Hand of the Week, Vol. 4 No. 5

Many people habitually overbid with strong hands, and underbid with weak hands, instead of thinking of their hand in the context of what they have already shown. This deal, from the Friday 04 March club game in Idaho Falls, got several overbidders into trouble.

Dealer West NS vul	A T 4 A K Q 7 5 2 A 8 4 A
Q 8 2 J 6 T 9 5 K 9 8 4 2		K J 5 9 8 Q J 6 3 J T 7 5
	9 8 7 3 T 4 3 K 7 2 Q 6 3

West	North	East	South
Pass	2	Pass	2(1)
Pass	2	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

(1) - artificial, waiting, promising at least a king

Yes, North has a fine hand. 21 HCP, 4 losers, and a six-card suit; it's clearly worth a 2 opening. But, among hands which open 2, a 4-loser hand is a minimum hand. North must now simply show his heart suit, and leave the decision whether to explore for slam in responder's hands.

If South shows interest in slam -- say via 2-2-2-3, bidding only 3 in a game-going auction -- North cooperates, but must not be the one to drive past game. You might cuebid 3, and help South upgrade his K and Q, so South will know which 8-point hands are worth getting excited about. If South has 10 or 12 HCP he will drive on toward slam himself.

But if responder shows a minimum fitting hand for hearts by jumping to 4, opener must respect that decision and pass. If responder shows a 0-3 bust hand, opener has to be willing to stop in a partscore in hearts.

If opener has a 2- or 3-loser hand like AKx AKQxxx Axx A or KQJx AKQxxx Ax A, he can insist on game opposite a bust, or try again for slam after 2-2-2-4.

The actual cards sat perfectly to reward good bidders and punish Blackwood addicts: on the normal Q lead, N-S are held to ten tricks. (If East doesn't lead a diamond, North has time to set up a long spade for his eleventh trick, thanks to both majors breaking evenly.)

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