January 2025 - 43

a stopper' brigade, " passes. " Even if
the queen holds up on this hand, my
remaining tricks are awfully slow. "
Meyers, too. " Even if partner has
a heart stopper, I can't count nine
tricks to bid 3NT. If they were not
vulnerable, I would probably bid
3NT. "
Pass by Grossack. " Matchpoints,
not vulnerable, I'll pass and try not
to get a zero. Preempts make life
difficult. "
Lin passes. " I'm not as worried
about getting stolen from at matchpoints,
and more worried about
minus 150 when they are only plus
140. Even if I get lucky with a low
heart lead, my hand is quite 'slow'
(requiring losing the lead to set it
up). "
Pass by
Robinson.
" My hand is
Steve Robinson
not strong
enough to
balance with
3NT. Change
the dQ to the
ace, or the
hQ to the
king, and I'd
bid 3NT. I'd
expect partner
to have a
heart stopper. Preempts work. "
Hoping the deal is a misfit, Boehm
passes. " Even if we do fit somewhere,
it is hard to find and stay low if need
be. "
Korbel, an eloquent pass. " Yuck.
These are the wrong colors for 3NT. "
Even Meckstroth lets this one go.
" It's tempting to bid 3NT, but there
are just too many problems with
that. "
" 3NT, with confidence, " by Cohen.
" Even with hA K J x x x x, left-hand
opponent isn't likely to bang them
down. "
Sanborn's 3NT: " It's what we do
these days. "
Weinstein's game. " 3NT. Maybe we
make it. And at this vulnerability at
matchpoints, minus 100 could win
the board for us. Hope they don't
double. "
3NT by Rigal. " I'm already preparing
my excuse for this. It starts, 'It's
only a game ...' "
3. Own your sparkle
IMPs. None vulnerable.
s9 7 h8 7 6 dA J 10 5 cK 10 4 3
West North East
Pass
1c Dbl
Call
2d
1NT
Pass
Pass
Votes
14
1
South
Pass
1s ?
Award
100
70
50
2d by Weinstein. " Good things
happen when you bid a good suit. "
Meckstroth likes 2d. " I want to
get the lead in and compete for a
partscore. "
Robinson bids 2d. " We have somewhere
around 18 points so I won't bid
1NT. If partner has four diamonds,
he'll compete to 3d. "
Donn, too. " For one thing, this
is strong enough to survive in case
of a 4-3 fit. For another, if we may
presume the opponents play support
doubles (a necessary convention, in
my view), then this might force the
2
Larry Cohen
opponents into their own 4-3 fit,
which would suit me fine. "
" 2d helps with the lead, against 3c
(say), " says Boehm, " and notrump is
likely to play better from partner's
side to protect his spade holding.
Grossack: " 2d. Get the lead we
want and compete effectively? Say no
more! "
2d by Sanborn, " at least for the
lead. Apologies if I find partner's
doubleton. "
Cohen bids
2d. " I won't
be thrilled
if partner
competes to
3d over 3c,
but he might
have five diamonds
and
besides, I'd
love a diamond
lead. "
Lin's a
dreary 2d
bidder. " Feels
like this will play badly: RHO's
spades behind partner's spades, my
minor-suit cards in front of opener
... But I'm aggressive competing all
white. A-J-10 is nice and we have
half the deck. East didn't redouble,
so I'm unlikely to get in trouble. Also,
PANEL ANSWERS FOR THIS MONTH'S PROBLEMS
1
3
August Boehm
Larry Cohen
Mel Colchamiro
Josh Donn
Zachary Grossack
Daniel Korbel
Roger Lee
Amber Lin
Jeff Meckstroth
Jill Meyers
Janice Molson
Barry Rigal
Steve Robinson
Kerri Sanborn
Steve Weinstein
Pass
4NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
5c
5c
Pass
Pass
4NT
5c
4NT
5c
4NT
Pass
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
3NT
Pass
3NT
3NT
2d
2d
1NT
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
4
4s
3s
4s
4s
4s
4s
4s
4s
4s
Dbl
4s
4s
4s
3s
4s
5
Total
5c 500
5c 410
Pass
430
5c 500
5c 500
5c 480
5c 480
4c 470
4c 470
4c 400
5c 480
5c 440
5c 480
5c 410
5c 460
January 2025 | Bridge Bulletin |
43

January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025
