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 |
| Pass | Dbl |
“Don’t like selling out when I have a singleton in the opponent’s suit,” says Robinson, who bids 3♣. “When you’re short in the opponent’s suit, you should be aggressive.”
3♣ insists Colchamiro. “Partner didn’t double, so no way I’m passing and giving them the two level. We should have a fit in hearts or clubs. If I had a big card in diamonds instead of hearts, I might choose to double, but this hand feels better for offense than defense.”
3♣ from Cohen. “It is against my religion to let them play in an eight-card fit on the two level.”
Boehm is a 3♣er. “We should have an eight-card fit in either hearts or clubs. If partner has one heart, he holds five clubs, assuming that with 1=4=4=4, he opens 1♦ .”
As is Korbel: “Passing out 2♠ when the opponents have a known fit is not sensible matchpoint strategy. We will always have an eight-card fit on this auction. Partner will be 4=1=3=5 or, at worst, 4=2=3=4, so I will offer him a choice between hearts and clubs.”
Sanborn bids 3♣. “They have at least eight spades, and we should have that many clubs (unless partner opened 1♣ with 4=1=4=4). Can’t let them play at the two level. Double should show at least one more spade and lets partner know it is OK to pass with four trumps.”
Weinstein vacillates between 3♣ and double, and chooses double. “I’m not selling out white versus white at matchpoints with 16 total trumps (partner has to have either two hearts or five clubs) and a max for my previous bidding. Double lets partner choose to defend with a good spade holding and a stiff heart.”
Lee doubles (takeout). “If partner sits this out, he’ll probably be 4=1=3=5 with decent spades, and we’ll have reasonable chances on defense. If he pulls to 3♣ or 3♥, I’m not unhappy.”
Hampson doubles. “Hopefully partner pulls us into a plus or has enough that we can nip them two if we make anything and one if we can’t.”
Double by Kennedy: “Having already limited my hand, the double is card showing.”
Falk re-enters the auction with a double. “I’m very close to passing — but partner may be 4=1=4=4 with decent clubs and finessable diamonds, and we will not do well. But whether 2♠ scores plus 110 or minus 50, it rates to be poor matchpoint-wise, so I’ll see if partner thinks we should raise the stakes or play 3♣.”
Lawrence passes — the only pass by a panelist this month. “If partner has five clubs (likely), then making 3♣ is possible. This hand is not as good as it looks, however. If the defense can lead clubs or switch to clubs, my hand may not produce much. If I did bid, double would be my choice.”
Rigal solos with 2NT. “Yes, we could score easily enough for bidding 3♣, but because we chose 2♥ — not double or 2NT — at our previous turn, we get to help partner pick between clubs and hearts. He can even pass 2NT with, e.g.,
♠K J x ♥Q ♦ Q J x x ♣K 10 9 x x.”
