Still There

8th January – Board 14. Love All. Dealer East.

Getting into the auction does not have to happen as soon as possible for quite often it is better to wait for a while to see if more information can be gleaned.

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

West	North	East	South
		No	No
3H	No	No	Dbl
End

You might think that North should bid after that 3H opener but I think that’s wrong. Partner has passed originally so hopes for a making game must be small and if East has a near opener then bidding might lead you into all sorts of difficulties. It doesn’t matter that you don’t bid of course because partner is still there and he has heard the bidding too and should enter the auction with a take-out double. Without a four card spade suit and with three aces North should be delighted to pass and on the lead of a trump – surely the safest lead – declarer should drift a couple off for a penalty of 300. Ok, so on the favourable lie of the cards North/South can make 3NT but remember that more often than not you should strive for the best result possible rather then the best possible result.