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Bidding Problem #5, August 2005: Matchpoints, both sides vul, you are the dealer:
With opponents passing throughout, you open 1D, partner responds 1H and you rebid 1S. Partner now bids 4H. What is your next call?. Your hand:
 AKxxx
 void
 AKxxxx
 QJ
The panels' response this month was nearly unanimous with 11 of 12 respondents choosing to pass partners' 4 heart rebid, but as usual everyone had comments and many implied that system agreements could influence their call. Almost all agreed that with a 4th suit forcing call of 2 clubs available, the jump to 4 hearts should not have both solid hearts and a club control, thus making any move past 4 hearts dangerous. Robin Brown points out that even 4 hearts will fail on a club lead if partner has KQJ seventh of hearts and 3 or more little clubs. She suggested opening the hand 1 spade as partner may well opt to place the contract here in 4 hearts with 3 card spade support. Likewise, Pat Callahan, Nancy Widman, Carlos Munoz, Cliff Nebel, Nancy Molesworth and Joan Gerard think the magic holding of solid hearts and a club control is impossible with a 4th suit forcing bid available, so pass is their only choice considered. Rich Laufer passed and didn't see the problem here. He says partner made it clear that they don't want to hear from him. The Kraners passed, but considered bidding 4 spades to show their 5-6 (opening 1 spade would have prevented their remorse). Jason Fuhrman passed when playing with his usual partner, but could see going on if not playing 4th suit forcing where his partner may have a minimum opener with good hearts and wants to make sure to get to game (maybe we should establish a Westchester Standard for future bidding hands?). Bruce Rogoff is also passing, but raises another partnership agreement issue, also touched upon by Jason, about any implications of diamond length in openers' hand after the 1 spade rebid. If so, the 4 heart bid would tend to imply no diamond length in partners' hand and reinforce the pass of 4 hearts. Also, partnership agreements on what an original 2 heart jump shift would mean also give more insight on what action to take over 4 hearts.
Our lone dissenter, Peter Kalat, tries 4 NT, roman key card, hoping for KQJxxxxx and the Ace of clubs.
Ed Z.
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