Readers' Bidding Forum

The following comments were received from the readers of Australia's national bridge magazine, Australian Bridge, and other bridge enthusiasts. The same problems are also discussed in the magazine, by an international panel of Andrew Robson, Larry Cohen, Mike Lawrence, Phillip Alder, Bob Jones, Marshall Miles, Frank Stewart, Eddie Kantar, Eric Kokish and Zia Mahmood, as well as many top Australian players.

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Hand One - East deals, nil vul, Matchpoints. You are South.

	AT98
	---
	KT86432
	J5

West	North	East	South
		3	?

Call	Award	% Panel	% Readers
Pass	100	55	64
4	70	22	10
Dbl	40	17	21
5	10	6	1
Other	0	0	4

This month we have two special guests joining the readers' panel. One is a talented, if not quite human, bridge professional who goes by the name Bridge Baron 17. I couldn't read most of his answers (they mostly consisted of ones and zeros), so they are being translated into English by the Baron's associate, lead programmer Stephen Smith.

The other new reader is Richard Pavlicek, who for six years has been the moderator of one of the web's most popular bidding forum columns. The forum is in hiatus at the moment, but there is a wealth of other interesting material on his site, www.rpbridge.net.

On our first problem, we provide you with 8 points and invite you to make a high level overcall. One in three players are happy to oblige.

Adriano Voscilla: 4. Since I would open this hand, why not overcall? As for bypassing 3NT, I am sure the odds are for a suit contract.

David Hester: 4. I have hesitated too long, so I can't pass. If I double, I cannot cope with a reply in clubs. 4 even offers a hope of 4, if partner bids 4.

Willem Willemse: Dbl. 6 loser hand, showing spades. If partner rejects spades there is still a good second suit.

That's the first time in the history of bridge that K1086432 has been described as a good second suit.

Tim Andrews: Dbl. A bit light, but opens possibility of a spade fit.

Steve Hurley: Dbl. Showing four spades, our best chance at game (as partner likely has values).

Martyn Rew: Dbl. Partner could have up to six hearts and leave the double in. Otherwise, I'll support partner's spades or bid diamonds.

Tim Trahair: Dbl. Should do something, but if I bid 4 we may miss a spade game.

These comments represent only a fraction of the bidders, as most of them included no comment. The passers included lots of comments (or at least one comment, repeated many times):

Margaret Reid, John Leenders, Zbych Bednarek and John Furedy: Pass. Never preempt over a preempt.

Helena Dawson: Pass. Should be strong to overcall over a weak bid just as it is good to preempt with a weak hand over a strong bid.

Terry Dunne: Pass. Even with more strength, I wouldn't want to double and have partner sit when I have a trump void. What else? 4? East has already preempted so there is no need for me to do so.

Sydney Frish: Pass. I’d rather forgo a doubtful chance of being a hero than take a more likely one of losing a partner.

Josh Sher: Pass. I want to bid, but if I bid partner will bid too much and we will go minus anyway.

Alexander Cook: Pass. Bidding here is very dangerous, even at matchpoints. Not enough points for a takeout double, and an overcall of 4 with a flimsy diamond suit and a four card major on the side is a recipe for disaster. Let's hope that partner can bid 3 or double.

David Matthews: Pass. Whilst tempting to bid, it would mislead partner as to strength. If 4 comes round to me I can consider competing.

Richard Pavlicek: Pass. Unfortunately, my Mighty Mouse suit is at the cleaners. You have to draw the line somewhere, and any action here seems to cross it.

There is a fine line between a bid and a pass in these situations, and a problem like this gives us a good opportunity to locate that line. The Baron wants the J instead of the 10.

Bridge Baron: Pass. On this deal, Bridge Baron would need to be about a point stronger to bid.

Andrew MacAlister: Pass. I am about a king short of a bid. It makes partner's job too difficult if you bid with a weak hand over a preempt.

Paul Tranmer: Pass. About a king short of what I’d need to take immediate action here. Extreme vulnerability is evident and unilateral action leads to disaster more often than triumph.

Nigel Guthrie: Pass. They say you should be sound in 2nd seat although this hand may be taking good principles too far.

A pass at this turn does not mean we have to give up. Several people expect to make a bid on the next round.

Sam Arber, Manuel Paulo and Ian Smith: Pass. too dangerous to enter auction, if something is on partner will bid.

Henri de Jong and Ken Berry: Pass. More bidding to come.

