IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠J 10 8 2 ♥A 2 ♦9 8 7 3 ♣10 8 6
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | Pass | ||
| 2♠(1) | Dbl | Pass | ? |
(1) Weak
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 |
| Redbl | Pass |
What should you do when partner doubles and you are 3–2 in the unbid suits? The majority bids the three-card suit.
“This hand does not have enough value to bid 2NT, so I will bid my longest unbid suit and hope not to get doubled,” says Stack. “This contract may play pretty well, and we are not vulnerable, which is good if there are undertricks.”
Kennedy agrees with 3♣. “My hand is not strong enough for 2NT.”
“I choose 3♣,” says Robinson. “This follows my theory of ‘When in doubt, bid.’”
Other comments from the 3♣ bidders:
Meyers: “I would pass at matchpoints and take my chances.”
Boehm: “Pass looks like a sure minus 470 or worse.”
Coopers: “We’re not good enough to pass.”
Falk: “Blecchh! I want to pass, but my diamond holding screams danger.”
Meckstroth: “I suppose I could bid 2NT, but that sounds like a better hand than this one.”
Rigal: “One should not pass and punish partner without more in the way of trump tricks.”
Gordons: “It could be right to defend, but we don’t think it’s worth the risk. 2NT would be natural, but we’re not strong enough.”
Three experts bid 2NT. What does that mean?
“I’m afraid to leave the double in, so I choose 2NT,” says Cohen.” I’d like to have more values and better diamonds, but if I did, it wouldn’t be a problem. I prefer to give up 50 a trick than 470.”
“Pass would be unilateral,” say the Sutherlins. “We’ll take the wimpy way out and bid 2NT. By the way, have you discussed what 2NT by North would have meant?”
“2NT,” says Colchamiro. “I presume that’s lebensohl, otherwise put me down for 3♣ — help! I’m not brave enough to pass at IMPs.”
Cochamiro’s call is listed as 2NT, even though other panelists (who commented) said it should be natural.
There are two other calls that received one vote.
“Pass,” says Lawrence. “I’m hoping for a plus. Bidding does not appeal to me. Whether 2NT would be natural or lebensohl is a good thing to have discussed.”
“3NT,” says Bridge Buff. “My human partner has shown a strong hand. Game in notrump should play well.”
When partner makes a takeout double, bid your longest suit from among those he’s shown if there’s no better alternative.
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