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 |
| Dbl | Pass |
Honor-bound
A good bridge player anticipates partner’s opening lead dilemma. Here’s a chance to suggest a safe lead. Is it wise to do so? Is it safe? The panel is split right down the middle.
Brandishing his 2♠ card, Rigal challenges: “At this vulnerability, only a chicken would cluck out a pass.”
“2♠,” agrees Meckstroth. “Got to get busy bidding here.”
The Coopers describe 2♠ as “not so sound,” but believe it’s important to tell partner what to lead. “It would be sad to hear it go 3NT all pass and watch pard blow a trick or two on opening lead.”
Boehm is worried he may miss his chance if he doesn’t bid 2♠ right now. “Passing and balancing over 2♥ isn’t necessarily safer.”
Hampson, Kennedy and Walker agree that 2♠ is “risky,” but the lead-directing value is worth the gamble.
“There is some risk of penalty versus a non-game (or bigger penalty than game),” says Hampson, “but I desire a spade lead versus 3NT or 4♥ and if they are going there, I won’t get another chance to suggest one.”
The Joyces take it a step further. “We have a good lead director and it may be our hand.”
Stack, Walker, Colchamiro and Lawrence note that this looks like the companion hand to hand No. 4 above, except for the vulnerability. Stack and Walker bid 2♠. “The spades are strong enough to think we will not get doubled, and we want a spade lead if the opponents bid on,” explains Stack.
Lawrence and Colchamiro, however, hang back. Lawrence says he would pass over 2♦ and balance with 2♠ over 2&kearts;.”
“Pass,” clucks Weinstein. “I will back in with 2♠ if given the opportunity. This is much safer than stepping in with 2♠ in a live auction. We’d prefer a spade lead, but we have values elsewhere if partner leads his own suit.”
Robinson says, “On my frisky days, I might bid 2♠.” But today is not a frisky day.
“Bad distribution, live auction,” dismisses Meyers with a pass.
“I hope to be able to balance later,” says Sanborn. “If I wind up defending 3NT without my lead director, 2♠ doubled was likely going to be bloody anyway.”
“Chiming in with 2♠ on a flat hand is just an insult to partner,” admonishes Falk. “If it goes 2♥–pass–pass, I can balance with 2♠.”
The Gordons pass. “We don’t even see a rational alternative.”
