Wildly Different

27^th October – Board 19: E/W Vul. Dealer South.

I watched the hand shown below at a couple of tables last Thursday and witnessed a couple of wildly different results, largely depending on whether West elected to open the bidding or not. Put me down for a definite ‘yes’, partly because of the intermediates and partly because the hand is playable in three suits.

West	North	East	South
			No
1D	Dbl	2D	No
3D	3S	End

That was how the bidding went at one table and there were a lot of critical decisions. East might – should - have bid 1H instead of raising diamonds but when West raises the suit North is much better placed to picture a singleton heart opposite which is the key to 4S being lay down. And West did well to raise the ante by bidding 3D, not constructive in any sense because there are so many other options open, but merely putting extra pressure on North. The latter chose to bid 3S, correctly in my view, and perhaps South was unduly pessimistic to pass. At another table West passed initially and North opened 2NT. What should happen is that South bids 3H, a transfer to spades, and North breaks the transfer by bidding 4C, an advanced cue-bid in support of spades in case of better things. Ideally South should re-transfer by bidding 4H (discuss with partner) and 4S by North should end the auction. In the event the auction was not a pretty one and a no-play slam was reached when Blackwooditis made a premature and unjustified appearance.