| Board 17 North Deals None Vul |
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North has a routine "Goren 13" or "Rule of 20" opening bid, complete with the two quick tricks recommended for minimum openings. With an easy 1S rebid over the expected heart response, 1D will be a popular choice. East overcalls 1S or opens 1S if North passes. South has barely enough for a 2C response; the Jack of spades is of doubtful value but the partial fit for opener is encouraging. Note that "2/1 Game Force" does not apply in competition. If North passes, South has a poor hand for a 2C overcall -- bad shape, a poor suit for the two level (KQ10xx or KQxxxx would be a typical minimum) and that questionable Jack. Nevertheless many Souths will overcall anyway. Can West double to show hearts? Most would interpret a double that way but the problem is that partner must bid something, probably rebidding spades. Then West must pass on what may be a 5-1 fit or climb up to 3H. A Weak Jump Shift In Competition (3H) would get to the same level quickly. With a singleton in partner's suit it will often be better to pass -- perhaps partner can reopen with a double. North raises to 3C and West either sits for that or back in with 3H. The length in clubs and shortness in spades favors defending. On a spade lead the defense will likely collect two spades, a heart, diamond and club and perhaps a ruff, but the diamond may go away on the King of spades. Four hearts can be made by finessing in spades or by ruffing clubs if the defense fails to lead trumps.
| Board 23 South Deals Both Vul |
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Most of the field reached this odds-on slam. A reasonable auction might be 1H-2NT (Jacoby); 3NT (medium hand, about 14-15 hcp or mild extra shape)-4D (control bid); 4S-4NT; 5H-6H. The key here is that both North and South have some extras. Over the Jacoby raise, when opener does not show a singleton, 4H shows a minimum hand (no more than about 14 Goren points, high cards + distribution), 3H shows a strong hand (16+ hcp, or about 17+ Goren points) and 3NT shows something in-between.
The slam depends on one of two finesses in the majors; both fail, about a 25% chance.
| Board 24 West Deals None Vul |
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I expect most Norths opened 3C - I would. South suspects hearts may be a better strain, and even game may be possible, but bidding is likely to simply raise the level on a misfit. It would be nice for 3H to show this sort of hand, not forcing but worth a raise with support; but the usual rule is to play a new suit forcing in response to a preempt and in the long run I think that's best. 3C ought to end the bidding but some players can't stand to pass -- West may back in with 3S, raised by East and doubled by South for -300. Note that South should not consider bidding 3NT -- South can count only seven or eight tricks and partner's hand rates to be useless.
If North for some reason passes, South opens 1H, West may pas or stretch to overcall 1S and North thinks there may be game. With only three-card support, however, it will be difficult for South to set up and use the clubs. The ideal bid here is a passed hand jump shift, promising a fit for opener's suit: pass-1H; 3C. If north overcalls, I think the fit jump is apt to be more common and more useful than a "Weak Jump Shift In Competition" by a passed hand, that is, one that was not worth an original preempt. The fit jump will be enough for South to bid game without over-reaching for slam.
Repeat after me: "ALL JUMPS BY A PASSED HAND PROMISE A FIT FOR OPENER!" Along with that, a passed hand should never leap to game with only three-card support; there should be a cue-bid or Drury or passed-hand jump available for when you think you may have game. Keeping those rules in mind will help partner evaluate slam chances.
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