Jameson Cole: Pass. Awaiting developments. Let partner double if he can. I have one defensive trick and no guarantee it's our hand.

Pietro Campanile: Pass. Nice shapely hand but no real option apart from a reluctant pass, waiting for developments (while my paranoid other self is muttering: 'last famous words, buster, it will go pass-pass and we are cold for 5!)

It won't go pass-pass, but you are cold for 5 (if you drop a trick in the play). As you would expect, North has an easy reopening if 3 is passed to him.

KQ64
974
AJ9
KQ9

732
Q2
Q75
A8432
J5
AKJ108653
---
1076

A1098
---
K1086432
J5

The full deal was provided by Eva Saul on the Grand Slam Bridge Centre's online discussion forum. East's 3 bid isn't exactly routine, but it is the bid that was made at the table.

Hand Two - North deals, EW vul, IMPs. You are South.

	Q7
	852
	K842
	QJ42

West	North	East	South
	1	pass	1NT
pass	2	pass	2
pass	3	pass	?

Call	Award	% Panel	% Readers
Pass	100	32	14
3	90	22	11
3	80	17	10
3	70	6	16
3NT	60	17	30
4	40	6	2
4	10	0	17

Next is a more complicated problem. On the surface we have enough points for game, but no fit. On most days, this would mean a 3NT bid, and that's where the readers are placing their bets.

Josh Sher: 3NT. Tough hand. We have 25 or 26 points, but the hands fit terribly and it's unclear if we even belong in game. My choices with this hand are a conservative 3M (I think 3 is better than 3), bidding 3 to try to offer a choice of strains (3NT or 4) or just go for nine tricks in 3NT. Since my K is wasted in suit play, I will try 3NT.

Boris Richter: 3NT. We are in a misfit obviously and the only contract I can think of is 3NT. I don't like 4 because my K is worthless in 4.

Ross Best: 3NT. Must be some chance to make it.

Bill Bennett: 3NT. North still looks for game after my weak bidding and my strength is in the minors.

Pauline Haldane: 3NT. A bit risky but partner shows strength in three suits and I have a cover in diamonds.

Aware of the fragility of the diamond stopper, a few brave souls are willing to go right past 3NT.

Helena Dawson: 4. Presumably some sort of trial bid or maybe even natural. I am happy to show some help here but 3NT is not suitable. I presume he will bid 4 next.

Alexander Cook: 4. Partner appears to have a very strong hand with five spades, four hearts, a diamond void and four clubs. 5 is the likely final contract with an outside possibility for six.

Terry Dunne: 4. Partner has 5404 and 17-20 HCP. At least he better have! Even discounting the K, we are a shot at 5 if partner is anywhere near maximum.

Willem Willemse: 4. Partner is 5404 with a maximum weak opening (12-16). First reaction was to pass, but 3 is forcing. My feeling says the club suit will play better than a major.

Sydney Frish and John Leenders: 4. Partner could be 5404, so 3NT would ignore his bidding.

Sam Arber: 4. Is partner 5404 or is he just fishing? Maybe 3 would be better, showing two spades and three hearts.

Frank Campbell: 4. Partner must have game ambitions to bid on past my 2 preference so I will show my club support.

Manuel Paulo: 4. I have good support in partner's black suits.

For those who are unwilling to rule out 3NT just yet, we can use a 3 cuebid to express doubt.

Andrew MacAlister: 3. I have maximum values but we have no fit. My stopper is not good enough by itself so I will consult partner.

Paul Tranmer: 3. As I play this, 3 promises a single guard in diamonds, as with one and a half or two diamond guards I’d bid 3NT. I think I made a rod for my own back with my 2 bid. Surely with a better than minimum 1NT and 23 in the majors 2NT would have been more descriptive?

More descriptive yes, but at too steep a price. There was no reason for you to think 2 would fail, and if partner was minimum it may have been the last making contract.

Zbych Bednarek: 3. K is bad value, but partner doesn't need much from me, my blacks queens are golden. I don't know whether to play in spades or clubs.

Tim Trahair: 3. North must have a strong hand and there may be game somewhere. Doubt if he has diamonds stopped but his next bid may lead us to game.

Tim Andrews: 3. North must have 18 points to keep bidding when I have limited my hand. 3NT is likely to fail with only one diamond stopper. 3 is 4th suit forcing asking partner to decide.

We've heard a few different estimates of partner's high card strength, but 18 seems about right to me. 16 certainly isn't enough to be pressing for game on a known misfit, and with 19 he probably wouldn't have bid 2.

