Unchartered Waters

10th March – Board 7: Game All. Dealer South.

It’s all very well having a gadget at one’s disposal intended to wreak havoc upon the opposition but you have to know what to do if the opposition seem strangely detached and it is partner who appears to be troubled. Have a look at the hand shown below and see what happened after a fairly machismo weak two was opened on those West cards.

West	North	East	South
			No
2S	No	3D	No
3S	End

Confusion arose because the meaning of that 3D bid had never been discussed and there was doubt in the West camp as to whether the bid was forcing or not. Certainly it is generally accepted that a new suit at the three level should be forcing but I don’t think that should apply after a weak two. Why is that? Well the responder can always find out more about the nature of the opening bid by bidding 2NT, Ogust as you recall. And if you make a bid in another suit forcing then you can never play in that contract when it might palpably be the right thing to do. As in the hand above. Having said all that and even assuming that the 3D bid was intended as forcing it seems a strange choice to rebid such a ghastly spade suit – surely not what partner wants to hear. What about 3NT? OK it goes four down on a club lead but the reality is that North might well lead a heart and that would lead to a spectacular result for the pair sitting in the other direction. Of course just because you are playing weak two’s it doesn’t mean you are compelled to every time you hold a six card suit…….