28th June – Board 20: Game All. Dealer West.
Being able to have
flexibility in one’s game is a tremendous asset and that awareness often
manifests itself in an ability to think beyond the mere counting of points.
North was in that position in the featured hand and should have had no
difficulty in realising that his hand was far from minimum.
It is debatable as to whether South should even look for a major suit fit but give the North hand a heart more and a club less and it is the heart slam which is the winner. As it is South’s 4NT bid is not Blackwood because no suit has been agreed but merely quantitative asking the opener to either pass with a minimum or to bid six with an above minimum hand. And that North hand is certainly that! Take away a club and make it a diamond and then pass would be the order of the day but with all the aces and a five card suit it is much more than just a mere 20 points. With clubs breaking 3-2 as one might expect there are twelve easy tricks and in fact thirteen tricks are liable to roll in with both opponents feeling the stress when the clubs are played.
How would you bid this if you played a 2NT opening as 21-22 and also played 5 card stayman?
ReplyDeleteWell I would still upgrade the hand and treat it as 21-22. Then over 3C I would bid 3D to deny a five card major and when partner bids 3S he would be telling me that he has four hearts but not four spades. I bid 3NT and then it goes on as before, 4NT being quantitative. Even though I have already upgraded I would never consider that hand to be minimum and having three cards in hearts increases the likelihood of having four tricks in that suit. What happened to you on the hand?
ReplyDeleteAh yes I see. If 3D denies a 5 card major but also promises a 4 card major, I suppose North could bid 3NT instead?
ReplyDelete