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Not so strong any more.

You start off with a more than decent hand, a solid suit, top honours in a second, and a void as well. However, by the time your partner has not only bid this void suit, but gone on to suggest slam in that suit, you must start to wonder how strong your hand really is:

 

Our Panel have differing views of where to go:

Michael Cornell “3NT: Great problem.

Ash and I play 3 here as suit setting- max 1 loser suit opposite a void but I don’t think this is standard. We play 2 as “blackout” but still a 1 round force- we can pass 2NT or 3.

Therefore playing ‘standard’ methods, I bid 3NT with my solid club stop! I cannot encourage spades with a void.

Partner can have  AQJxxxx and A-probably a grand if I have singleton K but not even cold for 4 opposite a void spade.With very good long spades, I would always expect partner to bid 4 but with a club control, he can cue that on the way.”

Nigel Kearney “3NT: I'm not willing to bypass 3NT. I'd rather have something in clubs but opposite a normal responding hand such as AQJxxx xx xx Axx, I don't want to be any higher.”

Good picking of the actual hand by both players.

3NT is fine as long as the club hold is indeed the ace rather than say Kxx though that is being rather pessimistic since the opposition are unlikely to be run off 5 quick club tricks, as we would have 6 clubs between our two hands.

Expressing some doubt as to the meaning of his bid is :

Matt Brown “4: I’m unsure whether or not this is a cue or should be natural. I want to hear about club cards from partner. If he shows them, I might end up just jumping to 6 at some point, though.”

Others are more certain that their bid means more of what they promised:

Kris Wooles  “4: continuing to describe my hand. Unsure yet about final strain or level. ,  or NT contracts are all possible.”

Interesting that Kris thinks that no-trump contracts are still possible. That would only be at the 6 level. 4NT would surely be Key Card agreeing one suit which has been bid.

Peter Newell “4: I have a great suit so want to keep diamonds in the picture. I have a much better suit than I might have..and must show it now - don’t like any alternatives..”

I tend to feel the same doubt about 4Matt Brown had that this bid may indeed be construed as a cue-bid agreeing spades. It would be in the sequence 1-2-3-4 and this sequence is the equivalent. Thus, a nervous 4 to be followed by a jump to 6 seems a reasonable approach. However, Bruce Anderson has great trust in his partner’s suit:

Bruce Anderson “4NT: RKC: The problem with 4 is that even if partner held 3 small diamonds and the A, he/she will not cue bid in clubs as it sounds like better diamond support. If partner shows 3 key cards, after my immediate 4NT I bid 6.

It is unlikely partner holds the cards to make a grand as they would have taken control after my reverse. If only 2 key cards are shown, I stop in 5, which could be precarious, but I don’t want to risk missing a slam.”

I would rather play a slam in what I know is a solid suit rather than trust partner to have one. On this particular occasion, partner did indeed have three key-cards with spades as trumps but your partner would be rather disappointed at the gap where your spade cards should be. Indeed, they would still be sifting through dummy trying to find them! Choosing 6NT over    6 would be a very good idea.

 

Against 6NT, West would likely lead a red suit. The 10 is a useful entry to the South hand so that South can play Q to lose a trick. South will still require the club finesse to come to 12 tricks. East would lead a minor if they were on lead, with the play going the same way.  

6 on a trump lead is a precarious contract being more comfortable when the K is with West, though declarer would not want to play too many rounds of spades before drawing trumps. Alternatively, North can succeed by taking two heart and a club finesse.

Declarer can avoid taking a club finesse on a club lead by ruffing both heart losers in dummy and losing just one club.

So, you would not have bid 3? It does seem to be the best bid for the South hand but gave North a problem. On many a day, the conservative 3NT will win the day..or would South keep moving after that?  

Voids are not always golden

All up, the North hand, certainly worthy a reverse, demonstrates the danger in assuming such a void is an asset before the trump contract is agreed.

Leading Issues

There usually are when you are on lead. So, your choice from the following 13 cards:

 

5 showed two key cards and the Q. A swiftly bid slam. Your chance for a good lead. The answer tomorrow.

Richard Solomon

 

 

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