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A Bid for Glory?

Over 100 pairs had the chance for glory when bidding and playing today’s deal but only one pair did. Could you be the second?

 

Your system is strong no trump based. What would you bid here? You are playing Pairs.

I think the two statements in the line above are irrelevant. It does not matter what form of the game we are playing or what our system is. Even though our partner has limited their hand by raising to 2, we have enough high card points and a very decent spade suit to insist on game. Minimum opener opposite responder with enough to go to 4. I suspect that is what West bid at most tables.

Yet, West has a good raise to 4: 6 almost certain trump tricks, a shortage in the enemy suit and a decent heart holding. You would be disappointed to go down in game. What about the overtricks? Could there be more than one? Slam! Why not let partner in on the secret that you have a good raise to 4? Bid 4 which almost certainly guarantees first or second round control in clubs, or else you are likely not have a good raise.

The bidding would then proceed:

 

 Partner showed A or K (4) and you did likewise in hearts. Suddenly, your “minimum opener” partner is asking for key cards. So, answer, truthfully, 5 showing 2 key cards and the Q. That is because you have 6 spades and even if partner does not have the Q, it should fall in the first 2 rounds, or perhaps can be finessed.

There might be a bit of head-scratching at the other side of the table.. but very soon, you will be receiving A lead to 6.

Once you had ruffed the second round of clubs and laid down the A, you could claim the easiest slam you would have played for some time..just 12 hcp opposite 12 and in fact, the Q was superfluous. This deal demonstrates the importance of long suits, the right shortage and aces and kings in the bidding of slams. Remember, East may have suspected their partner had a stronger in high cards hand to suggest slam. Hence their willingness to go above 4. In reality, the West hand is way stronger than 12 hcp in terms of its trick-taking potential.

The slam could have been bid the same way even if South had not made their rather poor club raise. 4 over 2 would show a shortage, possibly a control, but certainly interested in slam if East had the right minimum..and they certainly did!

Say East opened a 12-14 1NT. Initially, West would look for the best game by using Stayman. After the 2 response (and maybe helped by a lead-directional double from North), once more the jump to 4 should get the same message across.

It would be harder for West to imagine slam if North opened 1, perhaps passed round to West, though the same style bidding could occur once East calls/ supports spades.

“Minimum” is a relative term. The East-West hands above may not seem that strong in isolation though the singleton club and the right ace/king controls turned minimum hands into a lay-down slam. Those are nice ones to play!

Richard Solomon

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