Sunday, July 7th 2013

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Board 15 South Deals N-S Vul	♠ A 4 2 ♥ A Q J 7 5 ♦ 10 8 ♣ A Q 2
♠ 10 5 3 ♥ 10 9 3 2 ♦ 7 4 2 ♣ J 6 5	N W E S	♠ 9 7 6 ♥ 8 ♦ A Q 9 6 5 ♣ 9 8 7 4
	♠ K Q J 8 ♥ K 6 4 ♦ K J 3 ♣ K 10 3

South deducts a point for no Ace, but still falls in the usual 15-17 range and opens 1NT. North may simply bid 6NT, based on a combined minimum of 32 hcp, a good five-card suit, and three Aces. However, a suit slam will usually have better chances than notrump when a fit exists and there are fewer than 34 hcp between the two hands. Many players will thoughtlessly start with a transfer without planning ahead; in general, there is no good way to investigate slam on a one-suited, balanced hand if you start with a transfer. With a second suit you can bid that at the three level, forcing, though that does not necessarily imply slam ambitions. With a singleton you may have the agreement that transfer-then-jump-shift shows a singleton (known as a "self-splinter"; don't try this without prior discussion!)

The simplest approach with such hands is a jump to 3 of the suit. (Many players redefine 3H and 3S as two-suited hands, but those can be shown by simply transferring and bidding the other suit -- not forcing at the two level, forcing at the three level.) Over the jump, opener bids 3NT lacking support, cue-bids his cheapest Ace or King, or raises to game with a poor hand in terms of slam controls. That describes South's hand. A complete auction: 1NT-3H; 4H-4NT; 5D (one Ace or keycard)-6H. As it happens, there are 12 fast tricks and 6NT is the best spot, but either slam scores well.

Board 10 East Deals Both Vul	♠ Q J 9 6 ♥ Q 5 3 ♦ 9 5 3 ♣ A J 6
♠ 10 7 5 ♥ K J 6 4 ♦ 7 ♣ K 10 9 7 2	N W E S	♠ A 8 4 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ A K J 10 6 2 ♣ Q
	♠ K 3 2 ♥ 8 7 2 ♦ Q 8 4 ♣ 8 5 4 3

East opens 1D and faces a common problem in standard bidding: what to do with a good hand but only three card support for responder's major. While it is acceptable to make a single raise of what could be a four or five card suit with only three trumps, a jump raise should promise four. After 1D-1H, East must simply jump to 3D; if partner can continue, you may be able to find a heart fit. West, unfortunately, must pass his weak, misfitting hand. East will probably lose two spades, a diamond and a club, but should be able to set up a club to pitch either a heart or spade. Double-dummy analysis shows E/W making 11 tricks with hearts as trumps, but two of three declarers failed, and in any case that depends on hearts splitting 3-3 and guessing the Queen correctly. 3NT has no play on a spade lead or club lead and spade shift.