Comfort Zone

9th September – Board 1: Love All. Dealer North.

	North: S A 8 7 5 3 H 7 2 D J 7 2 C Q 3 2
West: S Q 4 H A K J 10 4 D 10 8 C A J 8 4		East: S none H Q 6 3 D A Q 9 6 3 C K 9 7 6 5
	South: S K J 10 9 6 2 H 9 8 5 D K 5 4 C 10

I don’t think any E/W got anywhere near the slam on the hand shown above, mainly I suspect because they were pushed out of their comfort zone by aggressive bidding from the opponents. In most cases East failed to realize that in light of the bidding his was a good hand, worth far more than the eleven points on show, and I think a reasonable auction wouldn’t be far different from:

West	North	East	South
	No	1D	2S*
3H	4S**	5H	No
6H	End

* 2S = weak jump overcall.
** 4S = raising the interference level.

Once West has introduced hearts at the three level showing at least a five-carder and forcing, East has got a good hand. Just look at all the positives. Three card support, a spade void and a likely source of tricks in two other suits. Similarly West has so much more than he might have – the ace of clubs for instance – that he should not hesitate in bidding the slam. Twelve tricks should be an easy make via two spade ruffs, five hearts, a diamond and four clubs. Indeed if declarer reads South for a singleton club then he can escape a loser in that suit by finessing against the queen after having cashed the ace and seeing the ten from South. In an ideal world N/S should sacrifice in 6S I suppose and suffer a penalty of 800 against the 980 for making 6H.