What’s your call?
| 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 |
Robinson favors 2♠. “I like the next suit to be a random game try.”
The Coopers use 2♠ as a help-suit ask. “If partner has help in spades, we will bid 4♥.”
2˜, help suit by Stack. “Why not bring partner into the picture and let him know we need help in spades to make game?”
Meckstroth is of the 2♠ persuasion. “Very good hand I have. I’m tempted to just bid game but partner doesn’t need a whole lot to bid 2♥ after the overcall, so I really should give him a chance to stop.”
The Sutherlins, Boehm and Cohen explore for game with 3♣. Cohen speaks: “Not enough to insist on game, so I’ll just make a try. Please don’t publish this if Jeff Meckstroth bid a game on his own and said, ‘What’s the problem?’ As to a try of 2♠, I’d rather bid where I live.”
Four panelists use 2NT to go hunt-ing for the nine-trick notrump game. “We want to make a game try,” say the Joyces, “and this seems like a valid one. LHO and partner’s spade and diamond mix may be helpful for notrump, as well as having a six-card suit to establish.”
Meyers: “2NT. I need to make a value bid.”
“2NT, looking for general strength,” bids Walker. “I’m not making a help-suit try on x–x–x or A–x, as that will talk partner into stretching to game with Q–x–x or J–10–x–x.”
Hampson playfully leaps to 3NT, gambling that facing a heart honor he can take nine-plus tricks — “hopefully the same number as in hearts.”
Lawrence is feeling optimistic and bids 3NT. “We could have nine fast tricks. I am not worried (yet) about spades. Perhaps a little worried about diamonds.”
“3♥,” from the Gordons. “We are not fond of any alternative.”
Colchamiro chances game with a jump to 4♥. “There are too many hands that will be cold for game where partner would reject any and all game tries. I know we hate to go minus at matchpoints, but I hate to play ‘scared’ bridge.”