Retro Edition

iyc5322

What’s your call?

2 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
Click to reveal awards

Panelists
August Boehm, Larry Cohen, Mel Colchamiro, The Coopers, Allan Falk, The Gordons, The Joyces, Betty Ann Kennedy, Mike Lawrence, Jeff Meckstroth, Jill Meyers, Barry Rigal, Steve Robinson, Kerri Sanborn, Don Stack, The Sutherlins, Karen Walker, Steve Weinstein, Bridge Baron
Should I stay or should I go?

Over partner’s simple 2 rebid, is it just a matter of style whether you choose to move forward? If your partnership is prone to opening 11-and 12-counts, might 2 be your last plus? A lucky 13 think the hand’s too good to give up so easily.

The Joyces call 3 “forward-going without being reckless.”

The Gordons, on the other hand, deem 3 “not pretty.” Then they add, “We have way too much potential to pass.”

Meckstroth’s 3 “keeps things open for pard in hopes of getting to game.”

Weinstein says, “3 risks going minus for the gain of backing into hearts. Or partner may have a good 2 rebid and make 3NT.”

Boehm’s 3 “invites game without seriously jeopardizing a plus score.”

Meyers calls it close between 3 and 2NT. “It may be right to play 3NT from partner’s side, hence 3.”

3 by Rigal is “the simple action. We’ll still get to 4 when it’s the best spot but there is no point in inviting in hearts and playing the 5–0 fit, is there? I expect partner to advance with 3NT or 3 as appropriate.”

Lawrence, too: “3 is stronger than 2. If partner wishes to bid 3NT, I am happy to accept it. I am not willing to bid 2NT myself.”

“This auction just about guarantees six diamonds,” say the Coopers, “so J–x is fine for a raise. We have too much to pass with such good hearts, and why let them get in a spade bid?”

Six panelists plus the Baron decline to move past 2: too much risk, too little reward.

As Cohen passes, he says, “It’s much more likely that this is our last plus score than the remote possibility that we have a white game.”

While Stack says it is tempting to bid, the vulnerability dictates that “it is probably best to go low and not try for game.”

Robinson calls 2 a reasonable partscore deal. “At matchpoints, I might rebid 2.”

Falk estimates the notrump game to be 34% at best if they reached it, and that requires partner to hold the A–Q–10–x–x–x, (the K onside) and the king with some length in both black suits. “I’d be amazed to lose IMPs playing in 2.”