March 2024 - 43

sK x x hA x x x x dA J x x cx,
we have play for 5d and he should
have another 4 points. "
Molson showing off her literary
chops: " As Richard III said, 'My
kingdom for a fifth diamond.' I would
bid 4s with a fifth diamond, but here
I bid 5d. "
Rigal, the panel's designated litterateur,
dispenses with the quotes
and goes right to 5d. " Partner has a
3=5=4=1 shape and I'm hoping for
a low singleton club, or hearts that
need to be ruffed out. I've been wrong
before and will be again. "
Meyers is content to bid 4d. " I don't
think I have enough for 3NT and with
only four diamonds, I think 4d is
plenty. I already freely raised. I don't
have anything more than my raise
said I had. "
" Pard is under pressure in this auction, "
says Korbel, who also bids 4d,
" and I don't know for certain that he
will always deliver spade length and
club shortness. In any case, my hand
is minimum with bad trumps and I'm
ready to give up. "
A stingy 4d by Weinstein. " I'd
make a slam try if I had a fifth diamond,
but with four, I'm signing off.
Partner needs a really good hand to
make game; if they have it, they rate
to bid game over 4d. "
" To me, 3s is a natural-ish 'punt'
bid, " says Lin. " My partner is a max
2d but isn't sure about 3NT - likely
3=5=4=1 shape. I bid 4d because I
have minimum values for my bidding.
I have no fifth diamond, poor diamond
spots and two jacks. "
Wait! We do have a few Hamman's
rule sightings.
Meckstroth, predictably. " 3NT. Try
and make game where I need only
nine tricks. "
Donn, predictably. " 3NT. We do
have the stoppers that partner may
need [We do?] so why not? "
Grossack, too. " Let's just call my previous
3d a little slippery, shall we? At
this point, I have no choice but to hope
3NT has a chance. My diamond fit is
too skimpy to think 5d would be so
much better. If I had a fifth diamond,
that's when I'd start thinking 5d. "
Cohen likes the hand well enough
to try 4s. " Will anyone mention a 5c
Bluhmer bid? I guess I just did. But
I'll keep it simple with 4s. I am worth
it because I have only a wasted jack,
and partner knows I'm limited by my
failure to bid an impossible 2s on the
previous round. Picture:
sK x x hA Q x x x dA K x x x c-. "
Boehm, too, bids 4s to show the
spade control, " in case there is a super-fit
slam facing:
sQ 10 x hA J x x x dA K J x x c-. "
3. Old chestnut
Matchpoints. North-South vul.
sK Q 8 hK Q 9 8 7 d8 5 c10 4 2
West North East
Pass
Pass
Call
1NT
2s
2h
Pass
1d
1s
Pass
Pass
Votes
7
6
1
South
1h
?
Award
100
90
60
40
" I have seen this one come up so
many times, " says Grossack. " We
mustn't pass; 2s, 2h and 1NT are
all choices. 1NT at matchpoints has
usually served me best. But 2s is my
second choice (and could be my first
choice in a different lunar cycle). "
Boehm bids 1NT. " I don't object to
2s, but if the auction continues, I can
conveniently support spades next. "
Robinson bids 1NT. " I promise four
spades if I raise spades, so I have no
other choice than to bid 1NT. 1NT is
where you belong opposite:
sA x x x hx dA J x x cK J x x. "
Donn rebids 1NT. " I am sure a
bunch of people will raise to 2s. Partner
might easily be short in hearts
with three or four clubs. In that case,
notrump should be more than fine. "
Weinstein falls in line with 1NT:
" Seems like what the field will do. "
" How to lie the least? " is the question
Sanborn ponders. She bids 1NT.
" We could raise spades, but that's a
lie and to what level? Rebid hearts?
Ditto. The auction is not over yet. "
" Evaluation-wise, I will go low at
matchpoints with 1NT, " says Lin.
" We won't miss a super-cold game
because my partner will bid again
over 1NT with extras. c10 x x is not so
PANEL ANSWERS FOR THIS MONTH'S PROBLEMS
1
2
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Amber Lin
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Janice Molson
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Steve Weinstein
3NT
5c
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
3NT
4s
4s
5d
3NT
3NT
4d
4d
3NT
4d
5d
5d
5d
5d
4d
3
1NT
2s
2s
1NT
1NT
2s
1NT
2h
2s
2s
2s
1NT
1NT
1NT
4
3c
3c
3c
2c
3c
2c
2c
2c
2c
3c
2c
3c
Pass
3c

5
4d
4d
4d
4d
4d
4d
3h
4s
4d
4d
4d
4s
3s
4d
Total
460
420
490
480
490
470
450
420
470
490
480
480
420
490
March 2024 | Bridge Bulletin |
43
March 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2024
