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Bidding Problem #4, July 2005:
This months' problem highlights another sticky auction where solid partnership understandings are needed. Your hand:
 8654
 63
 A3
 AJ932
At matchpoints, not vul vs. vul, partner opens 1 heart and RHO bids 2 spades. What is your call and how do you plan to continue after partners' possible rebids?
This months' panel voted as follows: Pass: 9 votes
Double: 3 votes
3: 1 vote
4: 1 vote
The passers seem to be the consensus here, but to show the difficulty of this problem even they find it hard to agree on what to do after partner reopens with a double.
Follow ups by passers after re-opening double:
3: 3 votes
4: 3 votes
Pass: 2 votes
Abstain: 1 vote Cliff Nebel and Rich Laufer passed the re-opening double but both recognized the very real possibility of -670 and Rich already has his apology prepared just in case. Jeff Allen, Pat Callahan and Peter Kalat answered the re-opening double with a conservative 3 clubs while Bruce Rogoff, and the Nancy's (Widman and Molesworth) thought the hand was worth a jump to 4 clubs after partners' re-opening double. The 3 club wimpers stated they would raise any continuation by partner to game (but it may be too late if partner thinks they have less than the actual layout) while the 4 clubbers feel they are right on with values for this hand and partner should be able to judge to pass or go on. Bruce Rogoff adds that if partner doesn't double but bids 2N, 3C or 3H he has an easy raise and will convert a 3D rebid to 3H. He gave an example of x AQJxx Kxx Kxxx as a possible minimum hand for partner which would be cold for 5 clubs.
Rick Goldstein was adamant about passing initially but did not give any follow-ups. Bob Klein, Carlos Munoz and the Kraners think this hand should double, and the Kraners are willing to pass 3C or 3H by partner after the double and convert 3D to 3H. Carlos Starts with a double but will raise 2N, 3C and 3H and convert 3D to 3H. Jason Fuhrman wants to get his values across now and bids an immediate 3 clubs. He is not interested in defending, citing todays' common light opening styles making a plus score on defense on this hand far from a certainty. Joan Gerard describes her hand best with a direct 4 club bid, stating "This is most likely to get me to the right game if we belong in game." (and too high if we don't-unless an agreement is in place that this is invitational). I wonder if anyone out there plays good-bad 2NT on this sequence? Partner would be asked to bid 3 clubs as a relay after 2NT but only if he/she can stand being left there to play opposite a hand of this strength or less. Obviously from the varied results of our panel we have a lot of disagreement on this hand and a review of the sequence with your favorite partner might be a good idea.
Thanks- Ed Z.
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