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TALES OF AKARANA

“The High Road or The Low Road?”

There are times when the standard approach to bidding makes it difficult to explore for the best contract especially when you are in the “maybe slam zone”. “One step too many” can lead you to a minus score when the breaks are bad or the fit not as good as you would want while “one step too few” will leave you in the comfort of game but longing to be somewhere higher.

An example is the following from last night at Akarana. Where would you go from here holding:

Spade-small AK754

Heart-small 54

Diamond-smallKT5

Club-smallK95

as South after this undisturbed sequence:

North                   South

1Heart-small                    1Spade-small

3Diamond-small                       ?

Assuming 3Diamond-small is natural game-forcing, your side is very close to slam..but which slam? With 4 of the 12 tables subsiding in 3NT, there was a divergence of opinions as how to proceed. Would 4Club-small be waiting for more information (ideal for this time) or a cue-bid agreeing diamonds, the last bid suit? If you go above 3NT, can you stop in time if the news is poor? Blackwood itself would be a crude alternative because if opener had 5 diamonds, then 6, maybe even 7, of the minor would be the place to be but with only 4 of that suit, most routes, rightly or wrongly would lead to 6NT.

The full board shows that the step forward paid off:

 

Board 1
North Deals
None Vul
3
A K J 7 3
A Q 7 6 2
A 10
J 9 8 2
Q 9 8 6
J 8 3
6 3
 
N
W   E
S
 
Q 10 6
10 2
9 4
Q J 8 7 4 2
 
A K 7 5 4
5 4
K 10 5
K 9 5

 

The 4th suit 4Club-small would have uncovered North’s fifth diamond. Then Roman Key Card would have revealed that all the necessary high cards were present though South would be wise to stay in 6Diamond-small as a poor break of either red suit could make the grand impossible. Even transferring East-West’s hearts would cause its downfall.

Precision handles such boards well, at least in theory. A 2Club-small overcall from East could eat up valuable bidding space but the moment North opens 1Club-small, South is in the slam zone.

Time then to put in a plug for our approach where a simple change of suit by opener is unlimited (up to 19) and a one –round force.

          North                   South

          1Heart-small                       1Spade-small

          2Diamond-small                       3Club-small (4th suit, game-forcing)

          3Diamond-small                       3NT

          5NT (Pick a slam)

after which South could choose 6Diamond-small.  With the heart finesse working, 6NT was fine too though 6Diamond-small could succeed even when it is not and even then with some 4-1 diamond breaks.

Basically, responder showed the values for game opposite a minimum opener. North was much stronger than that and after South's 3NT sign-off drove the partnership to slam.

There are many ways to reach this slam though it is hard for a partnership to explore for a slam at the 4 level without a clear agreement as to what is forcing and also how to sign off. Another trap awaited some on Board 23.

This board was handled well enough by most pairs though five of the eight pairs who reached slam would have gone down had South found a heart instead of a diamond lead as East was at the wheel:

 

Board 23
South Deals
Both Vul
Q 7 6 4
K 10 8 4 3
3
J 9 6
A J
A 6
A K 7
A K 8 7 5 4
 
N
W   E
S
 
K 9 2
Q J 7 5
Q J 6 4
10 2
 
10 8 5 3
9 2
10 9 8 5 2
Q 3

 

After West opens 2Club-small, a popular approach is to play 2Diamond-small as weak or waiting. While this time, all should be well if West rebid 2NT, if West chooses 3Club-small, East must be careful. In theory, the correct bid is 3NT denying a five card suit but that could show no value and leave the partnership too low. Therefore, a slight lie would be 3Diamond-small, natural or waiting. After West’s likely 3NT reply, East can drive to slam.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

 

 

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