January 2025 - 42

IT'S
YOUR
CALL
treat partner's double as card-showing, "
says Rigal. " 4NT. My shape persuades
me to act. 5c would be 5-5
or more. "
5c by Korbel. " I don't know what's
DIRECTOR: SUE MUNDAY
SCORES: KAREN WALKER
A New Year's toast: With gratitude
to the panelists who volunteer their
expertise, time and wit every month
teaching us how to grapple with the
cards we're dealt at the table. If you
happen to run into one of our IYC
experts at a tournament or seminar,
do make sure to say thank you.
1. Half and half
Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
s2 h10 7 6 dA J 9 4 3 cA K Q 4
West North East
4s Dbl
Call
Pass
4NT
5c
Pass
Votes
7
4
4
South
1d
?
Award
100
80
80
Lin passes.
" I don't know
what's right,
but I'll follow
the matchpoint
principle
of trying
to go plus
versus the
IMP principle
of 'taking out
insurance.' "
" This is a
Amber Lin
problem that
might be
opponent-dependent, " says Grossack.
" Pass. Of course it could be right to
bid. I think of partner's double as
more value-showing - not strictly
takeout, not strictly penalty. Some
4s bidders are friskier than others,
especially nonvulnerable. "
42 | Bridge Bulletin | January 2025
Josh Donn
" I need more shape to bid at the
five level, " says Meckstroth, putting
the pass card on the table.
Colchamiro elaborates. " I have
minimalish, though good cards. I
don't have freakish distribution, so
in theory, I'm supposed to pass. This
hand is pretty ordinary shape-wise,
so I'm done. "
" Who
knows? "
Donn queries.
" Pass.
I am pretty
uncomfortable
about
this whole
thing with
a singleton
spade, but
bad breaks
could destroy
any five-level
contract. So I
will (hopefully) take the plus score. "
Pass by Boehm. " Adequate defense
and no safe haven. "
Weinstein passes. " But I wouldn't
be surprised if it's wrong. "
" Modernly, double by North is
takeout, " Meyers says, taking it out to
4NT. " If partner bids 5c, I may bid
six; if partner bids 5d, I think I will
pass. "
Sanborn thinks it's probably right
to pull the double. " 4NT. Bidding 5c
should imply five. This gives us three
places to play. "
Cohen likes 4NT. " With a flatter
hand I'd pass. I have short spades
and nice offense. 5c is what I'd
bid with 5-5. Partner will choose
between the minors. "
" Rightly or wrongly, I'm going to
right. Nobody does. Anything could
be. But the biggest disasters lie with
passing. I could live with passing
because it's matchpoints, but never at
IMPs. "
Robinson elects to bid 5c.
" Partner's double is not penalties.
It just shows a good hand. He could
have:
sx x hA Q J x dK x x cJ 10 x x.
If you're playing with Kit Woolsey,
you should pass, because he plays
double of 4s as penalty. "
Molson bids 5c, then stops to
think it through. " So I was taught
that with nine cards and shortness,
you bid. So I bid. It was suggested
that 4NT brings hearts into play. I
hadn't thought of that. I bid 5c and
remember 4NT for the next time. "
2. Here a quack, there a quack
Matchpoints. East-West vulnerable.
sQ J hQ 7 dQ J 8 6 5 cA K J 8
West North East
3h Pass
Call
Pass
3NT
Dbl
4d
4NT
Pass
Votes
11
4
South
?
Award
100
60
40
30
10
" Pass and stay fixed, " Lee laments.
" It's a bunch of junk, so I let it go, "
says Molson, waving the green flag.
Pass by Colchamiro. " At these
colors, West almost for sure has the
hA K and my quack in spades is
doubleton, so this hand ain't much
to fight with. Best chance for a plus
is right here. Did I mention that
my long suit is headed by another
quack? "
Donn, a self-proclaimed " proud
card-carrying member of the 'Q-x is
January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025
