What’s your call?
| 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 | Dbl |
Good job partner! Got ‘em right where we want ‘em.
“Double!” says Donn. “I know it’s IMPs, but you can’t just let them off if you believe they have guessed wrong. They are usually down – sometimes several – so make them pay.”
Boehm bids what he says is right under his nose. “Double. Partner may lack an entry for 3NT.”
Colchamiro is salivating. “Double. Yum, yum. Anywhere between plus 300 and plus 1100 is coming our way.”
Hampson doubles. “I have a decent chance to collect a good number here and I doubt that game will be good our way. On a bad day, they will make, but I am willing to take that chance.”
Double by Henneberger. “Missing three aces and holding two small in partner’s suit makes me skeptical about making game our way. On a really bad day, the opponents might make 2♠, but I still like our chances for a significant plus score by doubling.”
Weighing a vulnerable notrump game versus setting 2♠, Weinstein opts to defend. “We might make 3NT if partner has great diamonds and/or an entry, but it seems more likely that we would go down, and they are going down a couple.”
Meckstroth is expecting at least 300 on defense. “Game is very iffy.”
Lawrence lowers the boom. “Hearts are enough of a concern to sway me from 3NT. East’s bid hints that my partner has a minimum 2♦ bid. I like my chances for plus 300.”
Rigal doubles. “3NT on a heart lead, or even a heart shift, rates to be awkward. But if we can’t get 300 out of 2♠, we surely aren’t making anything at the three level or higher.”
Ditto Meyers: “It might be right to bid 3NT, but I am not sure we can make the vulnerable game, and I am pretty sure we can beat 2♠.”
Robinson invites game with 2NT. “Why can’t partner have good diamonds and a heart honor? He’s vulnerable.”
Lee’s 2NT: “I’ll let partner out opposite a minimum, but I think we should try for our vulnerable game before making a penalty double we might regret.”
The vulnerability makes them do it:
“3NT,” bids Cohen. “The colors make me go for the big prize of 600. I’m sending mental telepathy waves to West to ‘lead partner’s suit.’”
Sanborn, 3NT: “Hope for no heart lead.”
Korbel passes. “I will double any higher level of spades, but they may not be done bidding yet. It’s close between this and 3♦ for me.”
Shi raises to 3♦. “I can’t double 2♠, so maybe if I bid 3♦ they will bid 3♠ and I can double that. Partner should have a good suit vulnerable. 50 a trick in 2♠ is unacceptable, and I expect to make 3♦.”
