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 |
| Pass |
Hampson wants to do two things: establish a game force and show four spades. He starts with a 3♦ cuebid. “If partner bids 3♥, I will follow with 3NT in an attempt to show four spades. Over 3♠ I will cue 4♦ , agreeing spades.”
3♦ by Korbel, too. “I will bid 3♠ over 3♥ and 4♦ over 3♠ (setting trump). Partner sometimes does not have four spades, so the cuebid leaves options open for strain and also for slam.”
Lee has the same plan. “I can’t bring myself to bid 3♠ non-forcing. This hand has way too much slam potential that partner will never expect, and we could also obviously miss a cold game.”
The Sutherlins say that starting with 3♦ is better than merely jumping to 4♠. “Slam may be on. If so, a slower, informative, cooperative auction may see us there.”
“An easy one,” says Colchamiro, who bids 3♦ . “I’ll bid 3NT over 3♥ – implying four spades; 4♦ over 4♣; 4♠ over 4♥; and raise 3♠ to 4♠.”
Cohen cuebids 3♦ , saying, “I am too strong for only 3♠. Jumping to 4♠ is too committal. I can bid spades next and leave other strains in play.”
3♦ by Sanborn, who calls it close between 3♦ and 4♦ . “I think 4♦ should be a void. Over partner’s 3♥, I will bid 3♠ so we don’t wind up too high in a silly fit.”
“What’s the problem?” wonders Falk, as he bids 4♠. “If partner does not have four or more spades, he has to have club support. North ought never make a negative double with just hearts. If my partner does not know this, he will after this hand.”
4♠ by Lawrence. “If I catch four spades in dummy and the 7 or so points shown by his double, 4♠ will be worth bidding. 3♠ would show less. If partner has three spades, he may be able to return to clubs.”
Boehm is one of two 3♠ bidders. “Seems like the value bid. If partner doubled with short spades, he should have a runout, either to clubs or notrump. At least that’s what I would have.”
Meckstroth is the other 3♠ bidder. “Seems straightforward.”
