In ‘Omar Sharif Talks Bridge’, published by Finesse Bridge Books, Omar describes an adventure from the 1997 World Transnational Teams. “You think there is a silly misprint in the bidding? I only wish it was true! I had agreed with Faigenbaum that 3H over 2H would show the black suits. No doubt it was foolish of me but I decided to treat this as a similar situation. When Faigenbaum suggested a slam with 5H, I thought there might be a grand slam and cue-bid 6D. This could not be natural, of course, since my previous bid had shown the black suits, When Faigenbaum passed my cue-bid I felt as if I had been shot! West led the two of trumps. Had I been inspired, I might have played low from dummy, won East’s 7 with the ace and then dropped his queen. I was feeling very much less than inspired after being left in a cue-bid, I can tell you. I called for the jack of trumps, covered by the queen and ace. Two more rounds of the suit revealed a trump loser. How would you have continued? Needing to discard dummy’s hearts, I announced that I would make 6D if East had a singleton club king. Better to be lucky than
good!”
What will you bid now?
Answer
It would be premature to bid 3NT, since your heart stopper is moderate. A raise to 3C would be non-forcing and partner might pass when there was a good game available. The best move is to continue with a ‘fourth suit forcing’ bid of 2H. This means: I have enough values for game but cannot tell the best contract yet; please continue to describe your hand.
AWARDS: 2H — 10, 3NT —7, 5C — 4, 3C — 3.
In ‘Omar Sharif Talks Bridge’, published by Finesse Bridge Books, Omar describes an adventure from the 1997 World Transnational Teams. “You think there is a silly misprint in the bidding? I only wish it was true! I had agreed with Faigenbaum that 3H over 2H would show the black suits. No doubt it was foolish of me but I decided to treat this as a similar situation. When Faigenbaum suggested a slam with 5H, I thought there might be a grand slam and cue-bid 6D. This could not be natural, of course, since my previous bid had shown the black suits, When Faigenbaum passed my cue-bid I felt as if I had been shot! West led the two of trumps. Had I been inspired, I might have played low from dummy, won East’s 7 with the ace and then dropped his queen. I was feeling very much less than inspired after being left in a cue-bid, I can tell you. I called for the jack of trumps, covered by the queen and ace. Two more rounds of the suit revealed a trump loser. How would you have continued? Needing to discard dummy’s hearts, I announced that I would make 6D if East had a singleton club king. Better to be lucky than
good!”
It would be premature to bid 3NT, since your heart stopper is moderate. A raise to 3C would be non-forcing and partner might pass when there was a good game available. The best move is to continue with a ‘fourth suit forcing’ bid of 2H. This means: I have enough values for game but cannot tell the best contract yet; please continue to describe your hand.