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 |
Stack exclaims, “What a moose opposite a negative double! We bid 4♠, and plan to bid 5♥ over 5♣ or 5♦ and let partner make the final decision. A simple 4♥ seems way too timid with the big heart fit and big hand.”
Boehm goes slam exploring with 4♠. “As little as:
♠x x ♥A J x x ♦ A J x x ♣x x x
provides a fair play for slam, and partner could easily hold more. 4♠ should imply a heart fit, the anchor suit in this auction.”
Meyers bids 4♠, which she intends to follow up with 5♥. “I believe this shows slam interest with a spade stopper, whereas a jump to 5♥ would deny a spade control.”
Rigal, too, bids 4♠, intending 5♥ on the next go-round “and let partner decide whether to bid on, facing hearts with a spade control. Switch the spades and diamonds and I’d bid 5♥ directly.”
Weinstein bids 4♠. “I’d be more nervous before seeing dummy come down in 4♥ that we’d missed a slam, than I would be in 6♥. 4♠ shouldn’t set a trump suit, so I hope partner lets me clarify my intentions on the next round with 5♥.”
Lee has sort of the same plan and he is careful to point out: “To me, 4NT is not key card for hearts. 4NT would show four diamonds and longer clubs.”
The Sutherlins’ 4♠ says, “We do not have enough to insist on slam, but we do have enough to move toward slam. Next we bid 5♥. Partner will get the message.”
Robinson uses the same technique. “4♠ followed by 5♥ should show a good 5♥ bid with a spade control.”
4♥, concedes Hampson. “They got me. I have no five-level safety, and while 3NT could be the winner, say partner has:
♠x x ♥J x x ♦ A K Q x x x ♣x x.
We still might make this.”
Kennedy sighs an unsatisfied 4♥. “Pretty timid!”
Falk bids 4♥ saying, “I’d like to do more, but it’s not safe. For us to make 6♥, I essentially need partner to have the ♥A and ♦ A K – and even then, perhaps a 3–2 heart break or not-awful club break. But my vulnerable LHO bid 3♠ – bad breaks seem inevitable. At IMPs I would do more, knowing that partner would not bid without some assurance that we are safe at the four level. At matchpoints, I have to give North more leeway.”
Cohen bids 4NT. “I’m embarrassed to be in print using Roman Key Card Blackwood with an uncontrolled side suit. It is hard, however, to picture a hand for partner that doesn’t contain the ♦ A or ♦ K. My original thought was to bid 4♠, but that won’t accomplish much. This is our best chance to sensibly reach a grand slam.”
Lawrence bids 4NT, “key card with hearts implied.”
Korbel, too. “An unsubtle bid, but I can’t see a better one. If partner shows two key cards for hearts, I will invite seven by bidding 5NT.”
Sanborn bids 5♥, saying, “This must be a general slam try since I can’t insist on slam facing just a control in spades. This is just too good a hand to be passive with.”
5♥ by Colchamiro. “At first I wrote 4♥. Damn preempts. Partner could have:
♠x x ♥A J x x ♦ A J x x x ♣x x,
and 4♥ is enough (my second spade is the killer). Then again, partner could have:
♠x x ♥A J x x ♦ A K x x x ♣J x,
and we’d want to be in seven. Damn preempts!”
