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How High?

It is never easy when your constructive bidding starts at the 5 level. Not much room to exchange information. At least, on today’s deal, we were able to say to our partner that we had a very good hand as we started with a game-forcing 2..but how good is it in relation to our partner’s bidding. How high?

 

 

 

2 was game-forcing while 4NT was for the minors. 4was just a nuisance! What now?

Many hands fit in a band which are too good to open at the 1-level but are not strictly game-forcing opposite partner’s misfitting pointless hand. For me, the above hand falls into that category. There is much talk now about “the rule of 29” for deciding on whether a hand warrants a 2 opener. (one’s high card points and length of two longest suits must be more than 29). The above hand does.  I would have no qualms in opening this hand 2. Only Kris Wooles commented that he would not have opened 2.

However, our second bid (5) did attract criticism:

Matt Brown “7: I don’t see any other option. I seriously disagree with bidding 5 the first time. Surely we have enough to try for grand slam and bid 5H ourself… We have 4 key-cards, extra shape for partner with 5 diamonds and they’re trying for grand? It seems so clear to me.”

And going even higher in diamonds!:

Michael Cornell “8: and expect 3 overtricks! 5 was pathetic when I could have had two diamonds less and not necessarily all the aces.

Unless partner is cueing the K (unlikely), he has to have the K for grand to be good but how can he not have it when he is inviting a grand?”

Slightly more diplomatic is:

 Peter Newell “5: we need partner to have both minor kings for 7.  5 suggests shortage or possibly the king. If partner bids 6, I’ll bid 7 and take a chance that we have no trump loser. I considered 5NT which I think focuses on trumps but I’m most worried about the K. 5 seems pretty feeble over 4NT with a 5- card diamond suit and all these controls and shape.”

Our partner has shown both minors and is now looking for grand-slam. What can we expect from their hand? Some expect diamond honours and K. Others stop to check. If you check, it comes down to a 5 cue or 5NT grand slam force, checking on trump honours:

Bruce Anderson “5NT: an old-style grand slam force, asking partner to bid the grand in the agreed suit if he/she holds two of the top three honours. Partner has cue bid hearts which forces us into a small slam, so surely he/she has diamonds headed by the KQ (but I am checking that out) and their club suit is very likely to headed by the king. Possibly partner has a heart void and clubs headed by QJ10; then the king will have to be onside, which is likely.”

Grand slam force here is only worthwhile if you can differentiate the K and Q if partner only holds one. With diamonds as trumps, the 6 response should show none or the queen while 6 shows A or K.

However, 5 attracted more support as an on-going bid:

Nigel Kearney “5: We have a strong hand with lots of controls but have already expressed that by opening 2. Partner can have xx x KQxxx Qxxxx. If he is able to cue bid 6, I can then bid 7.”

Stephen Blackstock “5: If North can find 6, then I will bid the grand. I don’t see how North can be trying for seven without both minor kings, and I would expect more than that in an ace-less hand, but it can’t hurt to see what happens next. 3055 is a small worry but with that, North may have chosen double rather than 4NT, and the opponents would likely have bid more with 12 hearts.”

Indeed: they only had 11!

Kris Wooles “5: hoping to hear 6 with the K and I will then bid 7 .  If my partner bids this way, I’d expect he/she has the missing key cards in the minors.  I would not open 2 with the South hand so if partner expects more from me, then he/she may not have K.

But in the Matt Brown/ Michael Cornell camp is:

Pam Livingston “7: Partner is interested in grand slam missing 4 aces knowing nothing about my shape. What must they have? I'm expecting the two minor kings from partner which is ample. With my extra length in diamonds, I don't need the Q.

However, partner is not bidding 4NT with absolutely nothing because if they pass, I have another bid. This is why, with this control rich hand, I would have bid 5 myself rather than 5. I think this shows first round control in hearts and a fit for one of the minors.

That’s fine as long as 5NT asks which..or is 6 pass or correct? The easier constructive auction does seem to come after South’s much criticised 5 bid and the 5 cue.

 Worth checking?

 On the actual deal, the ace-less North will bid 6 and if you do not bid 7 then, surely you should be buying more than one round of drinks!

 

 

Only 14 tricks (sorry Michael!) because there was no heart ruff! Should North have presumed their partner held all the aces for their 2 opening? A dangerous presumption. At some point, South had to show that they really liked diamonds and after their partner had bid 4NT and 5, now seemed the hour either directly or certainly after a 6 cue bid…

 ..and if the opponents bid 7 (5 down..+1100), would you be game enough to bid 7NT, risky but successful this time?

 

Making game on Jan’s Day?

Can you?

 

2 is a Weak Two in diamonds, 8-11 hcp. West led 4 to East’s 7and your king. East started with J92 and four clubs. What’s your plan?

 

Richard Solomon

 

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