September 2022 - 47

5. Running scared
IMPs. None vulnerable.
Donn bids 2NT. " Am I really sup3
kK Q 9 7 3 lJ 10 6 4 3 'A 9
West North East
South
1k
Pass
Pass Dbl
2 Dbl
1NT(1) 2l Pass
Pass
Pass
(1) Forcing one round
Call
2NT
3'
Pass
3l
Votes
8
4
1
Award
100
70
60
60
This auction that started with
such promise sure has gone to hell
in a handbasket. While it may be
tempting to spoonfeed that double to
partner, it's important to remember
that bridge is, above all, a partnership
game, which means that partner's
zero is your zero, too.
" Sorry, partner. " Korbel flees to
2NT. " I'm not about to defend their
nine-card fit with this hand. "
" Was my partner's double of 2l
defensive or extras? " queries Rigal. " I
can't stand to defend here, sorry. 2NT
says I made the first costly mistake,
you make the next, partner. "
" Impossible hand, " Molson gripes.
" I obviously am not passing the double
because they have nine spades. I
guess I bid 2NT. I hate it, but I can't
come up with another answer. "
" Ugh, " groans Cohen. " 2NT. They
have at least nine spades, so I can't
defend. I just want to escape at minus
50 per trick. Partner sure has lots of
clubs, but I don't want to bid them
myself and get him excited. "
Robinson, 2NT. " I don't like defending
a two-level contract when they
have an eight- or probably nine-card
fit. "
2NT by Meyers. " I do not see a good
alternative. "
Meckstroth's 2NT: " I have to pull
this one. Partner couldn't bid 1 over
1k; I can't sit for 2 doubled. "
Pass
?
posed to pass when the opponents have
nine spades? I don't have it in me. "
Sanborn,
3'. " Between
2NT and 3',
I don't want
to play 2NT.
I can almost
see a 3-2-2-6
pattern across
from me.
Just running
Kerri Sanborn
scared. "
" Partner
expects me to
divine his distribution, " says Boehm,
who produces 3'. " He has something
like 3=2=2=6 with high-card values. "
" I know, I know, 3' will get me the
fieriest minus 50 in the history of
IYC, " Colchamiro wrongly predicts,
" but to me, partner doesn't have four
spades, doesn't have three hearts,
and has at most three diamonds. So
partner has at least five clubs and
likely six:
A Q 10 kx x lx x 'K x x x x x.
I don't really expect to go plus, but
2NT figures to be a disaster and they
have nine spades. "
Weinstein retreats to 3'. " The
opponents have nine spades, so I'm
not wild about defending at the two
level, especially with only half the
deck. Assuming partner has at most
three spades, two hearts and two
diamonds, they have at least six clubs.
Harder problem if you play Flannery,
where partner could have four
spades. "
Lonely and stoic, Lawrence stands
his ground. " Pass. I have not shown
values yet and there is no place to
run. Partner has one or two hearts,
and I have a sure entry. I'll take my
chances here. "
IT'S
YOUR
CALL
July Top Online
Scores. See page 82.
SEPTEMBER PROBLEMS
It's Your Call uses the Bridge Bulletin
Standard system. Enter the MyACBL
member portal at acbl.org and click on
It's Your Call on the left-hand menu.
You'll find a link to the system notes at
the top of the page.
1. Matchpoints. East-West vulnerable.
A
Q 10 kQ lA 9 7 2 'A K 5 3 2
West North East
South
Pass Pass
2l ?
2. IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
K Q 5 3 2 k7 lA 'A Q J 8 6 3
West North East
South
2k Dbl
4k ?
3. Matchpoints. North-South
vulnerable.
J 10 kA Q 7 3 2 lK 10 9 'Q 7 4
West North East
2 Dbl
Pass
South
1k
?
4. Matchpoints. North-South
vulnerable.
K 8 5 4 kK 10 3 lA 6 5 'A J 6
West North East
2 3l(1)
Pass
Pass 4 Dbl
South
1NT
3NT
?
(1) Natural and forcing
5. IMPs. None vulnerable.
A kK Q 7 5 3 lA 4 3 'A K 8 7
West North East
Pass
1 Pass
Pass 3 Pass
South
1k
3'
?
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September 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
47
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September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022