Given that the K has no value in a suit contract, and provides little protection in a NT contract, is our hand really good enough for game?

Pietro Campanile: 3. Cooperative. This should let partner know more or less the extent of my assets and the 2-3 holding in the majors. My K seems to have a little value so I am not going to bid more than I have to.

Jameson Cole: 3. My hand has now gone down in value. Partner will know I'm 2-3 in the majors and chose not to bid game.

Denis Haynes: 3. Three rags and a king don't count as a 'stopper' in diamonds. I am assuming partner is void or only a singleton in diamonds.

Bridge Baron: 3. Bridge Baron intends this bid as showing exactly three hearts.

Ken Berry: 3. I'm a little lost... wish I was playing something simpler like Moscito.

When I play Standard I often yearn for the simplicity of a good relay system. Of course on this hand, playing a strong club with a 1-1 start, the auction would be much the same (unless we were already in game by now).

3 will work out well if partner has five hearts, but I don't think that's very likely. The most likely result of 3 is that we will play a 4-3 fit (with the long hand being forced) instead of a 5-2 fit.

Richard Pavlicek: 3. Black-suit honors are encouraging, but the wasted K and miserable heart holding suggest caution toward a suit contract; nor do I like chances in 3NT.

Dean Eidler: 3. Would bid 4 with a doubleton heart.

David Matthews: 3. What is partner up to? 2 is passable. Maybe this is a game try in spades but I still don't have my points in the right suits.

Ian Smith: 3. We may have a club fit but I prefer the lower 3 bid.

As often happens when the bidders are divided between six different options, the top score ends up going to the pass.

Margaret Reid: Pass. This will be our best spot. My 1NT limits my hand anyway.

Steve Hurley: Pass. If partner bid 2 which is droppable but still kicks with 3, he has a good hand but not that good. My K is useless which means five points to assist partner -- 5 is unlikely so I pass.

Adriano Voscilla: Pass. I could protect the king of diamonds, but not all of them!

Barbara Whitmee: Pass. Partner has maximum HCPs and a shortage in diamonds. 3NT not a good bet with only one diamond stopper. Could bid 4 inviting game but we will probably only make nine tricks.

As only 32% of the panel and 14% of readers found the "majority" bid, the rest of the bids have been promoted in the awards.

Hand Three - North deals, EW vul, IMPs. You are South.

	85
	9
	KJT542
	QJ86

West	North	East	South
	1	1	?

promises at least three clubs.
2

would be natural and forcing.
2

would be a cue raise.

Call	Award	% Panel	% Readers
2	100	45	26
3	70	16	6
2	40	8	30
3	40	8	9
Dbl	30	11	3
2	20	6	8
Pass	10	6	16
4	10	0	1
Other	0	0	1

This deal caused a bit of confusion amongst some readers, because of the 1 opening (better minor).

Barbara Whitmee: Pass. Have no heart stopper and not enough points to change suit at the two level. Will bid diamonds when partner doubles.

Tim Andrews: Pass. Dbl would show spades and I do not have enough strength for 2.

Denis Haynes: 1NT. Shows 6-9 points and says no four card spade suit. Keeps the bidding at the 1 level.

Helena Dawson: Dbl. If he bids 1 I can revert to 2. He will know my other suit.

Alexander Cook: Pass. I will bid 3 after partner's compulsory reopening takeout double or any other bid by the opposition.

Margaret Reid: Pass. May get a chance to bid later.

Ken Berry: Pass. Waiting... hoping for a better bid?

John Leenders: Pass. If West bids 2 I come in with 3 unless North shows clubs again.

It's actually not necessary to wait for partner to bid clubs again. There is a common misconception surrounding the 1 opening -- that you have to assume it is always only three. In fact it is perfectly safe to treat 1 as a four-card opening.

If partner has only three clubs, he will have a weak notrump, and will take no further part in the auction; if we are left in 2, the worst case scenario is partner has a weak 4423 and we go one off against a heart partscore.

But if partner has real clubs, our hand is huge and we will never recover from a first-round pass.

Frank Campbell: 2. No bid is perfect but I don't expect the bidding to end here. If it does we are probably in the right place.

David Matthews: 2. This may be wrong but I do have some points and support for clubs.

Pietro Campanile: 2. Either that or pass: I expect some heart raise from West so 2 might give us the best chance to find a good spot or a sac after that.

Jameson Cole: 2. Shows where my values are. Our best spot unless partner has extra strength.

