Who Knows?

5^th December – Board 13: Game All. Dealer North.

I was intrigued by the following hand when it arose last Thursday mainly because the correct contract for N/S is so hard to arrive at and if you do it will only meet with failure! Such is life.

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

West	North	East	South
	1S	2S	4H
Dbl	Redbl	No	5D
No	5H	No	6S
End

Who really knows how the auction might develop with so many possible choices from all players but the one above is certainly possible. 2S is Michaels, showing hearts and a minor, and 4H is therefore a splinter agreeing spades and showing shortage in hearts. West might double to suggest a sacrifice but this only lets North redouble to show first round control. Now South is certainly worth a cue-bid of 5D which makes North’s hand look enormous – apart from the poor trump holding. Unsure what to do he should perhaps tread water by bidding 5H, clearly a slam try else he would just bid 5S. South can hardly do less than bid the slam now, which is fine – until the killing break comes to light.