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Minors only if we must. 

We learn early in our bridge careers that it can be easier to make 9 tricks in 3NT than 11 tricks with a minor suit as trumps. When we can establish we do not have a hold in a suit, often the suit bid by the opponents, we may decide to play in 5 of a minor. However, when we do have a hold and when we can make the player in our partnership with that hold the declarer, then we are often best to play in 3NT. Let’s take a look:

 

Only East-West are vulnerable. What would your next bid be as North after your opening 1 bid?

It would seem many chose to bid 3 which is where they played because the South hand was not very strong. Others maybe chose to try 5 and hope they could make 11 tricks. The latter were mainly to be disappointed. At least, those in 3 got a plus score because 11 tricks with clubs as trumps was not really possible.

It was, though, a time for a “what if”. “What if"our partner had a hold in spades? If that was the position (and remember they do have at least 6 hcp for their 1 response), then they could win the lead, assuming West led their own suit, and surely could make 7 club tricks and the A as well. That amounts to a minimum 9 tricks. If there was one or two overtricks, then, playing Pairs, we could even outscore those in 5…460 say as opposed to only 400 for making 5. (Today, we see that 3NT will be the only making game.)

So, we need to ask our partner if they have a hold in spades. The way we do that is to bid the opposition suit, 2. (It would be extremely rare for our side to want to play in a suit in which the opposition have overcalled.) If they have a hold, they should bid 2NT, maybe even 3NT. If they do not, we could have a shot at 5 but let’s ask the question first.

 

Some days Q74 may not be a hold (say East held one of the top spades) but West is much more likely to have both of them and then South will be safe..indeed safe on any lead from West. Even if West led a club, South could play a heart to establish their 9^th trick.

Of course, West had quite a strong hand themselves and might chance bidding 3 over the 2NT response. North should trust their partner’s 2NT and still bid 3NT.

not the trump suit today.

Only 6 out of 103 pairs bid to 3NT and therefore got a very good score for making at least 9 tricks. Those playing in clubs would or should lose A, A and a diamond.

Although they should always beat 5, West needs to be a little careful. After East leads a spade, seeing North’s J appear, they should play A and then exit a trump. They should not touch their diamond suit. The diamond trick will come.

So, where 3NT is a possible game, look for that before you head off to the 5 level. You may live a little dangerously but quite often you will be well rewarded.

Richard Solomon

 

 

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