The Science of Audacity?

6th September – Board 10: Game All. Dealer East.

Author: Steve Preston

When I was asked to write this blog I naively hoped to provide an erudite exposition on the bidding and play of one of this Thursday’s hands. Board 10 was quite interesting, I was told. Perhaps I could explain how it should be scientifically bid to whatever might be the optimum contract.

Establishing the best contract was relatively easy – 7C is excellent and indeed likely the best contract at teams. The second best, though more risky contract of 7N is also a reasonable shot. However constructing an auction that reaches either contract with any degree of conviction is much harder. Most tables started with an opening bid by East that showed a balanced hand of around 19-20 points and West, with 15 points and a powerful suit, therefore knew that bidding a small slam was de rigueur and bidding a grand slam a distinct possibility.

With David our methods would allow us to set clubs as trumps, ask for aces and the trump king and then further go on with 5N to ask for specific other (non trump) kings. Unfortunately we (David and I) play an ‘expert’ gadget whereby, with two kings, a response shows either the king held or the one not held. i.e. 6S over 5N either denies or shows the king of spades. The method seemed a good idea at the time! With the actual information gathered, personally I would have counted the 12 known tricks and although perceived wisdom is to only bid a grand slam if the odds are 70% + I would have bid 7C. So much for erudition and science.

Congratulations to anyone who did bid the grand slam – either by science or just audacity. I suppose it comes down to your basic bridge philosophy – two contrasting auctions : 2N-4N (for aces)-5D (one) - 7N (that’ll do) and 2N-6N (safe) Of course the latter sequence avoids the disaster of playing in Blackwood and the subsequent interesting partnership discussion! On the day the brave were rewarded – both 7C and 7N were virtually laydown. Leaving aside the extra chances available in clubs, everybody’s favourite line of cashing lots of winners in the long suit (called an automatic squeeze if you wish to impress your friends) would have left poor North unable to guard the three suits in which he held his honour cards.