IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠A Q 7 5 4 ♥A 8 5 ♦10 2 ♣A 7 5
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♠ | |||
| 3♦ | Dbl | Pass | ? |
| 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT | ||
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass |
What’s your call?
For yesterday’s It’s Your Call deal (from July 2010’s Bridge Bulletin), Pass was named top bid.
The experts were divided between passing with a trump holding of ♦10 2 or bidding a three-card suit. Either call is a lie. Which is the better lie?
“Pass,” said Karen Walker. “I have bad offense because of no fit. I have good defense with three and one-half quick tricks and a partner who’s shown some strength. This means at least plus 200.”
“You have no good bid to make,” said Mike Lawrence, “and you have good defense. Your partner doubled on the three level so he should provide a couple of tricks on average.”
“I don’t like to pass at IMPs with nothing in trumps,” said Brad Theurer, “but I have no known fit, good defense, and partner has a decent hand after acting on the three level.”
“I pass and follow the law of total tricks, wherever it leads,” said Barry Rigal. “At this vulnerability, partner likely has a 2=4=3=4 hand with about 9 points.”
“Pass rates to collect 500, even if we have a game,” said Kitty and Steve Cooper. “An alternative is to bid 3*D* to ask partner to pick a major.”
North may play you for a stronger hand if you rebid 3♦.
“Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,” said Mel Colchamiro. “Pass leads to the most likely plus score. Partner probably has two tricks for a three-level negative double.”
“I pass, but would bid 3*H* against a known, solid West,” said August Boehm.
This is an excellent point. Players preempt with junky hands these days, and that makes pass more appealing. Against a player who is more likely to have a solid preempt, 3♥ makes more sense.
The other group of panelists chose to rebid 3♥.
“3♥,” said Kerri Sanborn. “I suppose pass could be right, but it’s such a big position to take.”
“I don’t like bidding 3♥ with a three-card suit, but I have no alternative,” said Steve Robinson.
“I’m hoping to land on my feet with 3♥,” said Don Stack. “Partner can have a five-card heart suit, and even a 4–3 fit may play okay. Pass could work out, but it’s unlikely that the opponents have gone crazy at this vulnerability.”
“3♥ is the best of the bad,” said Peggy and John Sutherlin. “Even if it’s a 4–3 fit, it may work out nicely with the tap in the short hand.”
“We see the merit of pass, but it’s unduly risky at IMPs,” said Linda and Robb Gordon. “We would be more inclined to pass at matchpoints.”
“I choose 3♥, but wouldn’t be surprised is pass is the long-run winner,” said Larry Cohen. “Minus 670 is so upsetting at IMPs. Let’s see if anyone passes and blames me.”
Either passing or bidding 3♥ is a lie. Which lie do you tell?
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