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WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE “BOSS” SUIT?

You like to have a handful of spades. They are pretty good to have in any competitive auction. Yet, this suit did not get a look-in in either of the hands which follow. However, the possessor of the ace of this suit determined which way the imps would flow.

Watch the cat and mouse game on this board from the North seat:

 J43

 AQ9

JT974

Q4                            Vul. N/S

West          North         East            South

                                      1              1

2              2            3              3

4              ?

Are you still there? No-one is allowed to pass! Who has the spades? Come on. It’s your bid.

West          North         East     South

                   4              5    Pass   (the first one after 9 successive bids!)

Pass            ?

Who is making what and who has the A?

On our second exhibit, there are not so many bids to follow….but the same questions will remain. You are East and found your simple overcall lit a fuse on the other side of the table!

(All Vul)

                                       East

                                      K73

                                      932

                                      AQJ763

                                     9

West          North         East     South

                   1              2       3¹

4              x                 5       5

Pass            Pass            ?

¹ heart raise

Who is making what and who has the A?

Not only is there a similarity in questions but perhaps in answers too. In the first hand given, the vulnerability was not in your favour. Despite having a fistful of diamonds, your hand is flat. Bidding on does not look right. Yet, are the opposition diving? The answer would have been “yes” had the clubs broken 3-1 but you knew they did not. Doubling 5 proved not to be a good idea. Despite the vulnerability, passing was best.

 

South led their singleton though with East in charge of spades and trumps breaking, it mattered not what South led. Two major cards disappeared on AQ and 11 tricks were duly made. Holding the A was vital for East.

On the second hand given, you could be forgiven for cursing your partner! 4 showed great diamond support and that bid plus the opponents’ action indicated he was void in hearts. Yet, he left the final decision to you. It sounded like values all round..but who had the A? You did not seem to have enough to bid and make 6. Would 5 make? Partner has some value. So, you decided to take your chances by doubling, the right action this night though on others 6 (sacrificing) or pass might be correct. The A was with….

 

...the opening bidder. The 1-1 diamond break and the losing spade finesse combined to beat 5 by one trick, with 6 also suffering a one trick loss. Would West have bid 6 holding the A instead of KQ? We hope so.

In both deals, the declaring hands had 22 hcp, not that the number of high card points had any direct bearing on the results at the table. What did was the location of that “boss” suit ace.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

 

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