Under Control

4^th July – Board 12: North/South Vul. Dealer West.

It is exciting to have good hands when partner opens but you have to be careful not to get too carried away and must always make sure that things remain under control.

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

West	North	East	South
No	1D	1S	3C
No	3D	No	4C
No	5C	End

3C is game forcing but when opener rebids his suit you should realise that the hand has to be played in clubs making a simple 4C bid suffice. This unequivocally sets the suit and if North had either major suit ace he should cue-bid whichever ace he had and failing that he just raises to game. Now responder knows that two aces are missing and has an easy pass. Note that 4NT at any time by the responding hand would be a mistake as a one key-card response will take you too high. The defence to 5C is easy to find. West will presumably lead the ace of spades and knowing that declarer has a singleton in that suit will switch to a heart.