Sunday, June 5th 2011

Right-click here for hands. Another good turnout for Sunday, 11 tables.

Black 5-6 -- Board 7: Many would open South's hand 1S, but with excellent playing strength and much better clubs than spades, I much prefer 1C, planning to bid the spades twice. If the enemy preempts in a red suit, South can afford to bid 4S at his next turn if necessary. West might pass or jump in diamonds, but this looks like a simple 1D overcall to me -- the suit is poorish for the two level (expecially vulnerable), and why discourage partner from bidding a major if he has one? North bids 1H -- does this promise 4 or 5 card length? "Standard" would be only 4, with the double promising four cards in both majors, but many agree that 1H or 1S promises 5 and double merely shows 4 cards in at least one major. East might bid 1NT if West's vulnerable overcalls are known to be fairly sound, but with only 7 hcp pass seems normal. South rebids 1S as planned, and West should pass -- one bid is enough with this collection unless the bidding threatens to die at 2C. North bids 1NT, and South reveals his shape by repeating the spades. I've seen players pass 2S on this sort of auction, thinking they should prefer the major; that's silly, if opener wanted to play a 5-2 major fit he could've opened 1S. When partner goes out of his way to bid a minor suit first, support it! 3C looks right, leaving 3NT as an option, and with diamonds stopped South may bid that which ends the auction.

For any other major/minor combination, South's bidding would promise 5-6 shape; and some players may reserve the clubs-spades-spades sequence for 5-6 or a strong 5-5. North could then jump to 4C at his third bid, and South is likely to bid the excellent slam.

Competition Corner -- Board 27: After 2 passes, North may be tempted to preempt, but game chances are still high and a normal 1D opening is recommended. East overcalls 1S and South should compete with 2D. This is why it is important NOT to play "inverted minors" over interference -- had East passed, South could bid 1NT, but that would be silly with a small doubleton in the overcaller's suit; 2D should be 6-10 with 4+ support, 3D 0-5 with 5+ card support, and cue-bidding 2S covers 11+ hands with support.

West has an obvious leap to 4S -- whether or not it will make, the huge fit and good shape should produce a good score. Without South's raise, North would be uncertain whether to defend 4S or bid on to 5D; the raise reduces North's defense and improves his offense, so 5D is clear-cut. East's void and 5-5 shape opposite known excellent support likewise makes 5S look better than defending 5D. That will likely end the bidding, anything else would be a pure guess. East wins 11 or 12 tricks depending on a guess in hearts. I don't think the auction or play will make it clear who has the Queen, unless the defenders lead the suit.