Usually when the opponents preempt in our auction, it just makes things more difficult for us. But not always...
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| ♠ | A |
| ♥ | A 10 6 4 |
| ♦ | Q 10 4 3 2 |
| ♣ | 9 7 2 |
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| West | North | East | You |
| | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | 1 ♦ | 3 ♣ | 3 ♦ |
| 4 ♣ | 4 ♦ | Pass | ? |
Your call. But first, a short quiz:
- Assuming that East
has not made a gross mistake, why didn't he bid 3 ♣ right away?
There must be some defect in the East hand that precluded a first-seat
preempt. A side four-card major, perhaps? A borderline hand,
unwilling to preempt against his partner? Perhaps only a six-card club suit?
- How many diamond losers do we have?
Probably none. It's hard to imagine partner bidding 4 ♦ without at
least ♦ AK-fifth.
- How many spade losers do we have?
None. (Hey, some questions do have easy answers.)
- How many club losers do we have? Why?
At most, one. East presumably has six or seven clubs for his 3 ♣ bid.
West raised clubs to the four level; it sounds like West has three clubs,
doesn't it? You have three clubs. That doesn't leave many clubs in partner's
hand.
- How many points does partner have?
Hah, trick question! This auction is not about points; points don't take
tricks.
Okay, back to the auction. ... - 4 ♦- Pass to
you. Your call?
ANSWER: Bid 4 ♥, committing to at least 5 ♦ and showing the ♥ A to tell partner
that we may well have a slam here. Partner should realize that you must have more
than just the ♥ A and a diamond fit; you're a favorite to have a black ace
as well. If partner has a decent hand for this auction -- a club void, and two kings and a queen in the majors -- 7 ♦ will be laydown!
SECOND CHOICE: Just blast away into 6 ♦. Bidding only 5 ♦ won't suggest to partner that you have both major suit aces.
THE PRINCIPLE:
When the opponents give you some information, use it. The
club preempt and raise, annoying though they were, told you that partner has at least second round control of clubs. The two of you have diamonds locked up. You have spades locked up, and first round control of hearts.
Slams are about controls.
East Deals
N-S Vul |
| ♠ | K Q 8 5 |
| ♥ | 7 3 |
| ♦ | A K J 8 7 5 |
| ♣ | A |
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| ♠ | J 10 7 6 4 3 2 |
| ♥ | K 9 2 |
| ♦ | — |
| ♣ | 6 5 4 |
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| ♠ | 9 |
| ♥ | Q J 8 5 |
| ♦ | 9 6 |
| ♣ | K Q J 10 8 3 |
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| ♠ | A |
| ♥ | A 10 6 4 |
| ♦ | Q 10 4 3 2 |
| ♣ | 9 7 2 |
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BONUS MINUTE: South's hand is a classic "ins-and-outs" pattern: queens (and
jacks) on the inside and aces on the outside. This is the perfect arrangement. Queens and jacks are over-valued in the 4-3-2-1 point count, but when they are in your trump suit they are certain to be useful. Aces are under-valued and always useful; aces in outside suits particularly so. When evaluating a hand, upgrade it if the soft honors are in trump and the hard honors in the side suits. If things are reversed and the soft honors are in the side suits, downgrade accordingly.
-- Ray
Better Bridge in 5 Minutes. Guaranteed! (or the next one is free)
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