Washington Bridge League Solver's Club - Nov/Dec 2008
Moderator: Steve RobinsonSep/Oct 2008Jan/Feb 2009
Congratulations to Mark Laken and Seymour Baden who tied for first with a score of 470.
 Congratulations to Mark Laken, John Flynn,  and Seymour Badenwho tied for first with a score of 470. They win a free entry to the Unit Game and will be invited to be on a future panel. Tied for third were Enid Hughes and Craig Olson with a score of 460. Tied for fifth were Tom Fukawa, Beryl Chaby, Randall Holden, Rex Settle, Elgin Burrows and Joe Lentz with a score of 450. Tied for eleventh were Robert Boorman, Terry Lavender, Penny Stoever, Merril Hirsh and Carl Gutschick with a score of 440. Tied for sixteenth were Marvin Elster, Barry Bragin, Jim Allen, Barbara Summers, Lloyd Rawley, JC Clement, Prahalad Rajkumar, Owen Byer, Fran McNaught, Henny Dorsman, Ellen Cherniavsky, Jon Farber, Arnie Frankel and Mike Richey with a score of 430. Tied for Thirtieth were Carol Elfant, Rick McDaniel, Norris Hekimian, Dorothy Russell, Meil Zussman, Davis Bonner and John Lawrence with a score of 420. The average score of the 274 solvers was 373. The average score of the experts was 469

All readers are encouraged to send answers and/or new problems to Steve Robinson, 2891 S. Abingdon St. #A2 Arlington, VA, 22206-1329. In addition to the winner receiving a free play at the WBL Unit Game, Steve will play with anyone who gets a perfect score or who exactly matches all five of his answers. If you send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address along with your answers, I will send you a copy of the new problems to ensure that you can meet his next deadline. You can pick up a copy of the problems at the WBL Unit Game in Maryland, and can send answers or requests for problems to robinswr@erols.com. You can also see and answer the problems at the WBL web site. WBL Solvers Club uses Washington Standard as published July 1996. I accept only one answer from each solver.

I personally score all the problems. If a majority of the solvers vote for an answer, and the answer is reasonable I will give that answer 100 points. I will not give 100 points to an answer that I consider bad no matter how many experts vote for it. There are times when I want to make a point. I will give that answer 100 points and will therefore give the majority answer 90 points. For the other answers I consider how good the answer is and how many experts vote for it for its score. If you submitted an answer that got 20 points, that bid would get a bad score at the table. A good exercise would be to figure out why I gave your answer 20 points. You might have misread the problem.

The book Washington Standard second edition is out. If you are a serious bridge player, this book is a must. You can purchase a copy from Steve for $25.00 at the Unit Game, at tournaments or can send him a check for $29.80 that includes $4.80 for priority mail.


Partner has made a strength showing double. His double shows at least ten HCP, promises a rebid and usually he wants to double at least one of the opponent’s suits. If he can’t double one of the opponent’s suits he hopes you can double it. KQJxxxKxxAxxx would be a typical double of 2. If the opponents bid 2 he’ll double. If the opponents bid 2 he’ll hope that you can double. He could also have a balanced strong hand. The double is similar to a redouble after a takeout double.

I like the following call. Let’s see what partner has for his redouble. If it goes 2 all pass, get a new partner.

Musso: ”Pass---Partner's double is interest in penalizing at least one of overcaller's majors, assumed to be Spades, and requires another bid if 2 passes around to him.  Since this hand could play anywhere from a diamond partial to 3NT to 5 or 6, let's see what partner bids next to help clarify the situation.”

Smith: ”Pass---And see what happens. A direct 3 bid would be weaker than this hand.”

Hopkins: ”Pass---Partner owes me a bid and I am going to see what it is. Unless we play 2 doubled, I will be looking for a Diamond game/slam or possibly 3NT.”

Landen: ”Pass---Partner is forced to act. I assume he will do something other than double.  This would imply he had spades stopped. After partner makes a call other than double, I'll probably continue with 3NT, possibly with 5. 3 directly over 2 would be not forcing and I must drive to game with this hand.”

If partner does not double 2, he probably has spades.

Cappelletti: ”Pass---A forcing auction and lets partner make his 3 bid. If you had bid 3, then he might bid 4.”

Schwartz: ”Pass---An immediate 3 bid is not forcing so I am too good for that so I might as well pass to see what partner has to say. With the opponents bidding hearts and partner not likely to have a stiff, I should not be preempted.”

Roman: ”Pass---Bidding now would show a bad hand. Pass and then bid diamonds shows offense.”  

King: ”Pass---This is not a hand to defend with, but passing and then bidding is stronger than bidding immediately. Partner has promised a call.”  

The following experts make an assumption and you know what an assumption is. What would partner bid over 2 holding 43KQxxKxxAKxx? East could be trying to confuse you and get a heart lead against a diamond contract by bidding 2 holding QJ10xxx-xxxxxxx. They can run the first five or six spades against 3NT. Partner’s more likely to have AxxxKxKxxAxxx and 6is cold.

Adams: ”3NT---It might make, Partner has spades so I bid 3NT. Perhaps not everyone's answer, but this one I feel strongly about. There really is no second choice.”

Woolsey: ”3NT---Partner has said he can double one of the majors, and if East is picking hearts that major is spades. This means we have both majors stopped, so bid the most likely game.”

I don’t think the following bid is forcing. If you use the same logic after 1 - double – redouble – Pass, direct bids show a minimum opener and are not forcing. You bid 2 holding KQJxxxxxKQxxx to show a weak hand with spades and clubs. With an ace more you pass and later bid your clubs.

Parker: ”3---Partner can now bid 3 if he wants me to bid 3NT with a heart stopper. I should describe my hand and that is long diamonds. With my good hearts a pass will only force partner to bid clubs and I will not have described my hand. Please don't tell me to double here.”

Double of Michaels or the Unusual Notrump and redouble of a takeout double promise a rebid.