Exactly. If partner does bid again, he will be 18+ balanced (2NT) or distributional with long clubs. In either case, he certainly won't be disappointed with this dummy.

Steve Hurley: 2. There are a lot of major cards out and they will likely outbid you in a major. If I show forcing values by bidding 2, the auction will end with a penalty double from partner.

Fred Altstock: 2. I have a weak hand and don't want to get carried away in diamonds yet.

David Hester: 2. The short club strikes again; without it I might chance 4. Surely 2 and 2 are gross overbids?

Josh Sher: 2. If the opps raise hearts, I will bid 2NT next to introduce the diamonds.

That sounds like a great auction to me. The diamonds could be the key to the hand, and the higher club raises give us no chance to show the diamonds.

Ross Best: 3. They seem to have good fit in the majors. Preemptive raise to make it a bit more difficult for them.

Terry Dunne: 2. Taking the high road seems to be the best bet here. We have very little defense and it's fairly likely that diamonds can be set up in a club contract. It's also possible that the cuebid will get in their way a little as well.

The other option is to forget the clubs and go straight for the diamonds:

Nigel Guthrie: 2. 2 is an insane overbid and 3 is too committal opposite a three card suit.

Ian Smith: 2. A little light but I can rebid diamonds or show club support later.

Paul Tranmer: 2. Slightly light on values, but at this vulnerability my hand screams offence rather than defence. If North is strong then we should alight in a sensible game contract whilst if EW get it together in hearts I can bid 5 to suggest two places to play.

Notice the contrast between Paul's unilateral plan to bid at the 5-level, and those who wouldn't bid at the 2-level!

Sydney Frish: 2. We could have a minor game -- may still have a chance to support clubs next.

Martyn Rew: 2. If partner comes in with spades, then a 3 rebid looks a good option.

Andrew MacAlister: 2. My length will compensate for the lack of high cards. I am possibly too good for a simple raise to 2.

Amiram Millet: 2. Preparing also for the best defence.

John Furedy: 2. Not strong enough or enough clubs for a cue raise, and can afford one more round of bidding.

Bridge Baron: 2. With a slightly weaker hand, Bridge Baron would bid 2.

Several people wanted to bid 3 but were worried that we weren't playing fit showing jumps. Leave it to an experienced bidding forum moderator to find his way around:

Richard Pavlicek: 3. Ordinarily I play this weak, but I see AB Standard says 'Fit showing' -- alas with no strength range given. I can live with that. In any case, it should be a long diamond suit with side clubs, since I have 2, 2 and 3 available to raise clubs. Even if not, partner should understand at the vulnerability.

Sam Arber and Henri de Jong: 3. Should be fit showing.

Boris Richter: I would play 3 here as a fit-bid but since I am not sure of the meaning of the bid in AB Standard I think 4 will do the job.

Zbych Bednarek: 3. Better to overbid on low level than guess over 4. Who knows if 5m will be a make or a save.

Hand Four - West deals, both vul, IMPs. You are South.

	5
	KT
	AT643
	87652

West	North	East	South
3	4	4	?

Call	Award	% Panel	% Readers
5	100	50	47
Dbl	80	22	11
4NT	50	11	11
Pass	40	17	26
5	20	0	5

Another "support with support" problem. Despite the length in the minors, most people looked no further than the heart support.

Ian Smith: 5. I think partner will like my singleton spade and K.

Margaret Reid: 5. My K and A should be huge.

Sydney Frish: 5. My hand should fill partner's holes well.

Richard Pavlicek: 5. Initial reaction was to bid 4NT, but it might be misinterpreted, and two honors in partner's suit strongly suggest not probing for other strains. It could be right to pass or double, but experience says to bid. Give partner xx-AQJxxx-KQxx-x, and both 4 and 5 are likely to make.

Rex Fox: 5. Pard should have nine playing tricks and I have two. Could be double game swing.

Barbara Whitmee: 5. Have three tricks for partner -- K, spade ruff and A. If 5 is not making, then maybe 4 is.

Several 5 bidders intended it as a sacrifice:

Sam Arber and Willem Willemse: 5. Not much defence, so bid on.

Bill Bennett: 5. I have only one defensive trick against 4.

Nigel Guthrie: 5. 100 marks J Even if it's a phantom L

Yes, and it is.

Bridge Baron: 5. Bridge Baron uses simulation to choose this bid.

