Bridge

SoME North players would have passed partner’s 2H bid, but South showed good values by doubling first and then changing the suit. South had an easy raise of North’s 3H and West led three top spades against the heart game. Declarer ruffed the third round of spades and led a top trump, the jack falling from West. Suppose you had been playing the contract. How would you have continued? The trumps are likely to break 4-1 after the fall of the jack. If you continue to draw all the trumps, you will have no protection left in spades when you play on the club suit. Instead of playing any further rounds of trumps, you should unblock the king and queen of diamonds and lead a low club towards dummy’s jack. If West rises with the club king, you can ruff a fourth round of spades in the dummy, not minding if this is overruffed in turn by East and declarer. If instead West plays low on the first round of clubs, you will win with the jack and cash the diamond ace, throwing a club loser from your hand. You will then score five trump tricks and five winners in the minor suits, making the game exactly.

You are playing a 15-17 point INT, with transfer responses if appropriate.

What will you bid? 

Answer
If you begin with 2H (showing at least five spades) you will have no good bid to make when partner makes the forced rebid of 2S. It is better to respond 3S on a hand of this type. This shows at least six spades and suggests a slam. Your partner can rebid 4S or 3NT is this hand is not suitable for slam play. With a better hand he can cue-bid his lowest ace.

Awards: 3S - 10, 2H (transfer – 6, 6S/6NT – 4, 4S – 2.

David Bird — Knight Features

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