March 2025 - 43

made. For what it's worth, I would have
started with a double at my first call. "
Weinstein also bids 4d to offer
partner a choice of games, " but if
partner interprets it as a slam try, I
have that, too. "
Colchamiro likes 4d to show a
good hand with flexible strength.
" Over 4h I will bid 4s, which shows
heart tolerance. "
Meyers
bids 4d: " I
have only two
hearts, but
their honor
value compensates,
plus
I have too
much not to
cuebid. "
Lee bids
Jill Meyers
4d. " Double
might be
more technically
accurate,
but this is simpler. "
Korbel doubles. " This should be
showing extras. Partner can rebid a
six-card suit or show me a doubleton
spade. "
" Double seems perfect, " says Lin. " I
have extras and flexibility. "
" Thank goodness these doubles
exist! " says Molson. " It is the most
flexible action. "
Donn doubles. " I have to be cool
like all the experts say and play random
doubles that show extra values
with no clear direction. "
Meckstroth bids 4s. " My hand
seems to play best with spades as
trump. Hearts seems dangerous. "
Rigal bids 4c - " an example of
anadiplosis. I'm hoping (hoping being
the operative word) that partner's
4d call would be choice of games.
Anything else would be entirely
unilateral. "
3s by Boehm. " To those who elect
a modern double: Is this the hand, or
the penalty-oriented
sA K x x x hx dK Q x cQ x x x?
Can't have it both ways. "
3. Fly Me To The Moon
Matchpoints. Both vulnerable.
sK J 10 5 4 h- dA Q cK Q 10 9 4 3
West North East
4d Dbl
Call
5s
5d
6s
4s
5NT
Abs
Pass
Votes
4
4
2
3
1
1
South
1c
?
Award
100
90
70
70
60
Walker favored 5s because it tells
partner you have spades and gives
him a clear choice. " It has to be forcing
to at least 6c or 6s, and unlike
5d, it doesn't make him guess why
you like your hand so much. "
" 5s stands out like a sore thumb, "
says Rigal, using hyperbole. " The
lack of space in this auction means it
really cannot just be about diamond
control, and partner is likely to have
one anyway. Yes, a jump to 6s is a
reasonable alternative. "
" 5s seems like a simple, clear
description, " says Lin, sans hyperbole.
" I'm likely 6-5 with slam interest
to be jumping to 5s. If we had a fit
already, I would play 5M as asking
2
for a control in their suit. But this
should be natural since we haven't
found the fit yet. "
Colchamiro bids 5s, " by logic forcing,
since partner might have to preference
to 6c. I can't bid 5d because
we gotta keep East off lead. "
" 5d is the easy part, " says
Weinstein. " Not looking forward
to my next bid. But after partner's
inevitable 5h, I think 5s should be
forcing since partner's double doesn't
promise spades. "
Donn, 5d. " I will bid spades next
on whatever level partner allows. "
Sanborn, too. " 5d. Obviously I
will bid 5s if I can. Partner does not
guarantee spades on this auction. "
A whole lot of guessing going on
with Molson. " I am bidding us to 5s.
Whether I bid 5d then correct hearts
to spades or jump to 5s directly is
my problem. I'm guessing to bid 5d
first, but I am guessing. "
Grossack: 5NT. " Horrible, evil
problem, as partner does not promise
both majors here. 2-5-2-4 with 12
points, for example, probably has to
double and correct 4s to 5c. I think
if partner is forcing me to make a
call at the game level, or defend 4d
doubled, slam should be a good shot.
Hopefully partner understands from
my choice-of-slam offer that I have
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
4c
4c
4c
3d
2s
2s
4c
3d
2s
2s
4c
3d
2s
4c
4d
3s
4d
4d
Dbl
4d
Dbl
4d
Dbl
4s
4d
Dbl
4c
4d
4d
4d
4s
6s
5s
5d
5NT
4s
5s
5s
4s
6s
5d
5s
Abs
5d
5d
4
3d
3h
3d
3h
3h
3h
3h
3h
3h
3d
3d
3d
3h
3h
3d
5
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
4NT
Pass
Pass
4NT
Pass
4NT
4NT
Total
400
470
480
420
450
430
500
430
420
420
440
400
370
490
430
March 2025 | Bridge Bulletin |
43
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March 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2025
