June 2024 - 43

red versus white. We could even have
a making 5c game:
sx hx x x x dx cA K J x x x x,
for example, if they don't lead trumps
in time. "
4c by Molson. " Partner probably
has diamond shortness and I assume
two+ spades and two+ hearts, so my
initial feeling bidding is that 4d commits
our side to 5c and tips my hand.
I think I will bid 4c, which also feels
wrong, but ... "
" Partner got in there red versus
white and I have this hand? " ponders
Grossack. " 4c. Maybe I should bid
five. Who knows what's going on, but
I'll offer partner some support here. "
" Are the opponents playing 2/1? "
asks Rigal. [Let's assume yes.] " Partner
sure expected me to be on lead to
4s, so his 3c on, e.g.,
sx hJ x x dx x x cA K J x x x
didn't seem so dangerous. I'll bid 3s
as a game try and hope 4c doubled
isn't too expensive. With the minors
switched, 4c on cA K 10 9 x for the
lead would stand out, but I don't think
3NT here shows this, even if it should. "
Meckstroth, 3s. " I want to show a
good raise. "
Several panelists explore creative
ways to show both diamonds and club
support without pushing the level too
high.
The Steves try 3NT because, after
all, it can't possibly be natural.
Robinson: " 3NT should show diamonds
and clubs, which means I'll get
a diamond lead against their heart
contract. How could I have a natural
3NT bid? Vulnerable, I'd need at least
10 tricks to force to the five level,
which is unlikely. "
Weinstein uses 3NT to show diamonds,
both to get the lead and to help
partner know when to bid to the five
level. " Unfortunately, 4d forces us to
the five level if partner wants to play
in clubs, which scares me at this vulnerability
and form of scoring. 3NT
doesn't make sense as natural when
they are in a game force; it should
show diamonds with club support,
allowing us to stop at the four level. "
Bridge Bulletin Standard plays
a gadget known as a snapdragon
double. After three suits have been
bid, a snapdragon double in fourth
seat promises a good five-card or
longer holding in the unbid suit and
tolerance (usually a doubleton) for
partner's suit. Generally, the auction
sounds something like: (1c)-1h-
(1s)-Dbl, showing diamonds and a
tolerance for partner's hearts. The
auction in this IYC problem doesn't
have that familiar cadence.
Meyers still hears the rhythm,
PANEL ANSWERS FOR THIS MONTH'S PROBLEMS
1
2
Drew Becker
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Janice Molson
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Steve Weinstein
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
2NT
4d
Dbl
4d
4d
4d
4c
4c
3s
Dbl
4c
3s
3NT
4d
3NT
3
Pass
1NT
Pass
2NT
Pass
2NT
Pass
2NT
2s
2NT
1s
1s
Pass
1s
4
Pass
6d
Pass
6h
Dbl
Pass
6h
Dbl
6h
6d
Pass
Dbl
Pass
Pass
5
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
4NT
4NT
Pass
4NT
4NT
4NT
Total
480
360
480
440
480
450
430
400
380
440
410
420
500
440
however. " Double, which I think is
snapdragon. My hand is too good to
bid 4c, so I want to paint the picture
that I have diamonds and club
support. I want to make sure to get a
diamond lead if partner does not have
cK Q or cA K. "
Boehm also doubles, " logically for
takeout when they have a fit and the
doubler is 'under the gun.' 4c may
attract a losing lead. "
3. " I'm glad I'm not perfect -
I'd be bored to death. "
Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
sK 7 4 hA K 7 4 d7 cK Q J 7 4
West North East
1h
Call
Pass
2NT
1s
1NT
2s
2c
Dbl
Pass
Votes
5
4
3
1
1
South
1c
?
Award
100
90
80
70
60
40
Cohen passes. " We keep having this
problem type. I keep passing and getting
a bad score in IYC, but I know it
is the right thing at the table. " [Larry,
it's because this problem type keeps
coming up in real life and nobody ever
knows what to do. So we look to the
experts for help.]
Korbel passes. " A little goofy, perhaps,
but it'll be exciting. "
Pass by Becker. " Tough guess. At
least we have more than half the deck
and two certain trump tricks. "
Sanborn " risks " passing. " It could
be bloody. "
" This is hugely random, " says Donn
as he tables the pass card. " Partner
could have a wide range of possible
strengths and distributions, but overall,
passing looks like a great shot at a
good penalty. "
" I feel like 2NT is the smallest
misdeed, " says Grossack. " I have the
wrong number of spades to pass 1h
doubled. There's no good bid here,
only misdescriptions. "
June 2024 | Bridge Bulletin |
43
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June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2024
