IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠10 ♥A Q ♦A K 10 9 7 6 ♣J 10 4 2
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | |||
| Pass; | 1♠ | Pass | ? |
What’s Your Call?
| 1NT | ||||
| 2♣ | 2♦ | 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 |
With 6–4 distribution, experts often rebid their six‑card suit with a minimum minimum, but rebid their four‑card suit with a little extra. In this case, half the panel choose 2♦. Why?
Sutherlins: “Our minor‑suit disparity is too much to bid 2♣. A 6–1 diamond fit will play better than a 4–3 club fit.”
Meyers: “If my clubs were better, I would bid 2♣, but partner may pass with a singleton diamond and two or three low clubs.”
Colchamiro: “I’m a big believer in showing the second suit first, but the disparity in strength dissuades me. If I bid 2♦, I have easy rebids over most continuations.”
Sanborn: “It is close whether to bid 2♦ or 3♦. When I have a choice, I think I need seven and one‑half tricks to jump — this doesn’t quite make it.”
Meckstroth: “I like 2♦ because 3NT likely belongs from my side and this gives partner more room.”
Falk: “Partner’s bid did not improve my hand, so if the auction is going to end in a partscore, I’d prefer diamonds to clubs. If I bid 2♣, I’m minimum for bidding a 6–4 hand this way. If I bid 2♦ now, I have extras for any continuation. This isn’t close to a 3♦ or any other strength‑showing bid.”
Two experts disagree.
“3♦ seems right on suit‑quality and values,” says Rigal. “Unless partner has five clubs, that suit is for the birds.”
“This is pretty close to a textbook 3♦ bid,” agrees Walker. “With a suit this strong, there’s no need to mislead partner about suit quality by rebidding 2♣.”
Seven panelists choose 2♣.
Stack: “This is a good 6–4 hand with the 10s carrying weight, so I will start with 2♣ and hope that I get a chance to bid diamonds later. If this were a bad 6–4, I would rebid diamonds.”
Robinson: “2♣ is what you bid with a two and one‑half diamond bid.”
Boehm: “I’m in between 2♦ and 3♦, so I’ll settle for the 2♣ temporizing move and bid 3♦ next, if I get the chance.”
Lawrence: “Bidding 2♣ is the standard approach. I intend to bid 3♦ next, if possible.”
Gordon: “This is not strong enough for 3♦. There’s no reason not to introduce the second suit. It’s amazing how many good games and slams are missed when the four‑card suit is bypassed to rebid the six‑card suit.”
North’s 1♠ response didn’t improve the South hand, so most of the panel rejected 3♦. A 2♦ rebid is more likely to get you to the best partscore. Rebidding 2♣ is more likely to get you to the best game. The panel sees this as a close decision.
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