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 |
Cohen, 5♣: “… because I am not allowed to bid four and a half clubs. Some days, partner really has clubs and this might even get us to slam.”
Falk: “I like to cuebid, but then if I bid 5♣, I’d be saying, ‘I absolutely guarantee we can make 5♣ even if you have a dog for your takeout double. Bid slam with any excuse.’ But my hand just ain’t that great.”
Meckstroth: “5♣. My best guess as to where we belong.”
The Sutherlins: “It’s too risky to pass. We need to show our values. 5♣ is best.”
Stack: “I’m not sure if 5♣ is the value bid, but we certainly have a ton more than we could have. I would like to bid four and a half clubs without committing to game. A mere 4♣ bid is too timid, but could certainly be the winner. As we say in Kansas City, ‘That’s what preempts do.’”
5♣ by Benedict. “Nothing else makes much sense – passing without a trump stack, 3NT without a diamond stopper or 4♥ to play a 4–3 fit. This is too strong a hand to bid only 4♣.”
Boehm bids 5♣. “Maybe 3NT at matchpoints, which is a playful form of scoring, but at IMPs, I’d rather not toss the ball in the air.”
5♣ by Korbel. “I see no reason not to make the value bid when I have three low diamonds and a nice-looking hand. We could even get to slam.”
Several panelists, however, find reason to hang back with 4♣.
One is Pavlicek. “Ugly, but after years of going long in these situations, I have found that my partners were usually doing the same with their double. I might lose 6 IMPs missing a nonvul game, but I may save more by avoiding the ax when partner has his usual.”
Another is Robinson. “Partner made a takeout double, so I’m bidding my best suit. I see no need to mastermind by bidding a three-card major or by bidding 3NT hoping that the opponents don’t run the diamond suit.”
4♣ by Meyers: “Not sure why this problem is here.”
Lee, 4♣: “Just not enough of a hand to go for 5♣. Pass and 3NT have little appeal, though they could obviously work on a good day.”
Colchamiro sees too many losers for 5♣, “and 3♥ is just not my style.”
Sanborn: “I don’t think I’m quite good enough for 5♣ or a cuebid. Partner is under pressure and might not have full values.”
On this hand, the solo 3NT bidder is Hampson. “Even when diamonds are running, they may not be led.”
