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 |
OK, OK, yes! We should have opened this hand 1NT. At least it’s not an IMP problem.
Lee passes. “I’m not bidding four of a minor with a 5–3–3–2 minimum – it’s just too poor a description. As a side note, I would have opened a 15–17 notrump.”
Pass by Cohen. “Do you have topublish this? Decisions like these make me glad to be ‘retired’ from tournament play.”
Korbel passes. “This is why I didn’t double in problem No. 2! We havenowhere appealing to go and plenty of high cards. Let’s hope we beat them a trick or three.”
Pass by Boehm. “Wrong vulnerability to try for a one-trick set, but any plus score may be the best we can do. 4♣could get raised or corrected to hearts, neither too appetizing.”
Hampson passes. “I hope we havea plus here.” He politely adds, “P.S. I would open this hand a 15–17 notrump all day.”
Falk passes. “Matchpoints is the only form of scoring we can take this chance. I’m hoping I’ve got three tricks on defense and that partner can produce two more.”
Ditto Rigal: “A bottom is only a bottom and I can’t think of any option that won’t disgust me, so I’ll cross myfingers, clutch my lucky heather and four-leaf clover and grit out a pass.”
Ditto Handley: “Hands like this show why preempts work. There is no clearly right bid at the four level and I’m perfectly comfortable having the suit I bid led.”
The Sutherlins pass. “No heart fit, no good alternative.”
And Lawrence: “Pass. This hand shows the reasons for not making a negative double on problem No. 2. The only other bid is 4♣. I don’t like playing in 3–3 fits.”
Even Robinson passes! “I don’t usually pass negative doubles, but I see no reasonable alternative. At least I canhandle a diamond lead.”
4♣ by Colchamiro, who lets loose: “What happened to 1NT on the firstround? You mean a 10 in our long suit and 10–9–7 as opposed to J–3–2 isn’t worth a bump up?”
Sanborn bids 4♣, too. “Looks like a four-card suit to me.”
Meckstroth bids – wait for it – 3NT. “Stoppers are for children.”
