What’s your call?
| 3NT | ||||
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass | Dbl |
Robinson leads off the 4♥ charge. “No way to investigate a slam, and the heart game figures to be a reasonable contract.”
Korbel explains: “Although it’s easy to envision a slam or even a grand slam, getting to the five level is not exactly safe. Picture:
♠A Q x x ♥Q x ♦ K x x ♣A J x x.
I will take the low road. It won’t be the first time I’ve missed a slam.”
The Sutherlins settle for game. “We may well have a slam, but we have no way to safely explore. Partner has possible spade strength wasted and may not even have a heart card.”
Lawrence bids 4♥, too. “This is a nice hand, but North has wasted spade values, which means he could have 13 working high-card points. Would 4♦ be a transfer?”
“Pesky opponents,” Sanborn complains. “I’d like to be able to transfer and make a slam try, but that option is gone.”
Says Kennedy, “Because some of partner’s values are in spades, I have devalued my hand.”
Meckstroth is a 4♥ bidder. “Might make slam. No way to be sure.”
Meyers is content with 4♥. “I am tempted to make a slam try, but there is no safety at the five level. Plus my hand looks worse, knowing my partner has spade values.”
Stack agrees. “We have every reason to think there is a solid game in this hand, but not necessarily slam. There will probably be a 4♠ call coming, after which this hand will compete to 5♦, expecting to make a five-level contract. But there is no need to be at the five level with this hand unless the opponents push us up there.”
“Go high?” asks Colchamiro. “Go low? I’m going low opposite one or more wasted spade cards.”
Cohen calls his 4♥ a big underbid, “but I have no five-level safety opposite, say:
♠K Q x x ♥x x ♦ A x x ♣A Q J x.
I blame East for his annoying 3♠ bid.”
Several panelists deem the hand too good for a mere jump to game.
Boehm cuebids 4♠, planning to follow with 5♥. “Slam chances look good enough to risk the five level.”
Hampson bids 4♠ to show his spade void and a desire to move toward slam. “Hopefully, we can sort out strain later.”
Weinstein flies to 5♥. “I have too much to bid just 4♥. When you can construct a reasonable hand for partner that makes a grand laydown, e.g.,
♠A x x x ♥Q x x ♦ A K x ♣A x x,
it is usually right to look for a slam. 5♥ loses the diamonds, but it has the advantage of being an unambiguous slam try in hearts.”
