass and then
double to show strength with short
spades. "
A mischievous pass by Korbel.
" Let's see if they can get in trouble. "
Robinson passes. " They figure to
run from 1 doubled, and I will then
double whatever they run to. "
Weinstein passes. " Redouble would
show a doubleton spade and a good
hand. Pretty sure I'm supposed to
double whatever they bid next. "
Pass by Rigal. " I think I'd like to
find out more before taking action.
I could redouble to go headhunting,
but I think I put the opponents under
more pressure if I force West to take
action rather than redoubling and
letting West pass. "
Molson:
" Pass, then
double. Not
sure what
redouble then
double is, vs.
pass and double,
but I want a
penalty. "
Donn passes.
Janice Molson
" Pass, then
double on the
next round,
shows strength with spade shortness.
This hand is ideal for that auction. "
Pass by Cohen. " With a misfit and a
passed-hand partner, I don't think we
have a game. My best bet is to defend
and collect 100s. Bidding 1NT lets
them off the hook, and who cares if I
get 90 when I might get 200 or more
by passing? As to redouble, most experts
use that as honor-showing, not
cards/extras. "
46 | Bridge Bulletin | September 2022
Meyers passes, " and I will double
whatever they bid next. "
Redouble by Sanborn. " I normally
use this to show a doubleton with
8-10 points, but with both of us being
passed hands, that would be silly.
When I later bid notrump, partner
will realize that I have not cuebid, so
should try a second suit if they have
one. I can't imagine it going all pass to
redouble and if so, we could make it. "
Boehm redoubles. " Headhunting;
partner, stay out of the way. "
Colchamiro bids 1NT. " Other
choices - pass or more notrump
- seem too extreme when partner
appears to have a minimum. "
" 3NT, no science here, " says
Lawrence. " I expect North to have a
decent 9-count. Hope it fits. And we
are vulnerable. "
4. Gadgets galore
IMPs. Both vulnerable.
J 10 8 5 4 kK 10 7 6 5 4 l7 '3
West North East
1NT
Call
3k
2'
2l
4l
3
2k
Pass
Votes
7
6
South
?
Award
100
90
50
40
40
20
Your toolkit over partner's 1NT
opening offers tons of major-suit-oriented
gadgets: Stayman; Jacoby and
Texas transfers; Smolen; a jump to
3k to show 5-5 in the majors with invitational
values; and 3 to show 5-5
in the majors, game forcing.
3k by Lawrence. " If partner has
no minor-suit aces, he will need good
majors to bid game. My 6-5 shape
makes this 4-count worth a game try. "
Weinstein, 3k. " Partner can also
see we're vulnerable at IMPs. "
Robinson invokes " six-five, come
alive " as he invites with 3k. " I can
invite game and still play at the three
level if partner has a misfitting hand.
Partner will know that his minor-suit
kings, queens and jacks are not very
valuable. "
Korbel calls the 3k invitation
clear-cut. " If partner has some disaster
hand like:
A x x kx x lK Q x x 'A Q x x,
why should I force to game? He will
like a good fit and prime cards. "
Sanborn: " 3k. The extra length
makes up for a lack of high cards. "
3k by Molson. " It might be right to
use Stayman if partner has a fourcard
major, over which I'd bid game.
But over 2l, I'm stuck bidding 2k
and I hate that. "
" 3k seems right on target, " says
Boehm.
Donn bids 2'. " I have to object to
this system very strongly. Playing
3k and 3 to show invitational and
forcing with the majors is wasting
both bids. You can just transfer to one
and bid the other. My plan here is to
raise whatever major partner bids to
game. " [And if partner doesn't have a
four-card major?]
Cohen, 2': " If partner bids 2M, I
will gladly raise to game. If partner
bids 2l, I will have to decide if I wish
to be ambitious. "
Some have already decided, like
Meyers. " 2'. And over 2l, I'm bidding
4l delayed Texas. "
2' by Meckstroth. " Will look for a
major and if I don't find it, I will park
it in 4k via delayed Texas. "
Colchamiro initiates proceedings
with 2'. " Here's my planned auction:
1NT-2'; 2l-3; 3NT-4k. " Partner
will correctly believe that 3 shows
four spades and five hearts [Smolen],
but when I follow up with 4k, 5-6
should be apparent because with
4-6, I would have charted a different
course: 1NT-2'; 2l-4l. "
Rigal starts with 2'. " Stayman,
planning not to drive to game unless I
find a fit, but to play 2M if I don't. "
September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022
