What’s your call?
| 2♠ | 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 |
| Dbl | Pass |
All but two of the panelists opt for 2NT. “Not perfect, but close” seems to be the consensus. Even Bridge Baron gets the full 100 for bidding 2NT!
Weinstein: “2NT. I am in range, I have a stopper and I am balanced, so I finally feel good about a bid in IYC!”
The Coopers, too, are unperturbed. “2NT. What else?”
Meyers isn’t quite as giddy, but makes the 2NT call anyway. “Not picture-perfect, but better than passing and I don’t like 2♠.”
Sanborn calls the hand “well within the range of 2NT overcalls, but not good enough to double then bid 3NT. We still have Stayman and transfers available.”
Meckstroth gives fleeting thought to defending 2♥ before he bids 2NT. “My hearts aren’t good enough to try to penalize them.”
Robinson’s 2NT takes partner’s hand into consideration: “I can’t afford for it to go all pass in 2♥ when partner could have a fair hand without spades.”
Cohen says, “I’m not passing at these colors and I have the wrong shape for a double. Yes, it’s tempting to overcall on the chunky four-card spade suit and I expect it will get many votes. I’m just afraid I won’t be able to ruff hearts in dummy if left-hand opponent’s spades are higher than dummy’s.”
Even as she bids 2NT, Walker admits to “a lot of admiration” for the 2♠ bidder, whom she guesses to be Robinson but is in reality …
Rigal: “2♠. Marshall Miles would have no trouble with this one. We expect heart ruffs in dummy even facing a 3=1=4=5 pattern. I could even imagine making 4♠ on a 4–2 fit here!”
Colchamiro doubles, and he has all his contingencies laid out: “If partner bids 2♠, I’ll bid 3♠. If 3♣ or 3♦, I’ll bid 3NT. If 2NT, then I’ll bid 3♣ (though pass could be the winner). If 3♠ then 4♠. And if 4♠, then 5♠.”
