Space-Age Acol

9th December – Board 19: E/W Vul. Dealer South.


One of the most useful gadgets to have emerged in the last few years is undoubtedly the Jacoby 2NT, a bid used after partner has opened with one of a major to show a high card raise to game in that suit, or better. See how well it works on the hand shown above, when the following auction would probably take place:
West
North
East
South
No
1H
No
2NT
No
3C
No
3D
No
3S
No
4C
No
4D
No
6H
End
There are many different ways to continue after partner has responded 2NT but a common method is for the opener to bid 3C to show an above average hand, with responder replying 3D to show the same. (Any other bid in a new suit would be a cue-bid.) 3S, 4C and 4D are cue-bids negating the need to bid Blackwood but it is hard to imagine that there are enough high cards in the West hand for the grand slam to be viable. (Remember that playing weak twos an opening bid of 2C shows either an Acol 2 somewhere OR a balanced 19/20, and West hasn’t done that.) Without Jacoby it is hard to see what East could sensibly do at his first turn.

The play is trivial. On a trump lead, say, declarer draws trump, eliminates spades and diamonds and runs the queen of clubs. South will win and is endplayed, and would be even if he had another club.

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