October 2022 - 42

IT'S
YOUR
CALL
Problem No. 3 from Jonathan
Weinstein, Jackson Heights NY; No.
4, District 8 Bridge Advocate; No. 5,
Michigan Bridge Association Table
Talk
1. Twixt and between
Matchpoints. East-West vulnerable.
A
Q 10 kQ lA 9 7 2 'A K 5 3 2
West North East
South
Pass Pass
Call
2NT
Dbl
3NT
3'
2l ?
Votes
6
6
2
Award
100
90
70
50
With so many choices, Weinstein
says he'll take 2NT - " the middle(ish)
of the road. "
Boehm calls his 2NT a touch heavy,
" but more likely to avoid an unwelcome
heart contract than double. "
Molson says her 2NT is wrong on
so many levels ... " but I don't see any
logical alternative. "
Cohen: " There's not enough room
to list all the flaws of 2NT, but suffice
to say this is the best compromise/
description. "
" Several bad choices, " agrees Sanborn.
" 2NT is mine. "
Meckstroth bids 2NT. " There is no
perfect bid here. I don't like starting
with a double holding 3-1 in the
majors. "
Korbel, on the other hand, doubles.
" This hand is too strong not to start
with double. "
42 | Bridge Bulletin | October 2022
Zachary Grossack
open 1k or 2k. Glad this is matchpoints. "
3NT
by Robinson. " I don't like it,
DIRECTOR: SUE MUNDAY
SCORES: KAREN WALKER
but I don't see any alternative. My
expert partner will have heart stoppers. "
2.
Grand inquisition
IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
Double by Colchamiro, " then 2NT
over 2k. I'm just a tad too strong for
a direct 2NT and besides, you must
have given me the l9 for some reason. "
Rigal
doubles. " With good hands,
one can start with a double and
expect partner not to jump to 4k all
that often. Yes, it is a guess, but I rate
to find out more at my next turn -
even if all I find out is that we are too
high already. "
Double by Donn. " Because partner
is a passed hand, I am not too worried
about them going crazy in hearts. "
Meyers chooses to double. " I have
too much to bid 2NT or 3'. If partner
bids the expected 2k, I will bid
2NT; that shows too much to overcall
2NT. "
Grossack
doubles.
" I will
probably
be bidding
notrump
at my next
turn. Second
choice is
2NT immediately,
but
I feel I am
just a bit too
strong. "
Lawrence bids the notrump game
directly. " After two passes and a
random weak two-bid, I think this
hand is worth 3NT as opposed to
2NT. Double could be better. But I'm
not interested in partner's heart bids.
No matter what he has in hearts, he
is limited by the fact that he did not
K Q 5 3 2 k7 lA 'A Q J 8 6 3
West North East
South
2k Dbl
Call
5k
5NT
4NT
6'
6
4k ?
Votes
4
4
2
2
2
Award
100
90
70
70
70
" Wow, " says Meyers with a poker
face. " I have quite a hand when partner
has made a takeout double of 2k.
I would bid 5k. If partner bids 5, I
raise; if partner bids 6l, I bid 6; if
partner bids 5NT, I bid 6'. The problem
is that I can't find out if partner
has the two missing aces in order to
bid the grand. "
Rigal's rationale for 5k: " 5NT here
is pick a minor. 5k is spades and
another, 5 is 'bid six with a heart
control.' Over 5, I bid 5NT, then
convert 6x to 6 to make a further
grand-slam try. "
Boehm bids 5k. " Needing three
cover cards, I have my eye on 7' in
case partner's spades are A-x-x. "
5k by Grossack. " I would love
it if 4NT here was Blackwood for
spades, but this is not the world we
live in today. I will start with 5k and
hopefully we can recover to 7 when
I proceed with 6k over 5. "
Molson: " 5NT, pick a slam. Passing
6' and correcting 6l to 6. Zackie,
did you bid seven? " [Love getting
caught in the panelists' crosstalk.]
Korbel bids 5NT. " Yes, we could
have seven. No, I don't know how to
October 2022

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