2nd February – Board 16: East/West Vul. Dealer West.
The power of preemption could hardly be better exemplified than in the hand shown below where East is faced with an impossible decision right from the start. A million different things might happen I suppose but I expect the top spot would be found only in one’s dreams.
 |
West
|
North
|
East
|
South
|
1H
|
4S
|
5S
|
No
|
6C
|
No
|
No
|
????
|
With a five-loser hand and playable in two suits it would be a mistake to concentrate on just one, but even opening at the one-level will cause problems after North barrages with 4S. I suppose that East would bid 5S and pass over 6C, thinking of course that there will be a spade loser, and the grand slam would be lost. However if South sacrifices in 6S West should pass, indicating first round spade control, and maybe now East will bid 7C. Of course South would have to bid 7S now, attaining the par result for a loss of 1100 against best defence!
What does the 5S signify? Does it mean I have a spade stop or asking p for one? I get rather blurry of the meaning of some bids at such giddy heights - is there a handout we could have or a pointer to a good reference book? SimpleStew.
ReplyDeleteI think 5S is about the only bid that conveys the message that there is a slam somewhere and is looking for partner to say something intelligent at the six-level. After all what else can East say? 5C or 5D are just too feeble and just too unilateral while doubling 4S will get very little in return. The main danger of course is that partner may think you are agreeing hearts but if he has another suit he will surely bid it just in case that is what partner wants to hear.
ReplyDeleteA well-known bridge player once wrote a very good series of articles about bidding at the five-level. I will see if I - er he - still has a copy.