Third Best

1st July - Board: 8 Love All. Dealer West

	North: S 8 3 2 H J 6 2 D J 9 C Q 9 8 6 3
West: S K 6 4 H Q 8 D Q 7 5 3 2 C K 10 7		East: S A Q 10 9 H 10 7 5 D A K 10 8 C A J
	South: S J 7 5 H A K 9 4 3 D 6 4 C 5 4 2

Some really easy looking hands are difficult to bid and as far as I am aware everybody reached the third best contract on the deal shown above. However it does highlight an important principle which is a rebid of 2NT after partner has responded at the two-level in a new suit should be forcing to game. (The reason being that responder can now go back to opener’s first suit at the three-level to see if an eight-card fit exists, thereby giving a choice of games.) A popular auction - to the wrong contract – often went like this: -

West North East South

No No 1S No

2D No 2NT No

3S No 3NT All Pass

I think East knows (should know) that there is likely to be either a doubleton heart or club opposite and perhaps should bid 4S and not 3NT, even though his partner is really only enquiring whether the 1S opener has a five-carder or not. 4S is the second best contract after 5D but I think that is just a bit too hard to bid. The awful irony of course is that 3NT is a make even on a low heart lead. Playing low from dummy can never gain so you have to put up the queen and hope it is your lucky day…..