Bridge Venue

• Question 1
  
  How should beginners/improvers playing North-South reach 6H, instead of an unfortunate minor contract ?

• Answer 1
  
  How should beginners/improvers playing North-South reach 6H, instead of an unfortunate minor contract ?
  
  Answer
  
  After South opens 1H, North knows the partnership has a fit and sufficient points for game. Ideally a pair needs 30-32 points to be in the 'slam zone' and trigger investigating the possibility of bidding six of a suit. North has 'only' 14 points (so the partnership may have as few as 26 points), but his hand is much stronger than that – for two reasons. The singleton spade means South may be able to trump losing spades in dummy AND the wonderful diamond side suit is another way South may be able to get rid of losers. So North should bid 4NT (Blackwood) over the 1H opening bid, asking partner how many aces he has. When South replies 5S, promising three aces, North can confidently bid 6H.

• Question 2
  
  How should Intermediates playing North-South reach 6H?

• Answer 2
  
  How should Intermediates playing North-South reach 6H?
  
  Answer
  
  After South opens 1H, North should realise (with a trump fit and only five losing tricks) a slam is likely to be on. Some players will bid 4NT and if you play Roman Key Card Blackwood (you should!) partner will respond 5C (promising zero or three of the FIVE key cards – four Aces and the King of trumps). North should assume it is zero and bid 5H and South (who realises partner has assumed zero key cards) raises it to 6H.
  If a partnership has Splinters (an invaluable Slam bidding tool) in their bidding armoury, the auction will be different. After the opening 1H, North has the ideal hand for a Splinter bid (promising 4+card support for Partner's Major suit, game values and a singleton or void in the Splinter suit), so bids 3S (the unnecessary jump in the suit signifies it's a Splinter bid). South has the perfect holding in spades to take advantage so bids 4NT. North responds 5H, promising two key cards but no Queen of Trumps. With all five key cards, South can happily bid 6H - and in fact should make all 13 tricks.

• Question 3
  
  Are there any other advanced ways of playing for North-South to reach 6H?

• Answer 3
  
  Are there any other advanced ways of playing for North-South to reach 6H?
  
  Answer
  
  South can also cue bid 4 clubs after hearing the Splinter. North then cues 4 Diamond (first AND second round control, since the Diamond splinter already promised at least a singleton). South cues 4 Spades. North misses out NT (denying trump Ace) and bids 5 Clubs (2nd round control of Clubs). South, having no more second round controls, puts it into 6 Hearts. North, having all the remaining 2nd round controls (Hearts) will think about putting it into 7 which, although it will make, is a little risky in view of the missing Queen of Trumps.

• Some subjects to follow up on

  168 Cue bidding for controls 91 Blackwood 167 Roman Keycard Blackwood 168 Cue bidding for controls