What’s your call?
| 1♥ | 1♠ | 1NT | ||
| 2♣ | 2♦ | 2♥ | 2♠ | 2NT |
| 3♣ | 3♦ | 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT |
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass |
With most of the values in the deck accounted for, South is in the liberating position of being able to bid whatever he wants without promising anything in the way of high-card points. Sounds like time for a cuebid!
“2♦ ,” offers Weinstein. “This doesn’t show values after the redouble. 4♦ is tempting, but that seems like too much.”
Sanborn ponders, “How to show playing strength but no high-card strength? Either I can jump (2♥ or 2♠) or cuebid. Here I have two places to play, so partner should read me for both majors and tricks.”
Lawrence calls 2♦ a “tentative” cuebid. “It is important to get both suits in quickly. Perhaps 3♦ is the best choice. Room for discussion.”
The considerate Meckstroth: “2♦, trying to show both majors to put partner in a good position.”
2♦ , says Hampson.“I want to stress length in both majors and a willingness to be on offense ASAP without getting really high if partner has a double-and-bid-clubs hand.”
Falk prefers 2♦ to 1♠. “If I bid only 1♠, there is some risk it will not get back to me below 3NT, and I would then have to bid 4♥. I’d rather suggest majors by bidding 2♦ now.”
2♦ by Boehm.“Partner will play me for this type of distribution, not high-card points.”
Lee, concerned how partner will take 2♦, decides to bid 1♠. “I’ll go low and try to bid hearts on the next round.”
The Sutherlins also start with 1♠. “We want to get both our suits in because we may have a good save. We will bid 2♥ next, if possible.”
Cohen says he likes to play jumps here as weak, but system ambiguities prevent him from doing so. “I will content myself with 1♠ for now and show hearts next.It really is painful for me not to be jumping and taking away their space.”
Stack acknowledges,“Some might preempt – but which suit? Or some might try and show both suits with 2♦. My bid is 1♠, and then bid hearts. This hand can compete to the three level without showing a lot of high-card points.”
Meyers also bids 1♠. “At my next opportunity – three level or lower – I will bid hearts.”
Kennedy, too. “1♠. “I’m planning on making two bids if I can.”
Rigal jumps to 3♦ to show the same hand panelists are showing with 2♦ weak with both majors. “After the redouble, 2♦ retains its meaning, but 3♦ is available for this hand. There is no other sensible meaning for the call, so one might as well use it for this!”
Robinson takes it yet a level higher, leaping to 4♦. “This shows both majors. I expect that East has either diamond support or clubs.”
“Poker” – that’s what Colchamiro calls his 4♦ call. “Against most normal dummies, four of a major won’t go down more than two, so my downside is minus 300 and who knows? My bluff might push them over the edge.”
Korbel chooses 3♥.“Hopefully this boxes them nicely without backfiring on us!”
