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Choices?

Balanced hands after a take-out double can usually be handled reasonably easily. What though when we, the responder to a take-out double, are unbalanced and strong? An interesting auction developed on the deal below.

 

 

2 showed 5 hearts and a minor and less than an opening hand. We forced the auction with a cue-bid. Partner neither bid the expected 3NT nor 3 bid but 4! How nice if they had bid a minor!

We asked the Panel whether they agreed with 3 and also where they would go from here.

There were some differing views about 3:

Kris Wooles “ Don’t like the 3 bid which suggests 's and a minor(s). It’s a case for having a very clear partnership understanding over these tartan two style bids. In the absence of any agreement, I would have bid 4NT telling partner I have the minors while knowing East has a minor.  I’d likely raise either minor bid to 6.”

The point about having a clear understanding of what 3 meant is vital. Here is another interpretation:

Bruce Anderson “I can’t think of an alternative to 3: 3NT would be a natural bid and partner may well read 4NT as a specific ace ask, rather than showing both minors given that opener has shown a minor suit. Partner should, initially, take the bid as asking for a heart stop for no trumps.”

While 3 might be asking for a heart hold, I cannot really see a direct 4NT from North being anything other than both minors.

Two other Panellists touch on a Lebensohl alternative to 3.  

Stephen Blackstock “ I understand 3 but don't like it. Better I think to start with a modest 3 - not forcing but shows useful values in a Lebensohl context. Given that neither I nor East have any spade length, it's unlikely that 3 will be passed out, and I can follow with 4 having then given a good description of my shape and shown the values to force to game.”

Peter Newell “ So what of the 3 bid ? It seems like the best alternative is 4NT minors. This gets both suits across, but has its flaws too. It is very wide ranging. How is partner supposed to know whether you have a 5/5 7 count or something much stronger?  If partner has a strong jump in spades with say 2-1 in the minors (rather than 1-2) is 5 going to be pretty?

 If partner had not got a 4 bid, the 3 bid might have worked out Ok. I wonder about a Lebensohl 2NT intending to bid 4 next time would show. On this hand, partner would bid 3. I am not sure what 4 would be (I do not think it is a weak hand with clubs as with that hand you would normally pass 3 or bid 4). 

Maybe 3 asks for a heart hold but it would seem to be a hand too strong or distributional to use a Lebensohl 3/3. With so many spades missing from the North and East hands, Stephen Blackstock should survive a heavy 3 response. Nevertheless, an awkward situation.

 “What next, though, over 4? We have variety.

Peter Newell “Pass: 4NT would be key card for spades, hardly appropriate, so that really only leaves 5.  There is no reason to expect partner will have clubs as partner is showing a strong jump in spades with 6+ spades.  So while I do not like how the auction has proceeded, I do not think it is a percentage action to bid, particularly with a 4+ minor in the East hand.”

Bruce Anderson “6: 4 must show very strong spades (3 must be forcing after I have cue bid), and surely partner also holds A at least outside to double then jump bid their suit. If partner hold solid spades and both red aces he/she should bid the grand slam; what else can I have but a lot of strength in the minor suits for my cue bid?

Adopting the principle that one does not pre-empt a weak opening, a direct 3 would be an Intermediate Jump and the action taken by North seems to indicate a hand with long spades, stronger than that.

Heading to the minors are:

Andy Braithwaite “5: The first question is what would 3 have been directly? If a strong single suiter, then 4 here must exclude a very long spade suit.

So, partner has jumped to game in the hope that you have some spade support. When you do not, 5 to show both minors must be logical. I think 6 is a bit of a stretch, needing 2 aces and possibly Q to make.”

Stephen Blackstock “5: I am tempted to abstain, given the inadequacies of the auction to date. What is North up to? He doesn't have a strong single suiter (else 3/4 earlier), Why the jump to 4 when 3 would have been forcing (3 is GF)?

 I don't see how he can have a self- sufficient suit and he has wasted a whole level of space that we need badly. Now, 4NT for minors would be a better description but I am afraid it would be Blackwood. Arguably 5 is a cue for spades, but I have to try to get out of this mess somehow. A "pick a slam" 5NT might work, but 5 then 6 may emphasise my better suit.”

I am not sure his choice would be to South’s liking. Nevertheless, that is the way this Panellist heads:

Nigel Kearney “5NT: Partner's double, even when followed by 4, should be a flexible hand, e.g. AKQxxx x AJx Qxx. With just a long spade suit and some hearts, they should have overcalled spades immediately.

However, opponents have not raised hearts, so unless we have an expert partner or very solid agreements, it is more likely partner just has a strong hand with long spades and some hearts, e.g. AKJxxx AQxx Ax x. Anyway, we are very likely to have a play for 12 tricks somewhere, so I will just bid 5NT, pick a slam, and pass whatever partner chooses. The actual hand partner held looks like a very normal 3S overcall to me. “

and then a direct choice of slams:

Kris Wooles “6: As it stands, partner’s 4 bid is likely influenced by thinking I have spades. This being the case anything I do now is mired in potential confusion. If I bid 4NT that is likely to be read as RKC supporting spades and 5 might be construed as a cue bid again in support of spades. If forced to accept the auction presented, I’d now bid 6 and hope for the best.”

Well, North took the 5 route. South was confused whether or not this was a cue-bid and bid 5 to find out. South offered trumps with their next bid, fortunately with North having more clubs than diamonds:

 

Nigel Kearney felt 3 over 2 would have summed up the South hand though that looks a mighty strong Intermediate Jump. All was well as after the Q lead, declarer cashed A, ruffed a heart to hand and ruffed a diamond before taking the club finesse to make all 13 tricks.

6NT was dangerous but makeable thanks to the friendly club lay-out. However, 6 can be beaten after an initial club lead as when West gets in with Q after declarer has disposed of losing hearts on KQ and having to use another round of clubs to get to dummy, a third round of clubs will promote West’s trumps for a second trick as long as East ruffs.

Whether South anticipated their partner held both minors, they made a good choice when passing 6. On this occasion, even 6 makes, but only 12 tricks, for the loss of one trump trick. After the opening bid, North-South would have been very relieved that suit breaks were so friendly.

Richard Solomon

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