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Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠5 ♥A 6 4 2 ♦A Q 9 3 ♣A K 4 3
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | |||
| Pass | 1♠ | Pass | ? |
| 1NT | ||||
| 2♣ | 2♦ | 2♥ | 2♠ | 2NT |
| 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 |
What’s your call?
“I bid 2♣, even though I hate it,” said Lynn Deas. “It’s hard for partner to bid over 2♣ because there are so many different hand types that would make this bid. Any other bid is impossible, however, and 2♣ is the least of evils.”
“2♣,” said Betty Ann Kennedy, “and that’s quite enough. Holding a singleton spade, my hand has gone down in value.”
“I am turned off by partner’s 1♠ bid,” said Jill Meyers.
“We have the values for a reverse,” said Fritzi and Paul Gordon, “but we shy away. There’s no evidence of a fit or a playable suit.”
“No number of notrump is correct, and I don’t want to reverse into a terrible suit,” said Allan Falk. “If partner passes 2♣, that should be a reasonable spot.”
“I rate this slightly short of a reverse,” said August Boehm. “It might be a misfit and I have no length anywhere.”
I bid 2♣ by process of elimination,” said Larry Cohen. “No number of notrump works, and I’m not reversing with a potential misfit. This hand is worse than the one in problem No. 2. A fit is everything!”
“I don’t believe in distorting my hand to reverse,” said Kerri Sanborn. “2♥ should show longer diamonds than hearts. Bidding 2NT is not on my radar, and I’m not worth a jump shift. That leaves 2♣.”
“Partner’s bid has not improved my hand,” said Don Stack, “so I opt for the conservative bid. A reverse to 2♥ is too aggressive with no fit and no source of tricks.”
Five panelists didn’t agree.
“2♥,” said Peggy and John Sutherlin. “A 4–4 heart fit may be difficult to determine, if we don’t introduce the suit now.”
“2♥, even though this implies a five-card or longer diamond suit,” said Steve Robinson. “If I bid 2♣, we may never find our 4–4 heart fit, and I’m not strong enough to bid 2NT.”
“If we bid 2♣, that bid would make it hard to find a heart fit. Reversing has its drawbacks, however, and at IMPs, we would bid 2♣ instead.”
“I don’t like 2♣,” said Mel Colchamiro. “Partner could pass hands that are cold for 4♥.”
“2♥ is aggressive, but I have too much to rebid 2♣,” said Jeff Meckstroth.
Bridge Buff is the lone 3♣ bidder.
The majority of the experts bid 2♣. As Cohen said, it’s 2♣ by process of elimination.
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