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   Any fishhooks?

It seems pretty straightforward. 1H promised 5 hearts and 2H guaranteed at least 6. You have a guaranteed 6-2 heart fit, plenty enough for game, maybe even slam on a good day. So, what to bid now? You are playing Match-Point Pairs.

 

 

There are optimists and there are pessimists among us but best of all is to sit in the middle and be aware of both possibilities. The optimists have an inkling for slam. Maybe partner has Qx and AKQxxx and perhaps the Q. Possible if a little in the magic cards pocket. The pessimists lose two diamond tricks and two more as partner regrets their very minimum opening.

It seems we can pander to both of the above in the same bid. However, Andy has a more simplistic reason for finding the popular choice:

Andy Braithwaite “3: third suit forcing to find out if we have a secondary spade fit- otherwise 4 as slam will be too difficult.”

Yet, when partner does not have spade support and you then bid 4, it will sound like a slam try:

Nigel Kearney “3: I want to make a slam try in hearts as something like x KQ10xxx Axx Kxx is a very good slam. I can do that by bidding 3 followed by supporting hearts, which must show slam interest as an immediate 4 bid over 2 would be a sign-off.”

Stephen Blackstock “3: There is little choice at this point in the auction: 4 and 3 are not forcing, and 3NT/4 are significant underbids. The real decisions have yet to come, but South’s next bid may clarify our direction.

At IMPs this is relatively straightforward.  I will make a slam try in hearts or spades depending on whether South shows spade tolerance next (he may have rebid 2 with three spades as well as six hearts). Match-points is more complicated since playing in a major could be poor if NT takes the same number of tricks, although being able to ruff out the opposite major suggests a suit contract. But there is no need to make any judgment on strain or level just yet.”

And another with slam very much in mind:

Bruce Anderson “3: I am trying to find out more about partner’s hand, other than he/she has 6 hearts and a hand in the 11/15-point range. It is unlikely, but possible, partner has 3 card support for spades; then I use RKC and if we are missing the A, a slam, if bid, would be played from the right side. The contrary is the case if I use RKC immediately over 2 and the hand is played in hearts.

Possibly partner has a 6/4 with diamonds or strength in diamonds and bids 3 over my 3. That makes it very likely we are not off 2 diamond tricks if the hand is played in hearts. Over 3 I bid 3 forcing and follow up with RKC to determine if the heart slam should be bid. If I hear 3 or 3NT over 3, I bid 4 rather than risk a slam going down, which is always a terrible result at Pairs.”

 

Meanwhile, I agree with the sentiments behind the bid though it seems 3 would achieve the same with less possibility of attracting a lead-directing double from West.

Michael Cornell “3: an attempt to reach the better major suit game – with Kx to protect would prefer to play spades if possible.  (The diamond bid may help with the lead too?)

Slam is possible though maybe too difficult to evaluate but if partner does bid 3 now I will certainly cue 4. I will, however, simply raise 3 to 4.”

 

I learnt wise advice that you should find the right game contract before you go looking for a slam. It may have been more interesting to know what the Panel would have bid with the same North hand but with 2 small diamonds. Would they just raise to 4 or would they still try 3 and then raise to 4 without spade support? That would still sound like a slam try.

 

The pessimists were definitely to the fore this time though the 3 of a minor bid did at least guide us to the making spade game contract. Slam was just a finesse, and a favourable heart break, away but “away” you would be as like me, you cannot remember the last time you took a successful one! Seriously, just reaching the right game was worth an above 50% board. No need to risk all on a spade finesse or drop of the queen.

 

 

 

4 was doomed. Even if West did not find a diamond lead at trick 1, they should surely find it when in with the Q. Meanwhile, over 3, South would call 3. Against 4 by North, West can never gain the lead and there can never be more than one diamond loser..making 11 tricks.

So, you would have called that South hand a good weak 2? That’s fine but hopefully you have a system of responses that always makes your partner the declarer in a major game. Otherwise, you may soon be writing down a minus score.

 

Finally, especially for those playing a 4-card 1 opening, 2 may not promise at least 6 hearts. All the more reason then to bid 3 to find the right game, let alone make a slam try. However, whatever your system, it is a good idea that in this sequence 2 does promise a 6+-card suit. That does, usually, but not this time, help the responder decide on the correct contract.

A failing heart and spade finesse, A that on the wrong side. Plenty of fish-hooks to overcome on this deal but overcome they can.

 

Richard Solomon

 

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