December 2009

BREAKING THROUGH THE GAME BARRIER

Most often the opening bidder is the teller (that is the one who describes his hand as to both strength and shape); the responder becomes the captain who places the contract.  This comes about mainly because the opener is first to bid and thus has more bidding space to describe his hand.  Often the critical point is opener’s second call. After which the responder decides how far to go and what strain to play.  If a good slam is missed, too often it the result of opener’s choice of second bid.

NORTH
S) A Q 5
H) A 10 9 8 5 4
D) 10
C) A K 6

You open 1 heart; partner responds 1 spade.  What is your next call?  This is a very attractive hand, made better by partner’s interest in spades.  If partner has a bit more than minimum values, game is likely.  Three strains are in contention here - hearts, spades and notrump.  Forget about the minors.

A heart jump rebid is tempting because it is quite descriptive -  six hearts and better than an opener.  But what are you giving up?   This bid likely will get you into the best strain, but it understates your strength and thus gives up the possibility of slam.

Suppose your sixth heart were a club spot.  Of course you would jump-shift to three clubs.  I suggest that is what you should do here.  This call keeps hearts, spades and notrump alive and gives partner the opportunity to evaluate slam prospects.  The complete deal was (no the experts did not find this good slam but of course you did.

NORTH
S) A Q 5
H) A 10 9 8 5 4
D) 10
C) A K 6

SOUTH
S) J 7 6 4 3 2
H) - -
D) A J 6
C) Q J 10 5

The rest is easy:

NORTH                     SOUTH
1 heart                     1 spade
3 clubs                     3 spades
4 spades                  6 spades

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

  I promise to bid all good slams and otherwise settle for game.

BridgeSnaps newsletter is produced by John S. Thomas, author of Standard American 21. For more good bridge stuff, go to www.oghma.us.