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                     CHOOSING THE TRUMP SUIT, IF INDEED THERE IS ONE!

Part One of our two-part grand slam series featured whether we could bid to grand with any degree of confidence. Part Two features a rare luxury, the knowledge that we are pretty certain we can bid and make a grand- slam. Our dilemma is that whether we should bid the grand in either our suit, partner’s suit or in no-trumps.

2 is an Acol style Game Force, well anyone's game force. After a real rarity (a positive response!), partner bids their suit and you use Key Card Blackwood. 5shows 1 or 4 with diamonds as trumps. 5 asks for the Q, with the response showing that card along with the K though the K is missing. Your turn to choose the final contract.

There are a few matters to consider. Let’s see if they are addressed by our Panel who are not that supportive of our auction so far.

Michael Cornell “7: but I hate my 4NT bid. I should have bid 4, used key-card after partner’s cue-bid and then after 5 bid 7, choice of slams.

That sounds fine in theory but might partner not be the one using Key Card after your 4 support bid? How will you know it is right to bid on when partner signs off in 6 because the A is missing? Or was it the A? Also, it is hard to believe that your partner will accept 7 as an option with two or three small clubs.

Certainly, though, using Key Card straightaway is not ideal either as you will not know which ace is missing if indeed one is.

I much prefer Nick’s suggestion:

Nick Jacob “7: Would not have used key-card earlier. Lucky, we didn't get a 5 (0 or 3) response although of course it's quite likely partner does have all 4 key cards. What was wrong with 4? (splinter bid, diamond support, spade shortage)

Now I bid 7. No need to risk partner having a club void. Partner can correct to 7/7NT.”

Hopefully, after partner bids 4NT key-card and then makes a further try confirming that all key-cards are held, you can bid 7 showing a solid trump suit of your own.

Nick also refers to the big danger in choosing 7NT. Matt highlights it, too:

Matt Brown “7:  We can count theoretically 13 top tricks with 5+diamonds, 6 clubs & 2 aces. 7 caters for partner having a void club.”

Similar comment but different bid from:

Bruce Anderson “7: Even if partner only has five to the AKQ, the slam is good, virtually cold if they hold J also and very good if they hold 10.

I am not bidding 7NT as there is the (albeit remote) possibility partner is void in clubs.”

That last comment is true but you seemed to have raised a very good point of why you should not bid 7.  Jxxx is not that uncommon in an opponent’s hand (especially with 5 missing). It would be a real shame to record -100 when 6 club tricks, 3 top diamonds and at least AK and A adds to 12 with partner surely having a little extra for a 2 opening. You have a great club suit. 7 would show that with 7NT a choice partner can make with one or more club.

Bruce does have support:

Nigel Kearney “7: Opposite AKQx Axx AKQxx x with a club lead, we’d rather be in 7 but it's much more likely partner has six diamonds and a club void. If we had raised diamonds before (or preferably instead of) bidding 4NT, we could now bid 7 and offer a choice but as it is, partner will usually pass 7 even with a void.

Kris Wooles “7: So, partner has three aces, K and K. While 7NT is tempting, partner may have a void in clubs (for example) and in any event, I can foresee potential problems in unravelling all my tricks (even if 7 was an entry). So, I’m bidding 7. 7NT by East with a heart lead through doesn’t look very nice to me.

Another great reason not to bid 7NT..well two more great reasons, actually. If by some chance, you needed the heart finesse for trick 13, you would not relish the prospect of taking it at trick 1. Also, the prospect of having to use the “beer card” midway through the play as an entry to the club suit is utterly horrible for any player of drinking age!

For teetotallers, this winner needs to be played at trick 13 to exact the round of drinks…though I do believe diamonds is not allowed to be trumps for this to be valid?

So, some deserved criticism for our direct leap to Key Card with, I believe, Nick Jacob’s splinter, the best option. I had hoped that I might have the casting vote to split a tie between 7 and 7 though diamonds have it 4-2 (with some honourable mentions of 7 along the way!)

The concept of our partner converting 7 to 7NT seems a very good one to me. So, what was right on the night?

 

Everything!

Partner even produced the 10, which proved vital for the 7 contract at one table. North must have had a little hope when their long suit became trumps!

7NT was bid and made at the other table. The two important factors were to cater for a void club in the West hand and the missing J. Fortunately for those in 7, it was missing but no threat. On the night, 7NT was tops with the Q providing the thirteenth trick should diamonds only produce three.

Now, put yourself in Matt Brown’s shoes. No pressure! Just three teammates hoping that you will make a rather difficult 5 contract. You can breathe one sigh of relief that your partner had not put you even higher. Michael (Whibley) realised that you might be under some pressure to bid 4 and had just signed off in game. “Thanks, Michael.”

 

4 was natural and 5 a slam try. West leads 6 and at trick 1 East contributes 9 which looks like a rather middling club expressing no particular preference for either major. How are you going to play to make 11 tricks? Trumps break 2-2.

See you on Mothers’ Day.

Richard Solomon

 

 

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