Letting Go

31st July – Board 4: Game All. Dealer West.

With a long, strong minor suit we are happy to play in no-trumps, less so if that long suit happens to be a major.

	North: S 6 5 H K J 10 9 D K 9 4 3 C 9 6 2
West: S 10 H 8 7 6 5 2 D A J 7 6 C Q 10 3		East: S A K Q J 9 7 H A 3 D 10 8 C A 8 7
	South: S 8 4 3 2 H Q 4 D Q 5 2 C K J 5 4

West	North	East	South
No	No	2C	No
2D	No	2S	No
2NT	No	3S	No
3NT	End

With eight playing tricks I see no reason why East should not open 2C if playing Benji or 2S if playing strong twos. West has quite a useful hand but it would be a mistake to introduce such a pathetic heart suit as partner might get excited with something which turns out to be an inadequate holding, so he bides his time with a 2NT call. 3S is now non-forcing but shows a good six-card suit and now West has an easy bid of 3NT. East should let go at this point for not only is 3NT the best contract with nine tricks ‘on top’ it will also give the best match-pointed pairs score of 630 as opposed to 620.