Ken Berry: 5. At least there is only one spade loser, and partner will have a second suit. As I've typed this I have changed my mind... but it's too late.

Paul Tranmer: 5. As North has advertised a markedly single suited hand, my 5 bid is a cue agreeing hearts which will allow North to get off to a good lead if EW persevere in spades.

Pietro Campanile: 5. The hand overall and my diamonds are not good enough for a 5 bid, which I play as showing concentration of values and slammish in this sequence. Nevertheless, partner has probably a doubleton spade so I owe him a raise even if he might have stretched to bid 4.

David Matthews: 5. Partner must have a very good hand to bid vul in front of an unlimited opponent. Double might be taken as penalties.

Speaking of penalty doubles, the next highest score is shared between four bids: the penalty double, the takeout double, the card-showing double and the "I don't know what to do" double.

Helena Dawson: Dbl. I like making my partner make all the decisions.

John Furedy: Dbl. Too short in hearts to raise to 5, and A looks like at least one defensive trick. North must have some strength to go to 4 vulnerable.

Amiram Millet: Dbl. Partner must have a good hand. I have nothing to suggest a five-level contract at this vulnerability.

Robin Cross: Dbl. Card showing. Let partner decide to play for penalty or bid at the five level.

Terry Dunne: Dbl. Double describes our hand perfectly -- tolerance for partner's suit, and length in the unbid suits. Better still, it allows partner to sit should he choose.

Tim Andrews: Dbl. My hand should be useful to partner in 5, 5 or 5. I'm hoping he won't pass without some defence against 4 (such as AQx of spades!)

Adriano Voscilla: Dbl. 4NT is ambiguous (could be Blackwood), but Double is surely negative. If pard has his bid (not as in Hand One!) there will be plenty of ways to make a five level contract.

Even if partner does hold Hand One (with minor adjustments to match the bidding) it's not so bad, as there will be no defence to 4.

Ross Best: Pass. Hope 4 goes down.

Fred Altstock: Pass. Five level a bit high for us vulnerable. Maybe we can get them down.

Steve Hurley: Pass. I was toying with 5 as it might be a good save over 4 or might even make. It could also go for a large number if partner stretched his bid. Another heart and I bid 5.

Pauline Haldane: Pass. Too many losers and too few trumps to trump spades.

Denis Haynes: Pass. Partner could be weak and long in hearts. I count a large number of losers in my hand.

Frank Campbell: Pass. I doubt if either game will make but I probably only have one defensive trick so will take the chance this is a likely plus.

Lastly, there is a small amount of support for the multi-4NT.

Boris Richter: 4NT. This should be intended as Roman Keycard Blackwood.

Zbych Bednarek: 4NT. Certainly not Blackwood -- should be for minors. Don't mind if partner bids 5.

David Hester: 5. My hearts are good enough to dodge the question of whether 4NT is for minors (it should be) or Blackwood.

Tim Trahair: 4NT. Shows the minors and asks North to pick a game to play in. He must have few if any spades.

Jameson Cole: 4NT. Offers partner a choice of contracts. Best chance for a plus.

Andrew MacAlister: 4NT. My singleton spade makes it likely that I should compete. 4NT gives us a chance of finding our best fit.

Josh Sher: Dbl. I think 4NT is a bit too committal with pretty bad minors and only a 7 count, but you do have an ace and a king so you have to bid something.

On the full deal, contributed by Fraser Rew, the winning bid was in fact 4NT. 4 is two down, 5 is one down, but we can make game in either minor:

7
AJ9732
K75
AK4

AQJ9843
6
J82
Q3
K1062
Q854
Q9
J109

5
K10
A10643
87652

Hand Five - East deals, nil vul, Matchpoints. You are South.

	A
	KJ8
	J965
	AKT86

West	North	East	South
		pass	1
2	dbl	pass	?

is a weak jump overcall.

Call	Award	% Panel	% Readers
Pass	100	44	16
2NT	70	17	24
2	50	17	8
3NT	30	17	25
3	20	5	13
3	10	0	14

Andrew MacAlister: 2. I do not have enough to force to game as my diamond stop is tenuous and we may not have an eight card fit. A plus score may be a good result.

Alexander Cook: 2. 2NT does not appeal with the unbalanced shape and the weak diamond stoppers. 3 would not get you a good matchpoint score. I may well have bid 3 at IMPs.

Terry Dunne: 2. Preferring the major at one level lower is best if the hand is a partscore. Only has problems if partner pushes on, admittedly quite possible given the opponents' bidding. On defense, I can't imagine how we take more than six tricks unless we have enough for game.

