October 2022 - 44

a stopper here. "
" 3' - in tempo, " Cohen emphasizes,
" so as not to announce I have
something like this. Why are you
guys making me choose all of these
awkward calls this month? [Because
we can, Larry; and more importantly,
because your guidance is instructive
when we face these exact same awkward
situations at the table.]
Sanborn's 3': " Everyday problem,
everyday answer. "
3' by Meyers: " My cheapest of the
other two suits. "
OK by Weinstein. " Cheapest suit
is the most suspect. As usual, we are
suspect. "
" Passing seems to be more popular
these days on scenarios like this
one, " says Lawrence, following the
" popular " path. " East did not raise,
which implies that my partner could
have three spades. Partner's double
should show 10-plus points, which
should give us a fighting chance. On
this vulnerability, East often takes
liberties. He didn't. And partner will
lead a heart, which rates to be a good
start. "
4. Maneuverability
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
(1) Natural and forcing
Call
Pass
5'
5l
4NT
6l
Redbl
Votes
9
3
1
1
South
1NT
3NT
?
Award
100
80
60
60
50
30
A forcing pass offers flexibility,
leaving more room for partner to do
44 | Bridge Bulletin | October 2022
whatever partner may want to do.
Rigal explains. " My spade holding
isn't good, but I'm prepared to give
partner one more chance to reach
slam. My k10 and 'J fill the gaps
nicely. "
Pass by Sanborn. " I could bid 5l,
but I'm already known to have some
values in spades. 5l after the double
should be the worst hand I could
hold. "
Meckstroth doesn't see the need to
do anything just yet. " I will see what
partner wants to do next. "
Meyers opts for the forcing pass.
" It is arguable whether I have a great
hand for partner - with 4-3-3-3
distribution and the K opposite
partner's shortness - but I do have
two aces and the kK, so I don't hate
my hand. "
Cohen passes. " I have nothing I
wish to
say at this
point. If I
had really
great spades
and lousy
diamonds, I
could show
that with
4NT, but my
spades aren't
so great
and my
diamonds
aren't so bad. I also have OK controls
for slam. "
" I have a not-so-great hand, " says
Grossack, " but I think I can pass and
await further developments. Bidding
4NT or anything seems unnecessary. "
Pass
by Molson. " If partner wants
to bid slam, it's up to her. I'm not
bidding 4NT with one spade stopper.
Plus I have some good stuff. "
Donn passes. " My hand is decent
for diamonds, so I will pass in an
effort to involve partner in the decision. "
Weinstein
sums up the argument
for the optimists: " Pass. I am assuming
partner has a spade void. I have
interest, so a regressive 4NT or 5l
bid is out of the picture. Pass feels
more middle of the road than an immediate
5'. "
Middle of the road is not Lawrence's
style. He bids 5'. " My hand
has just gotten better. My 3NT said
I had spade values, which now don't
seem to be worth much. But partner
is willing to go further, knowing I
don't have a full-value hand and that
I rate to have questionable spade values.
I could bid 4NT, which partner
can pass. But I do have good values
for diamonds. Hence I'm willing to go
beyond 4NT. If partner bids 5l, I'm
done. Hope my k10 and 'J add up to
more than 1 point. "
5' by Korbel. " I actually have a
pretty good hand on the auction and
I'll cooperate. "
Boehm also shows the 'A. " If
not now, partner may back off slam
thinking we're missing a club control. "
Robinson
tries to slow partner
down with 5l. " I have a super minimum. "
Colchamiro's
" regressive " 4NT (i.e.,
he'd bid 3NT if he could, but he can't):
" Opposite a likely spade void, my
Larry Cohen
hand isn't worth so much. "
5. Leave the door open
MPs. None vulnerable.
A kK Q 7 5 3 lA 4 3 'A K 8 7
West North East
Pass
Call
4
3NT
4l
1 Pass
Pass 3 Pass
Votes
6
4
4
South
1k
3'
?
Award
100
90
80
Rigal bids 4 and offers a little
October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2022
