November 2021 - 36

THE
BIDDING
BOX
Box are two expert pairs who employ
strong club systems. (If you're a fan
of standard or 2/1, remember that the
Bridge Bulletin auction at the end of
each problem is designed for you.)
First is the partnership of John
Diamond and Brian Platnick. Diamond
lives in Boca Raton FL, and
Platnick lives in Evanston IL, where
he works as a trader. They are one of
the longest-running expert partnerships
in the United States. As a pair,
they have six NABC wins together,
and Diamond also has two more in
partnership with Geoff Hampson.
They have also experienced international
success, dating all the way
back to winning the 1991 World
Junior Championship. In 2010, they
won the Rosenblum Open Teams,
a world championship event. Their
bidding system is Precision, using the
so-called Meckwell lite style. That is
a version of Precision played by many
expert American players, featuring a
strong and artificial 1' opening, and
a 1l opening (11-15 HCP) that could
be as short as two.
The competition is stiff, in the form
of Doug Simson and Jeff Aker. Simson
has four NABC wins, twice each
in the Grand National Teams and the
von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs. Aker
is a formidable player who is due to
36 | Bridge Bulletin | November 2021
MODERATOR JOSH DONN
josh@thedonns.com
See the West and East hands that appear on pages 47 and 61 respectively, and
try bidding them with a regular partner. Compare how you performed with the
expert pairs whose auctions you can read about in this month's column. The
North-South players are silent unless otherwise noted. The competitors were
not informed of any interference by the opponents before the bidding commenced.
The form of scoring is matchpoints with a 12 top.
The Bridge Bulletin auctions are meant to portray possible bidding
sequences to one of the top-scoring contracts using common methods.
Featured in this month's Bidding
break through. Their bidding system
is modeled after the well-known and
very complicated Precision system
created and played by Jeff Meckstroth
and Eric Rodwell for decades.
While the opening bids are similar to
those of our other pair, many auctions
feature completely artificial rebids,
designed to most efficiently show the
suits in the preferred order.
Problem 1
North deals. None vulnerable.
West
East
 10 9 6 5 3 2  K 7 4
k A 10 7 6
l 6
k 4
' A 5
Diamond
Simson
1
2
Pass
Both pairs had identical auctions
to a very good game contract. The
West players both had the option
of making an initial 2k response,
which shows a minimum hand with
five spades and four hearts. Both
players mentioned they would bid it
with 5-5 pattern, but not with 6-4.
l A 10 9 5 4
' K Q 6 3
Platnick
Aker
1l
2'
4
The 2' rebid in the Precision system
shows both minors, but could be 5-4
in either direction. Each East player
liked their hidden spade support and
singleton heart so much that they
went directly to game.
Bridge Bulletin auction: 1l-1;
2-4; Pass. Bridge Bulletin
Standard allows this simple auction.
A three-card raise of a major-suit
response is allowed, and it's recommended
with a singleton on the side.
Scores: 4 10; 3 5; 5 2
Diamond-Platnick 10, Simson-Aker
10
Problem 2
East deals. N-S vulnerable.
West
 K 8 6 4
k 5 3
l Q 8 4
' K Q J 6
Diamond
1k
2k
3
5l
East
 A 7 3
k A
l A K J 7 5 3
' 10 4 3
Platnick
1'
2l
3l
4
Pass
Platnick opened 1', showing any
hand with at least 16 HCP. Diamond
responded 1k, which is an artificial
bid showing 8-11 HCP. Any distribution
is allowed other than holding
five or more spades, because with
that, they would immediately bid 1.
2l was natural, and 2k was a sort
of waiting bid promising a four-card
major. It could be thought of as being
similar to Stayman. 3l was natural,
and 3 showed a stopper and implied
worry about hearts for 3NT. Platnick
raised to 4, hoping to hit a nice 4-3
fit, but with the weakish spades, Diamond
returned to diamonds.
November 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2021