Bridge Baron: 2. In desperation.

That's the robot's new GPP module in action (Genuine People Personality). Not only is he feeling desperation (a typically human quality), he is also bidding three card suits (another trait mostly associated with humans).

Looking for a longer suit:

Ian Smith: 3. Showing a good club suit and denying spade or heart length. Not happy to leave 2x in.

Tim Andrews: 3. Limited support for partner's major suits, but I do have 16 points and a five card suit.

Leon Slonim: 3. A 4-3 fit in hearts would face five hearts with East.

Helena Dawson: 3. No perfect bid here. 2 will be a problem if my partner only has three too. 3 an overbid so I will go for an underbid and hope partner can bid again.

Ian Erratt: 3. I am assuming this is forcing.

With the heart suit, the club suit, and the diamond stopper all slightly inadequate, there were a few votes for the "waiting" bid.

Paul Tranmer: 3. I play this as asking for half a diamond guard or better from North. If North bids 3/ I’ll bid 3NT to express doubt.

Josh Sher: 3. This problem sucks. I think this sequence does not promise a major, just a hand that isn't sure that 3NT is right -- but does partner know that? In situations where you have a choice between getting strain correct or getting level correct, aim for the correct strain even if a slight overbid is required.

Pauline Haldane: 3. Shows 16 high card points and allows partner to reassess her hand.

John Leenders: 3. If partner bids 3 I bid 3NT. If he bids hearts I will raise on a possible 4-3 fit.

Pietro Campanile: 3. Planning to rebid 3NT (yuk!) over 3 and 4 over 3.

The majority of the readers opted for a confident NT bid, although the 2NT bidders were divided on whether the bid was forcing.

David Matthews: 2NT. Not quite enough to bid game straight away.

Martyn Rew: 2NT. Shows points for game.

John Furedy: 2NT. Torn between 2NT and 3NT, but choose 2NT in case North has only about 7 points.

Fred Altstock: 2NT. Partner has some points and I'll let him make the final call of 3NT?

David Hester: 2NT. Partner can bid 3 to insist on a major, and I will reply 4.

Zbych Bednarek: 2NT. Penalty pass too risky. Possible 300 against any our game -- big loss at matchpoint scoring.

Denis Haynes: 2NT. The points are there and indicates stoppers in diamonds (sort of).

Jameson Cole: 2NT. Bad feeling about this hand. Choose caution, but 3NT is still possible. Will pass 3. If partner bids 3, I'll bid 3.

Tim Trahair: 2NT. Our hand is strong and East presumably doesn't have much so game may be on somewhere for us. Hope 2NT is forcing!

On one hand, a minimum NT rebid typically shows 12-14 playing Standard. On the other hand, many people play 2NT as always forcing in competition. There are arguments both ways, and I have no clear answer. Presumably all the 3NT bidders felt that 2NT was droppable.

Adriano Voscilla: 3NT. On this sequence, you cannot be sure that West is really weak, so bidding 3NT implies extras, and partner can continue with a strong hand.

Bill Bennett: 3NT. 2 is likely to fail but maybe not by much. We have the points but no likely major game -- 3NT seems a reasonable punt.

Richard Pavlicek: 3NT. Anything's a gamble, so I'll go high and hope partner has a couple of diamonds (or a blank honour) as well as likely spade values. Not pretty -- but neither is matchpoints.

Henri de Jong: 3NT. Getting nine tricks in NT may be easier than eight tricks defending 2x.

Amiram Millet, Frank Campbell and Steve Hurley: 3NT. Quickest way to where we belong.

While the readers' vote was split between 2NT and 3NT, the experts (who defend more accurately) chose to go for the penalty.

Robin Cross: Pass. Some non vul jump overcalls get hammered, this might well be one of them.

Manuel Paulo: Pass. If we can make nine tricks in notrump, I bet they'd win only five tricks in diamonds.

Margaret Reid: Pass. Should rack up a nice score here -- at least 500?

Nigel Guthrie: Pass. Take the money J Unless partner is a loony who doubles with club support and short diamonds L

The top scores for the month are listed below. Note that these scores will differ slightly from those published in the magazine. This is because several of the bids received from readers are not found by any members of the expert panel, and have a score of zero at the time of printing. Once all the reader's votes are in, including the occasional appeal, these responses are sometimes upgraded causing changes to the scores and rankings.