What’s your call?
| 3NT | ||||
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass |
Falk leads the pack of 4♠ bidders. “My second bid pretty much showed a distributional hand, and five–five is probably what partner expects, so I’m not retelling my story. 3♠ is forcing, so my choices are limited. And because pard must have been planning to lead a spade against 1NT doubled and get in with some side card (perhaps ♦ A), his spades must be good. And, because I have shown five–five, he must surely have six of them. Anyway, no other bid appeals, so I’ll raise partner, and if I’m wrong, it can’t be my fault!”
“4♠,” bids Boehm. “Is 3♠ forcing? Partner may think so. At any rate, I have quite a prime hand.”
Cohen, “with a wary glance at West,” calls 4♠ “the least I can do.”
“Sounds like a forcing auction,” the Sutherlins say. “We expect partner to have a good six-card spade suit and an opening hand. Game should have a good play.”
Weinstein agrees. “3♠ should be forcing, and even if it weren’t, I have a ruffing value, two aces and two-card support.”
“The good news,” announces Robinson, “is that the opponents probably have the whole diamond suit, which means that our values are outside of diamonds. Partner’s hand is unlimited, so he might think 3♠ is forcing.”
Meckstroth says, “I have a nice hand for spades. I would like to have a third trump, but no such luck!”
Lawrence agrees. “I cannot tell how well we fit, but I have good values for a spade contract.”
Rigal, the Latin scholar: “This is forcing and I have support. QED. Not enough for a 4♦ cuebid — I’d need the ♠K for that.”
4♠ by Walker, too. “There’s no room to do anything but guess about the real strength of partner’s hand and spade suit. Fitting punishment for bumping up the auction with that 3♣ bid.”
Sanborn doesn’t believe there’s been a psych, “so I don’t feel the need to cue 4♦ . 3♠ was forcing (the double and new suit at the three level should be forcing).”
“4♠,” says Meyers. “I’m done.”
Hampson offers a thoughtful 4♦ , pausing on the way to 4♠ to show the diamond control. “I am easily worth a raise and want partner to know about the stiff and good controls for possible slam.”
The Coopers use 4♦ to ask partner to pick the major-suit game. “We’re not sure if we should play 4♥ or 4♠, so let partner pick. Our 3♣ bid didn’t promise five clubs, but these aren’t really good enough to rebid.”
Colchamiro bids 4♦ , too. “3♠ is forcing, so I want to leave room — with-out being committal — to explore for all possible games: 4♥, 4♠ or 5♣. 4♣ would probably preclude us getting to 4♠ when that is right.”
Kennedy bids 4♣. “Obviously partner has a good hand, so I’m bidding out my shape. Partner is in control.”
