Faint Heart

18th July – Board 6: East/West Vul. Dealer East.

There were several points of interest about the following hand although I think things might have got a little confused at the table and I’m not sure whether any E/W pair actually bid the really good 6H or 6D. If they did I apologize and perhaps they would let me know how.

	North: S K J 10 9 8 H Q 4 D 10 6 4 C Q J 6
West: S none H J 8 3 2 D A K J 7 5 2 C A K 7		East: S 7 6 5 4 H A K 9 7 D Q 9 C 10 9 4
	South: S A Q 3 2 H 10 6 5 D 8 3 C 8 5 3 2

West	North	East	South
		No	No
1D	1S	Dbl	3S
5H	No	6H	End

Sadly some Easts forget to make a Sputnik double over 1S, saying they would have responded 1H without the interruption, and straightaway the heart slam went begging. However with or without the double South is dead right to bid 3S, not a strong bid or he would have bid 2D, but merely pre-empting to the level of the fit. Quite right too, for even with accurate defence this only goes for 500 – less than the vulnerable game the other way, let alone the slam. 3S poses a problem for West and he is too good to bid 4H which sounds just as though he is competing without thoughts of anything better. If this seems strange imagine the opposition had remained silent, then over his partner’s 1H response he would have rebid 3S, a splinter, and looking for a heart slam. So don’t be faint hearted now but bid 5H! Staring at the top two trumps East would have no difficulty bidding the slam and in fact thirteen tricks come rolling in when the queen of trumps obligingly falls in two rounds.