West’s five-level intervention is the sort of bid many people make, hoping to cause a problem for the opponents. There is not much point in it. In many cases it will aid the other side to bid accurately, by informing them of bad breaks. Just as often it will assist the eventual declarer in the play. How would you play 6S when West leads the queen of hearts? Declarer won with the heart ace and drew trumps in four rounds, throwing two clubs from the dummy. He then cashed the remaining heart honour, just in case East had another heart remaining. Since East was now known to hold only minor-suit cards, it was easy to make the slam with an end-play. Declarer played a club to the jack and East’s queen. East then had to return one or other minor suit. In each case this would give declarer a twelfth trick. It is no better for the defence if West leads his singleton club. You win with dummy’s ace, draw trumps and cash the two heart winners. Again you play a club to the jack, won by East. Since you have no more clubs in your hand, East cannot safely play a third round of clubs and will be forced to surrender the slam one again.
What rebid will you make?
Answer
If you play a strong 1NT and a rebid of 1NT would therefore show 12-14 points, there is much to be said for this rebid. Some players do not likely rebidding in notrumps with a singleton in partner’s suit, however. If you play a weak 1NT, you must rebid 2C anyway. The alternative of 2D would be a ‘reverse’, promising upwards of 16 points. Note that the idea of opening 1D on such hands has fallen out of fashion.
Awards: 2C - 10, 1NT (if playing strong 1NT opening) — 8, 2D - 3.
West’s five-level intervention is the sort of bid many people make, hoping to cause a problem for the opponents. There is not much point in it. In many cases it will aid the other side to bid accurately, by informing them of bad breaks. Just as often it will assist the eventual declarer in the play. How would you play 6S when West leads the queen of hearts? Declarer won with the heart ace and drew trumps in four rounds, throwing two clubs from the dummy. He then cashed the remaining heart honour, just in case East had another heart remaining. Since East was now known to hold only minor-suit cards, it was easy to make the slam with an end-play. Declarer played a club to the jack and East’s queen. East then had to return one or other minor suit. In each case this would give declarer a twelfth trick. It is no better for the defence if West leads his singleton club. You win with dummy’s ace, draw trumps and cash the two heart winners. Again you play a club to the jack, won by East. Since you have no more clubs in your hand, East cannot safely play a third round of clubs and will be forced to surrender the slam one again.
If you play a strong 1NT and a rebid of 1NT would therefore show 12-14 points, there is much to be said for this rebid. Some players do not likely rebidding in notrumps with a singleton in partner’s suit, however. If you play a weak 1NT, you must rebid 2C anyway. The alternative of 2D would be a ‘reverse’, promising upwards of 16 points. Note that the idea of opening 1D on such hands has fallen out of fashion.