Icy Calm

4th August – Board 14: Love All. Dealer East.

South was probably more than a little surprised when he heard the hand on his right open 1S on the hand shown below, but at these times it is best to remain icy calm and concentrate best on how to help partner if he bids. In fact North has a mild problem as several candidates could be considered but I think a full-value 2H is the best bet. (It might look as though a double would bring home the bacon as South would surely pass but of course West should redouble to demand his partner thinks again and the club fit would come to light.) I think the bidding should go as shown:

West	North	East	South
		1S	No
No	2H	No	3H
No	4H	End

I do not think South’s raise on a doubleton is merely hindsight as there is a strong possibility that his partner holds a six-card suit. Why? Because he is known to be very short in spades and with a 1-5-4-3 distribution he might well have doubled in preference to bidding 2H. And with two five-card suits he would probably have used Michaels. 4H should be easy even if East finds the best defence of ace and a low spade with West uppercutting with the jack of hearts. Playing on diamonds at an early stage should restrict declarer’s losers to just two trumps and a spade.