Sunday, 9/26/10

Right-click here for hands. 8 tables, including the 99er's who joined the open game.

Board 3: West, falling in between a 1NT and 2NT opener, starts with 1C. East likely responds 1S although a standard, game-forcing 2NT would be a good alternative. West raises 1S to game. Are game bids always "shut-out" bids? Heavens no! Opener is showing 20+ in support and East is unlimited. East bids 4NT and gets a two-Ace or, better, three-keycard response (zero isn't plausible on West's strong bidding.) Blackwood bidders likely raise to 6S, while key-carders may have visions of a grand and inquire about the Queen of trumps (5D over 5C, or 5H over a "1430" 5D reply.) West denies the Queen (next step in some styles, 5S in others) and East contracts for 6S, making easily with the 3-2 trump split and a diamond ruff.

Several pairs tried 6NT instead; in our Precision style, the bidding started 1C (16+)-2NT (14+ balanced) and so as West I knew we had 33 points in high cards. When partner showed two key cards without the Queen, 6NT seemed a better shot than 6S. No joy -- the diamond finesse was off, clubs did not split and there was no squeeze. On another day spades might have broken 4-1 while 6NT rolled home.

If East or West does not know the combined high card count, I think 6NT would be wrong. After 1C-1S-4S, how certain is East that West is not bidding partly on ruffing values? If West would splinter with a singleton or jump to 4C to show a strong 6-4 hand, East might be justified in trying 6NT. In general, however, be wary of trying for 6NT rather than a suit slam if partner's bidding might be based partly on ruffing values. As it happened, only one pair bid 6S while 4 went down at 6NT.

Board 15: West might open an offbeat 2D, but more likely East opens 1C in 4th seat. West responds 1D or 1S; I prefer 1D, expecting a heart rebid and planning to bid the spades twice, which shows the 5-6 pattern. (With 5-5, responder should bid the higher ranking suit first.) I wouldn't expect aggressive bidding by N/S: both passed, and they're vulnerable; so 1D runs little risk of losing the spade suit. A 1S response makes for awkward rebid problems.

East might rebid 1H, especially if partner tends to respond light; but most would probably leap to 2H, game-forcing. West rebids 2S, natural in an up-the-line style after the game force. East raises to 3S; no need to jump again, the 2H bid commits the partnership to at least 3NT.

West can now visualize slam if opener has a control-rich hand: AKxx Axxx Q Axxx, for example, only 17 hcp but an excellent slam opposite West's QJxxx x KJ10xxx Q . This sort of slam is hard to bid, as West can't be sure East has three key cards to make even 5S and East does not know about West's great playing strength. +480 or even +510 scores well; the slam requires a finesse in trumps, and should not be bid.

Board 20: North could open 2C but two-suiters can be awkward and so 1S is probably better unless the tricks are more solid. He plans to jump-shift in diamonds. South raises to 2S or uses a Bergen gadget. If 2S is standard 6-9/10, West may double to compete for the part-score; against a constructive raise, pass is probably wiser. Assuming a pass, North can visualize slam if South can cover three losers: xxxx Kx xx Axxxx, for example. North might bid 3D as a "game try"; South, with help in diamonds and around 9 value in support of spades bids the game. Now North may try 4NT and then bid the slam; this requires a non-trump finesse, making it a better bet than Board 15, but still an OK slam not to bid. An odd thing: if South has nothing in diamonds, the AJ10 will probably lose only 1 trick; "help" in diamonds really doesn't help much (though Kx along with four trumps would be excellent.)

Board 21: North-South should not get active at this vulnerability and presumably pass throughout. East opens 1H, West plans to show a balanced, 3 card, game-invitational raise by way of a forcing 1NT followed by 3H. If 1NT isn't forcing West can temporize with 2C or 2D. Over 1NT East counts 8.5 tricks and leaps to game (4H.) Should West go on? 2.5 quick tricks and the unrevealed support might erase a trump loser; if partner's hearts were solid he might have bid 3NT rather than 4H. With no control in clubs, a 4S cue-bid is best; East is delighted to hear about the spade control and bids the slam after checking on Aces/Key cards. The slam needs one of two finesses and not Qxx of trumps with South; as it happens, the spade finesse isn't needed since Kxx of clubs is in the slot.