What’s your call?
| 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 |
Korbel calls it: “4♦ will be a landslide, if not unanimous.”
Yep, says Meyers. “Let partner pick a major.”
Weinstein makes a feeble attempt at poetry (I think): “I’m not sure if I can make game, but I care too much about strain. I hope they don’t double and cause me much trouble.”
“4♦ is a slight overbid opposite a balancing double,” the Sutherlins say, “but it ensures that we play in our best major – presumably a 4–4 fit. Guessing to bid 3♥ or 3♠ could easily lead to playing the wrong major at the wrong level.”
Abdou calls 4♦ “a bit light,” but it will lead to finding the right strain. “It pays to be pushy, vulnerable at IMPs. Pass is a close second choice.”
Robinson bids 4♦ , asking partner to pick a major. “If he’s 3–3 in the majors, he has to bid 4♥.”
Lee calls 4♦ easy. “I’m not making a speculative pass, especially at this vulnerability, when four of a major will probably roll. I can create hands where 3NT is right, but insisting on it seems terrible.”
Rigal agrees that passing is “a huge position” to take. “4♦ is the most flexible action, even though it may drive us too high. But who would stop in a partscore with this hand?”
Stack calls 4♦ an aggressive bid, “but this hand will play well in an eight-card fit. To bid only 3♥ or 3♠ with this hand is an underbid. Pass is not tempting with two biddable majors.”
Hampson, too: “Playing in a real major-suit fit is too important to risk guessing which major to play in with a three-level underbid.”
“Toughie!” cries Sanborn. “I bid 4♦ because of the game bonus and pray partner is not a minimum 3=3=1=6. I might pass the double in a long knockout match.”
Cohen is all alone in passing. “A lot will depend on partner’s clubs. If he has something like ♣K Q 10 x, defending is likely right. If he has ♣10 x x x and all his points are in the majors, a pass could be disastrous. I’d be much happier at matchpoints. I’m not saying, ‘Pass – what’s the problem?’ but rather ‘Pass – tough decision.’ Speaking of tough decisions, I’m not sure whether I’m leading the ♥K or my singleton club.”
Falk, too, is all alone. He bids 4♥. “Yes, I know I’ve given partner the choice between 3♦ undoubled and game in a major, but I’m just too good for only 3♥. While 4♦ is tempting and may well get a majority of the panel, what is poor North supposed to do over 4♦ with, say:
♠A J x ♥A x x ♦ x x ♣K Q x x x?
Even if partner has four spades and three hearts, 4♥ rates to be quite playable.”
