March 2025 - 41

GIB
1NT
4s
GIB
1s
2s
Pass
After the 1s opening bid, West
responded 1NT, forcing one round.
After East rebid 2s which looks
perfectly normal, West raised to
4s. Although there was no danger
of ever missing game with this auction,
it made finding slam basically
impossible.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1s-2c;
2s-3s; 4d-4h; 4NT-5d; 5h-6c;
6s-Pass. West obviously can't guarantee
from the start that 4s will be
making, but the hand has enough
extra distribution to begin with a
game force. From there, it just takes
some trust and a couple control bids
to get to slam.
Scores: 6s 11; 6c 8; 5s 6; 5c 2
Seguineau-Sebbane 50, GIB 32
Problem 7
South deals. Both vulnerable.
West
East
s 10 6 4
h -
d A Q J 9 2
c Q J 10 7 3
2s
3d
3s
4h
Pass
The pair had a very nice auction
here, utilizing several advanced
agreements. West conservatively
passed to start with, and East opened
1NT (15-17 HCP). 2s by West is a
multi-purpose bid that is very often
seen at bridge tournaments these
days. It's called " size-ask or clubs, "
and is used both to invite 3NT with a
balanced hand or to show clubs. 3c
by East said if partner was inviting
Scores: 5c 11; 5d 8; 4c 7; 4d 6;
2NT 1
Seguineau-Sebbane 61, GIB 43
Problem 8
West deals. None vulnerable.
West
s J 8 6
h A K J 5
d Q 10 8 3
c A 8
East
s 2
h 2
d K J 6 4
c K Q J 10 6 5 3
s J 8
h K Q J 8
d K 6 5
c A K 8 5
Seguineau Sebbane
Pass
1NT
3c
3h
4c
5c
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1d-1h;
2c-2s; 3c-3d; 3s-4c; 5c-Pass.
The purpose of the 3d bid (as opposed
to raising clubs), as well as 3s,
is to find 3NT if it's playable. When it
isn't, West should slam on the breaks
immediately.
3NT, he was maximum and would
accept. Now 3d by West confirmed
clubs but was another two-way bid.
It showed either a natural diamond
suit, or diamond shortness. 3h by
East asked which it was, and 3s confirmed
both minors, 5-5. East knew
there was a likely spade weakness, so
he bid 4c. After a 4h control bid by
West, East signed off in 5c.
GIB
1d
2c
3c
Pass
West opened 1d, which is fine
despite holding only 10 HCP because
of the nice suits and distribution. East
responded 1h, and West logically
showed the clubs next. 2s is fourth
suit forcing, an artificial bid in the
fourth-suit used to establish a game
force. West bid 3c with nothing else
good to say. East raised this directly
to 5c. For most humans, this would
show a very minimal hand for the
auction. For GIB, it actually shows
extra values, around 17-18. But West
was so minimum that pass was still
clear. This hand was probably GIB's
best auction to the top contract.
GIB
1NT
3c
3NT
GIB
2NT
3h
Pass
After the 1NT opening, East bid
2NT, a transfer showing clubs. West
obliged with a forced 3c rebid. Over
that, East bid 3h, showing shortness
by agreement. West had an obvious
3NT call with the strong hearts and
lack of a club fit. Pass by East could
have been right, but was taking a
huge chance on the spades. If East
had guessed to show spade shortness
instead of heart shortness, the auction
would have probably been much
more successful for GIB.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1NT-
2s; 2NT-3d; 3h-4c; 4h-5c;
Pass. In the Bridge Bulletin Standard
system, 2s shows clubs, and 2NT by
opener is negative for a club fit. From
there, 3d and 3h are natural-ish
or stoppers, and 4h is a control.
Because West bypassed diamonds
and already implied spade weakness
with the 3h call, East knows enough
to sign off. Thanks to Jon Brissman
of Indianapolis IN for this one.
Scores: 5c 11; 5d 7; 4c 5; 4d 3;
3NT 1
Final score: Seguineau-Sebbane
72, GIB 44
March 2025 | Bridge Bulletin |
41
GIB
1h
2s
5c
Seguineau Sebbane
1NT
2NT
4h
5c
2s
4c
4s
Pass
West opened 1NT (15-17). East
used the same 2s call as in the previous
problem, either inviting 3NT or
showing clubs. 2NT by West showed
a minimum, so that an invitational
hand can pass. East next bid 4c,
showing slam interest in clubs. 4h by
West showed a control, as did 4s by
East with the shortness control. West
decided to sign off in 5c, which East
accepted by passing.
March 2025

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