Retro Edition

What’s your call?

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, Geoff Hampson, 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 Buff

Talkative 10s
Even with just a singleton in partner’s suit, all but one panelist (and Bridge Buff) accept partner’s invitation to game.

“I like my hand,” says Meckstroth as he bids 4. “The 10 might be just right.”

Cohen bids 4 “based on my 10.” Further, he chooses hearts “because most hands I mentally construct show that it will play better in hearts (than in notrump).”

Falk calls this hand an example of why he hates fourth-suit forcing. “Partner may feel it necessary to bid 3 on poorish hearts sometimes since the only option is to force to game rather than invite game. Despite the club spots, I don’t feel I should ‘grab’ 3NT. My second choice is pass and go plus (it is matchpoints). But the two 10s sway me to try for game.”

“With my aces and king, I prefer being in a suit contract,” says Kennedy. “I have too much hand to pass.”

“That 10 and the ♣10 9 are talking to me,” claims Lawrence. “If my heart was the 2, I would pass 3.”

Rigal echoes: “Without the 10, I would pass.”

Colchamiro calls 4 safer. “If I needed a board, I might try 3NT. A guess, but the 10 tips me to 4.”

“Partner is interested in a heart game,” says Walker, “not 3NT. Unless I hold a big hand, 3NT is rarely a good contract after this auction.”

“3NT is tempting,” counters Weinstein, “but my minor-suit controls suggest 4 is better. The 10 is nice, but partner’s hearts may not be good enough for 3NT if the opponents succeed in cutting communications.”

Sanborn raises to 4. “I believe that these hands play better in partner’s suit since I don’t have a real source of tricks in my own hand.”

The Gordons also raise 3 to 4. “Pass could be right, but 3NT is masterminding.”

Boehm, one of the trio of 3NT bidders, says “Thanks for the 10s,” then adds, “Partner can still correct to 4.”

“If partner really wants to play 4, he’ll bid it over 3NT,” reasons Robinson. “If, however, partner wants to play in 3NT, he can’t bid it over 4.”

Hampson, too, suggests playing in 3NT. “I have a pretty good hand and prime cards plus the spot help in clubs, but I have no real heart fit. So I will try for nine tricks and the game bonus. If partner continues to 4, then A K, ♣A should be of help.”

“Pass is easy at matchpoints,” according to the Coopers, “although with a second heart, we would bid game. At IMPs, we would bid game if vulnerable. Three quick tricks and two possible sources of tricks are very good.”