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but for what?

That may sum up today’s problem. We have a decent hand but where to go with it? No fit that we know about and no ability to bid no trumps. Where to go? It’s Teams with neither side vulnerable and the clock is ticking:

 

When in doubt, let’s turn to our Panel:

Nigel Kearney “Pass: There is probably a better spot for us than 4 doubled and, on a bad day, we could have a slam and only get 300, But there aren't too many good options here and bad breaks may make it tough if we declare so I'm just going to pass and take what I can get.”

Michael Ware  “Pass: I think you have to pass. You have no guarantee of a fit and it should go down on power.”

On the other hand:

Andy Braithwaite  “5: asking partner to describe their hand and then 6 which may indicate that I had a choice of contract but think diamonds would be best. Hoping partner has a singleton or even void in clubs to make slam in some suit, either diamonds or hearts.”

and even more directly:

Pam Livingston “6: I am hoping my partner has club control (likely).  Partner is a passed hand but I can expect them to have A and K and maybe Q.  If I'm too high or I should have been in hearts then 'next board'.  North has made me guess and that's what the 4 is all about.”

Agreeing with Pam on the honours partner should produce is:

Stephen Blackstock “5 : If East has no special shape, I expect A, Q, and K opposite, so in the likely event he has club shortage the right slam will fall somewhere between having fair play and cold. 5/5 in the majors is another possibility; this way we can find the heart fit. I intend to drive to slam, and hope for the best. Not all is lost if East has xx as North may lead a cunning major singleton against 6, or South may have no club to lead.

 

At the other end of the scale, passing the double is reasonable also. We are sure to go plus and will lose little against a making game at the other table. The action that looks wrong is choosing a game (4?): that risks a lot to gain very little. 4 could be awful opposite 4441 say, and a blind stab at 5 with this suit does not appeal.

 

Would I be comfortable pressing to slam at the table? Of course not, much easier on paper! However, it looks the percentage action, despite the widely varying outcomes when it is very right or very wrong.” 

 

For most, it is to head for some slam, presumably in a red suit, or take the money. Michael falls in between:

Michael Cornell “5: for which I am quite good albeit slightly twitchy about my suit quality. Partner may be major oriented but still is likely to have 3+ diamonds. So,  this should be ok and partner might be able to raise if good for their double.”

I would be very surprised if a passed hand missing both red aces could muster a sixth. The debate goes on about partner’s shape, 5-5 in the majors, 9 cards in the majors with 3 diamonds or even maybe 4441 shape. If we have to presume something, then we can hope for no more than one club. It’s time, though, to go back to the "money takers":

Bruce Anderson “Pass : the problem with bidding 4, the only alternative I can see, is that partner may 5/4 in the majors and if we have only in a 4/3 fit a forcing defence could see a negative score. So, I am playing for a likely plus 300, which will not be a serious loss on the board even if we can make 4.”

Wayne Burrows “Pass : I faced a similar problem at the table but one level lower. I passed then so I suppose I will pass now after double of 4. After East's double it does not look like we have much of a fit. We might not have an eight card fit as 5-4 either way in the majors is possible with 2=2 in the minors.”
and with a prediction of what we may have missed is:

Peter Newell “Pass: of course,  I would like to bid with lots of points and no wastage in clubs, but there is no clear bid. Partner doesn't have to be short in clubs anyway. 4432 is quite possible.
Given partner could have opened a weak 2, or if they had a 6 card major would quite likely bid it, partner seems very unlikely to have more than 9 cards in majors.  So, quite likely, we don't have an 8 card major suit fit. It is a reasonable prospect that partner has 3 diamonds, occasionally 4. Playing 5 in a 5-3 fit may not be comfortable given that a bad diamond break is possible. So, while slam is possible opposite a club void, or a singleton, it looks too adventurous to me. So, I'll pass and expect quite likely to get 500 and 300 will be ok at teams anyway.  Oh,  on this deal you are going to tell us we have a slam on...”

Well, of course we have, Peter, and that is because East’s double is questionable. That was not the issue here as West was faced with a double and what to do after it. Were we not to have such a good diamond fit, which East might have mentioned at the 4 level, then slam does seem much more doubtful:

 

Really, if West did have 4 spades, then probably 5 would also be a make. If no spade fit, then surely the East hand belongs in diamonds?

Had East bid 4, then it would be relatively easy to reach slam via Key Card though the doubt would still remain about how many clubs East held.

At the table, West took the money, +500, though Wayne made an interesting point about the defence to 4x:

Wayne Burrows: “On a diamond lead to the ace, it seems likely that partner has the A and we have three spade tricks…except that there is a blockage. The alarm bell play is to switch to the Q first and then K which should wake partner up to you having a doubleton and needing to overtake and give you a ruff (or could cash their J if they held it).” 

Another approach is for West to return a trump at trick 2 (or perhaps after cashing KQ) though East might not enjoy having to find 6 discards on the run of the clubs.

 

So, “pass” seems a real and middle-road option. I am not convinced that bidding on with optimism of finding a fit and a club shortage in East’s hand is a winning line without East having good 4+ card diamond support. Still, as Pam said, North threw the ball up in the air and she sure bought a good dummy this time in 6.

Which way ahead?

 

 

It’s Teams and you have had/ have a couple of tricky bids. What about your bids up to this point? What next?

Richard Solomon

 

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