November 2022 - 47

four defensive tricks against spades if
partner has:
x x kA Q x x x lx 'A K Q x x.
But with that hand, the five level for
us is almost a guarantee, and slam is
not out of the question. At IMPs, I'd
go for 4NT and have partner pick the
suit. "
Donn suggests defending. " Double.
This 4' bid is often stretched in an
effort to show the distribution. I don't
have confidence we can make five
of anything, and also the opponents
might go down 800. "
Boehm drives to slam. " 5NT. 5
permits partner to punt with 5NT,
but probably to little purpose. Meanwhile,
5 may encourage an unwelcome
diamond lead. "
Cohen, as foreshadowed earlier,
passes. " In all my partnerships,
leaping Michaels was game-forcing
- very strong. So when we are in a
game force, the opponents can't then
play undoubled. Pass, then pull is my
strongest action. This will be quite
the accident if partner doesn't think
this is forcing. It should be. "
2. Seeing red
Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
K kA K J 8 3 2 lA K Q 9 7 4 '-
West North East
3 Pass
Call
4l
5NT
4k
4
6l
5l
Votes
6
3
2
2
1
South
?
Award
100
80
70
70
60
40
Weinstein responds 4l. " I would
whine about this problem, but it's
so much more fun to read the others
whine. "
" What in the blazes? " Donn exclaims.
" 4l. Thank goodness this
doesn't seem to happen in real life. "
" Brutal problem, " Boehm whines.
" 4l. I'm hoping for a diamond raise;
partner's spade suit may not hold up
for slam after a club lead drives out
the K. "
" Wow, " Meyers says. " This is tough.
I think I would bid 4l. If partner
makes a control bid, I will bid 6l. If
partner raises, I will probably pass.
And if partner bids 4, I will bid 5. "
" Anything could be right, " stammers
Molson, buying time ... " 4l.
I could bid 5 and hope partner's
spades can handle ruffing with the
king then getting off dummy. 4l actually
gives us a chance to get to 7l. "
Sanborn bids 4l. " I'll bid a slam if
I get a raise. Over 4, I'll bid 5, but
the hand could be an awkward handle
in spades. "
" 5NT, pick a slam, " Lee demands,
planning to pull 6' to 6l. " Sometimes
it's right to start with 4l, but I don't
see how we can reasonably expect to
get back to hearts if we do that. "
" 5NT, pick a slam! " insists Grossack.
" Next comes 6l. Spades may
prove to be difficult on a hand like
this; if the opponents lead clubs,
partner may well need all of the
remaining pips in trump to make it
a good prospect. These days, and at
these colors, solid spades is far from a
guarantee, so I will offer some choice
- probably just between diamonds
and spades, though if partner magically
comes up with 6k at any point,
they will be left there. "
Matchpoint Meck: " 4k. Might be
best in diamonds. But could be awful
as well. "
4k by Robinson. " It's matchpoints.
4k should make often. "
Colchamiro raises partner to 4.
" In today's nonvulnerable preempting
world, who knows what kind of
spades partner has? Guessing a red
suit would be ... a guess. Sort of a silly
problem 'cause there is no answer.
Wouldn't Al Roth agree? "
Rigal, 6l. " You ask, I answer. My
guess is as good as yours. "
3. Risky business
IMPs. North-South vulnerable.
A 10 2 k9 8 5 3 lQ 9 7 4 'K 3
West North East
South
Pass Dbl
PANEL'S ANSWERS FOR OCTOBER PROBLEMS
1
2
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Roger Lee
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Janice Molson
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Steve Weinstein
5NT
Pass
3
4l Pass
5NT
Pass
5k 4 Pass
Dbl
4NT
5NT
4
3k Pass
?
Pass
5
Total
3l 4k 420
2 3l 400
2 6l 380
5' 4 Pass
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
5NT
4l 4l 3l 3l 440
3 3k 3l 430
3l 3l 430
2 3l 460
Pass
5' 6l Pass
4NT
4NT
4k 4l 3k 4k 440
4l 4l 3k 3' 460
4l 4l 3k 6l 450
3l 4l 370
5k 4k 4l 3k 4k 410
4l 4l 3k 3' 460
4l Pass
4k 3l 450
November 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
47
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November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
