November 2022 - 44

Problem 5
North deals. N-S vulnerable.
North opens 1NT (15-17); South
bids 2k (transfer). If West doubles,
North passes and South bids 2.
West
East
 K J
k A K J 10 3
l K Q J 7
' J 5
 A 9 7 3
k 8
l 9 8 6 5
' 8 6 4 2
Linda North Paul South
(1NT) Pass
Dbl
(Pass) Pass
(2k)
(2)
3l (Pass) 4l All Pass
West doubled the transfer bid
to show hearts. When the auction
returned at 2, West decided to also
show diamonds. 4l looks aggressive,
but the Lewises were completely on
the same page, as West decided to
pass with a strong hand.
Stoltz North Lusky South
(1NT) Pass
(Pass) Pass
Dbl
(2k)
(2)
2NT All Pass
After West made the obvious
double and the auction returned, this
West decided on a 2NT rebid, simply
making a natural call in notrump.
East couldn't quite muster up a raise,
so that is where they rested.
Bridge Bulletin auction: (1NT)-
Pass-(2k)-Dbl; (Pass)-Pass-(2)-
Dbl; All Pass. After doubling to show
hearts, West must find another call.
The strength could warrant a takeout
double, possibly planning to pull 3'
to 3l. Because East has a singleton
heart, a good spade holding, and the
opponents' auction didn't promise
a fit, passing the double looks very
attractive.
Scores: (2) Dbl 12; 3l 9; 4l 6;
2NT 4; 3NT 1
Lewises 43, Stoltz-Lusky 41
44 | Bridge Bulletin | November 2022
Problem 6
East deals. E-W vulnerable.
West
 7
East
k A 6 5
l K Q J 10
' A Q 9 7 6
Linda
2'
2NT
3NT
 K J 10 9 6 3
k Q J 8 2
l A
' 8 5
Paul
1
2k
3
Pass
East opened 1 with the nice
distribution and good spade interior
cards. The 2' response by West was
forcing to game. East next showed
hearts, and West made a natural
2NT call. This left room for East to
complete the description of a 6-4
hand, and 3NT by West seemed
obvious. Of note is that for this pair,
the 2NT-then-3NT sequence is more
encouraging than if West had bid
3NT directly over 2k.
Stoltz
2'
3NT
Pass
Lusky
1
2k
4
After the 1-2' start, East again
chose to rebid hearts. 3NT by West
showed 15-17, but East's spades were
too nice to leave on the table. Of note
is that Stoltz and Lusky play that bidding
spades-hearts-spades is weaker
than bidding spades-spades-hearts.
This is the opposite of what most
pairs do, but they were completely on
the same page.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1-2';
2k-3NT; 4-Pass. The second-round
jump to 3NT to show
16-17 points is a useful tool in the
2/1 game-forcing system. That way,
slam isn't missed when both players
have that approximate strength. Both
Scores: 4 10; 3NT 7; 5 5; 4NT 4;
4k 2
Lewises 50, Stoltz-Lusky 51
Problem 7
South deals. Both vulnerable.
South opens 2.
West
East
 A J 3
k A J 4
l K
' A J 9 6 4 2
 5 4
k Q 10 8 5
l A J 10 9 4
' Q 8
Linda North Paul South
(2)
2NT (Pass) 3' (Pass)
3l (Pass) 3NT All Pass
West made an interesting and logical
choice to overcall 2NT. This has
some advantages over 3' by showing
the nice strength and emphasizing
the double spade stopper. After 3'
(Stayman) by East and a denial by
West, East ended in 3NT.
Stoltz North Lusky South
(2)
3' (Pass) 3l (Pass)
3NT All Pass
West chose a 3' overcall, which
might be a better contract than 2NT
if partner were weak. East continued
by showing diamonds, which would
have left room for West to conveniently
show hearts if they were held.
West made an obvious choice to rebid
3NT.
Bridge Bulletin auction: As Stoltz-
Lusky. 2NT is a creative choice, and
probably a very decent bid, but 3'
looks more standard. The important
pairs employed different inferences
for this auction than what might be
considered standard by most, but
clearly, knowing what the partnership
plays is much more important
than what that actually is.
November 2022

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