It’s Your Call

Matchpoints. None vulnerable.

♠A K 10 9 8   —   6   ♣A K Q 10 9 8 7

West North East South
2(1) 3 Pass ?

1. Weak

3 3♠ 3NT
4♣ 4 4 4♠ 4NT
5♣ 5 5 5♠ 5NT
6♣ 6 6 6♠ 6NT
7♣ 7 7 7♠ 7NT
Pass Dbl

What’s your call?


Click to reveal awards

3605305♣103♠10

Bid Award
4♣ 100
6♣ 100



For yesterday’s It’s Your Call deal (from June 2010’s Bridge Bulletin), 4♣ and 6♣ were tied as top bid.

This was the best problem of the month as shown by the diversity of answers. Six experts took the direct action and blasted to 6♣.

“We doubt that anyone has the methods to bid the grand slam with confidence, so why not bid 6♣ — what you think you can make,” said Kay and Randy Joyce.

“6♣ — no control-bidding sequence will make this a scientific decision,” said Karen Walker. “If you start with 3, it may be impossible to convince partner you don’t have diamond support.”

August Boehm agreed with 6♣. “Bidding 3 is unlikely to ferret out enough black-suit information, and it risks partner’s later conversion to diamonds. When science seems unavailing, bid what you think you can make.”

“How wrong can 6♣ be?” asked Mel Colchamiro. “I doubt we can knowingly bid seven of either black suit when it is right.”

“There’s no way to explore, so I’m bidding 6♣, what I think I can make,” agreed Steve Robinson.

“We are being practical and bidding 6♣,” said Linda and Robb Gordon. “Yes, we would love it if partner understood that 5 was exclusion Blackwood, and we were on the same page with responses. What would likely happen in the real world, is that partner would play us for a heart void, a diamond fit and a grand slam try.”

Two experts were willing to bid 5.

“Bidding 5 is not the way to score high in a bidding contest,” said Larry Cohen, “but it’s my best guess as to how to reach 7♣. This asks for key cards outside of hearts (with diamonds as trump). Opposite two, I will bid 7♣ (partner had better pass!). If he has only one, we might be off the A.”

“This is a fantasy hand,” said Mike Lawrence, “so I can give you a fantasy answer: Bid 5, exclusion Blackwood. If partner shows the A with a 5NT bid, I’ll risk 7♣.
Six panelists bid 4♣.

Kerri Sanborn: “Luckily 4♣ is forcing. There’s no way to find out everything, but let’s get started.”

Allan Falk: “A 3 cuebid suggests diamond support, so that is out of the question. I don’t want partner correcting my eventual 6♣ or 7♣ to diamonds. If partner rebids 4, I’ll try 4 next, hoping to hear 4♠. I’m certainly not settling for less than 6♣.”

Barry Rigal: “4♣ is natural and forcing. Partner will likely bid 4 and I’ll try 4♠ or 5♠. Looking into my crystal ball, I see trouble ahead.”

Brad Theurer: “After 4♣, I plan on jumping to 5♠ next round to show a big black two-suiter with longer clubs. East didn’t raise hearts, so partner might have some length there, probably four, so may not have much of a fit for my suits. Still, I don’t need much for slam.”

Kitty and Steve Cooper: “The problem with starting with 4♣ is that we may never get to bid spades. Doesn’t 5♠ over partner’s 4 sound like a delayed splinter?”

Jill Meyers: “I’ll start with 4♣, which is forcing.”

Four experts made a 3 cuebid. They felt they might find out about spades, and can still get to 6♣.

“I’ll start with 3 and go from there,” said Jeff Meckstroth.

“I bid 3 in case partner has spades,” said Betty Ann Kennedy. “If I hear 4, I’ll settle for 6♣. The third-round spade control and a possible missing A, have me concerned.”

“Let’s start with a 3 cuebid, even though this usually shows diamond support,” said Don Stack. “We may get lucky and hear partner bid spades. If he doesn’t, then our next bid will be 6♣.”

“What bad can come from bidding 3?” asked Peggy and John Sutherlin. “The trouble with bidding 4♣ is that a 4♠ follow-up would be non-forcing.”

Freak hands often frustrate a panel consensus. The path you take might depend on your personality. Are you a scientific bidder (3 or 4♣), a practical bidder (6♣) or a conservative bidder (Bridge Buff chooses 5♣)?

Want to receive the retro “It’s Your Call” by email?

The Zoom Room is available Monday through Friday, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm (Eastern).

Getting help is easier than ever with the ACBL Zoom Chat service.
Simply click the "Join Zoom Chat" button below to be taken to our dedicated zoom room.
Once there, click the "Launch Meeting" button to start your session. To hear us and vice-versa - don't forget to "Join with computer audio."

If the Zoom Room isn't available and you need answers, you can email us at membership@acbl.org.

Join Zoom Chat