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 |
There’s a whole lot about this hand to not like, as Robinson points out. “I don’t like 3NT. I don’t like four of either minor. I don’t like 4NT. Because I don’t like any of the alternatives, I might as well pass and hope we can’t make anything.”
Pass by Rigal, “worn out by remembering the system on the previous deal. I’m hoping this isn’t our hand. I’m a ♦ K or more short of a 4NT call, and bidding either minor would be a lottery.”
Sanborn suggests, “Maybe partner can reopen. My suits are so bad for a four-level action. Plus, who knows which one to choose?”
The Sutherlins say, “Bidding now is almost certain to get us too high. Partner is a passed hand. If he can’t balance, we have no game.”
Cohen: “Not enough for 3NT natural or 4NT minors, so a disciplined pass, hopefully in tempo so that partner isn’t compromised.”
Korbel: “Sure, we could have a game opposite:
♠x x ♥A x x ♦ K Q x x x ♣J x x,
but partner will reopen with a hand like that. Bidding here is dangerous. I will pass again if LHO raises to 4♠. Sometimes circumstances conspire to let the opponents steal. Such is life.”
Falk agrees. “Way too much of my strength is in spades for me to consider 4NT. With such cheesy minors, I’m not overcalling one of them at the four level, either. Bidding on a hand like this is how one goes minus at both tables in an IMP match.” Lawrence agrees. “I doubt anyone will find a bid here.”
Colchamiro passes. “4♦ is unthinkable on that suit, and 4♣ is almost as bad. 4NT minors is more than a bit much, bordering on masochistic. If I put down this dummy after trying 4NT, partner would turn 50 shades of red! King–queen in their suit equals defense, so what’s left but pass?”
Meyers and Stack get caught in the bidding trap.
3NT by Stack. “This hand is highly flawed.” (Too bad we already gave the award for understatement of the set to Barry on No. 1.) “But assuming we have enough points to do something, what are our choices? It doesn’t look like we want to put this hand at the five level in a minor or bid one of the minors at the four level. The notrump game is as likely as anything, so bidding 3NT with 15 HCP makes some sense. This is one time I refuse to blame my bid on Bob Hamman and his oft-cited rule.”
4♣ by Meyers, who sounds like she immediately regrets it. “I can’t decide whether to bid 4♣ or 4♦ , which means I should probably pass. If I bid 4♣ and partner raises, I would like having the ♦ A opposite shortness. If I bid 4♦ and partner raises, I won’t like finding short clubs opposite my club holding.”
