It is widely held that a double of 4H contains an expectation of spade support. That is certainly true on borderline doubles but what else can you do but double when you have 18 points upwards and a balanced hand with three or fewer spades? Anyway, North doubled 4H on this deal and South chose to bid 4S when 5D would have been more comfortable. How would you play the spade game when West begins with two top hearts? Suppose you ruff the second heart and play three rounds of trumps. East is out of hearts, yes, but you will still lose two trumps, one heart and a club and that will be one down. To make the game you must score your five side-suit winners and, somehow, add five trump tricks to the equation. Do you see how this can be done? After ruffing the second heart, you must cash the king and ace of trumps. You then play your five minor-suit winners, East following, and ruff a fourth round of diamonds with dummy’s queen of trumps. That is nine tricks and you can promote your bare ten of trumps by leading a third round of hearts towards it. The game is assured, whether or not East chooses to ruff with the jack.
Your cue-bid in clubs showed a sound raise in spades.
What will you say next on the West cards?
Answer
Your partner has shown a minimum overcall by rebidding just 2S in the face of your cue-bid. Nevertheless, you cannot give up on a game yet. You might have made the cue-bid with only 10 points or so and you actually hold 15 points. You should issue a further game invitation by raising to 3S. To bid 4S would be an overbid, facing a one-level overcall.
It is widely held that a double of 4H contains an expectation of spade support. That is certainly true on borderline doubles but what else can you do but double when you have 18 points upwards and a balanced hand with three or fewer spades? Anyway, North doubled 4H on this deal and South chose to bid 4S when 5D would have been more comfortable. How would you play the spade game when West begins with two top hearts? Suppose you ruff the second heart and play three rounds of trumps. East is out of hearts, yes, but you will still lose two trumps, one heart and a club and that will be one down. To make the game you must score your five side-suit winners and, somehow, add five trump tricks to the equation. Do you see how this can be done? After ruffing the second heart, you must cash the king and ace of trumps. You then play your five minor-suit winners, East following, and ruff a fourth round of diamonds with dummy’s queen of trumps. That is nine tricks and you can promote your bare ten of trumps by leading a third round of hearts towards it. The game is assured, whether or not East chooses to ruff with the jack.
Your partner has shown a minimum overcall by rebidding just 2S in the face of your cue-bid. Nevertheless, you cannot give up on a game yet. You might have made the cue-bid with only 10 points or so and you actually hold 15 points. You should issue a further game invitation by raising to 3S. To bid 4S would be an overbid, facing a one-level overcall.