I Am the Walrus

Today, a special bonus round of WWGD, in two parts, and everyone can play! First, your partner opens a 15-17 point notrump at IMPs vulnerable against not, and you hold the following:

K9
J32
83
AKQJ95

WWGD?
A. Bid 4C Gerber, postponing his decision until after his partner shows aces.
B. Make a quantitative raise to 4NT, asking partner to bid slam with a maximum hand.
C. Bid Stayman, planning to rebid 3C over any response, showing a slam-invitational hand and clubs.
D. Raise to 3NT and take the sure profit.

The answer, for you neophytes, is of course D. As the responder you are captain. The opener, crew, has already shown his hand, and it is up to you to place the contract. You have 13 points, partner has 17 at most, how can slam be a high-percentage proposition? Here’s the full deal:

N/S Vul
IMPs
Dealer: North
Lead: 4

	gritbiz Q 6 A Q 4 A K Q 5 4 10 6 4
fraser A J 7 10 7 6 5 J 7 6 8 7 2		misu 10 8 5 4 3 2 K 9 8 10 9 2 3
	Maestro K 9 J 3 2 8 3 A K Q J 9 5

West Pass

North 1NT Pass

East Pass Pass

South 3NT

 

Tough luck: 6NT is cold, requiring either the heart finesse or a 3-3 diamond break. More tough luck: a 5 IMP loss on the hand, to those pairs who reached slam, betraying their ignorance of fundamental bidding theory.

On to part 2. IMPs again, both vulnerable. You hold:

K10852
K5
Q6
QJ106

Lefty opens a diamond first seat, partner overcalls one spade, righty negative doubles. WWGD?
A. Redouble, promising whatever it is you hold, as you explain slowly and carefully to partner in the post mortem.
B. Bid 2NT, because all those spade tricks are just as good in notrump, and you right-side the hand.
C. Raise to 4S on the 5-5, possibly shutting the opponents out of a heart game.
D. Raise to 2S, taking the sure profit.

You didn’t choose C, did you? The answer, once again, is D. All those loose queens and jacks aren’t going to do you any good in a suit contract, and you figure to have only about half the points anyway. Let’s have a look:

Both Vul
IMPs
Dealer: West
Lead: 5

	gritbiz A Q 7 6 4 10 8 4 3 10 A 3 2
fraser J 9 A Q A 8 7 4 3 K 9 7 5		misu 3 J 9 7 6 2 K J 9 5 2 8 4
	Maestro K 10 8 5 2 K 5 Q 6 Q J 10 6

West 1 Pass

North 1 Pass

East Dbl Pass

South 2

 

Now that’s a shame; turns out 4S is cold. But it needs East to have the heart ace or West to have the club king, and we certainly couldn’t expect anything like that on the bidding. Remember kids, it’s making the right bid that counts. Don’t worry about results. As Gee will tell you, over the long run you’ll get the scores you deserve.