How others might've

bidandmade

it

• Question 1
  
  North Opens 1H. How should South (a sophisticated player with years of experience) now respond ?

• Question 1
  
  North Opens 1H. How should South (a sophisticated player with years of experience) now respond ?
  
  Answer
  
  2NT. Jacoby 2NT, showing 4-card Major support to game, with no short suits (assuming you are using Splinters), looking for Slam.
  
  (Note: for less experienced players, South's bid would be different, i.e. not 2NT. It would be a Heart bid, based on the fit and the point count, and should support the opener directly at the right level. By the way, is that 2, 3, or 4 Hearts ?)
   

• Question 2
  
  What should North re-bid to his partner's "Jacoby 2NT?" (Now's the time to peep at his cards).

• Question 2
  
  What should North re-bid to his partner's "Jacoby 2NT?" (Now's the time to peep at his cards).
  
  Answer
  
  North should tell South about his shortage in Clubs. Provided it's the opposition that has the club honours, they'll be destroyed with his singleton, and Slam could be possible.
  
  Using Jacoby 2NT, North would tell us this by bidding the short suit at the 3 level. After this, South will then no doubt tell us if he does or doesn't have the Club honours. With luck he won't have them.
   

• Question 3
  
  So, after North's 3 Clubs, how should South now bid ? What are his options ?

• Question 3
  
  So, after North's 3 Clubs, how should South now bid ? What are his options ?
  
  Answer
  
  3 diamonds if you're playing rubber or teams bridge, 4 Hearts if you're playing duplicate bridge. But there are 4 possible bids people often make at this point!
  
  Option 1. Bid 6 Hearts.
  Interesting. South will realise that there is only one club loser, and could hope that the distribution will be kind. Bit risky, if North is on minimum 12 points (12 + 13 = 25 total), which he could be.
  
  Option 2. Bid 4NT.
  Ask for Aces/ Keycards (or "undefined" first round controls). The 5 Diamonds answer indicating one Ace/Keycard is probably expected. But will that have advanced the knowledge sufficiently ?
  
  Option 3. Bid 3 Diamonds.
  This is a Cue bid from South. First it confirms an interest in Slam - so South's clubs must contain no wasted values, and thus (a) there is no more than one loser in clubs and (b) there can only be 30 other HCP that count. Second it is telling North about his Ace in diamonds. North, adding his 15 HCP points will know that the partnership has 27+ out of the remaining 30 HCPs in the other suits. Sounds as if there is every chance of making all the other tricks, unless there's a missing King in the wrong place. 50:50% chance of small Heart Slam, all hanging on a finesse ?
  
  In fact, if the missing Heart King is with West, the finesse and Slam will make. If it's a singleton K with East, Slam can also be made. You'll just have to decide which is more likely. A nice 180+300+500 if it makes, but a bottom if it doesn't.
  
  If it does, wonderful: a Slam bid on 27 HCP. Good for teams or rubber bridge.
  
  Option 4. Bid 4 Hearts.
  But if you're playing duplicate bridge, with a 50/50 risk of a bottom position result if the finesse doesn't work, it's better to go for the safe option 4.
   

• Some subjects to follow up on

  Majors Jacoby 2NT
  Cue bidding for controls
  Slam, Spotting the chance
  Majors Splinters
  Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit