26th March – Board 1. Love All.
Dealer North.
If you don’t play a 2NT
response to a major opener as game forcing with at least four trumps then you
really should and the following hand shows why.
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North:
S A Q J 10 4
H 6
D K Q 6 5 3
C Q 7
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West:
S 6 2
H 8 7 4 2
D 10
C J 9 8 6 4 3
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East:
S 9
H J 10 9
D A 9 8 4 2
C A K 5 2
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South:
S K 8 7 5
3
H A K Q 5
3
D J 7
C 10
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West
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North
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East
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South
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1S
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No
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2NT
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No
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3H
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No
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3S
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No
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4S
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End
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2NT
agrees spades and 3H shows a singleton heart. 3S is just waiting for more
information as game has already been decreed by the initial response and 4S
denies first round control in the minors because of the absence of a cue-bid.
So South can pass without suffering any angst or resorting to Galloping
Blackwood which would automatically put the contract at the five-level which
would be defeated trivially if East plays a top club, has a look at dummy and
plays ace and another diamond. I suppose East might bid at his first turn by
doubling (2D would be too awful to contemplate) and then 2NT resorts to its
obvious meaning and the beauty of the above auction would be lost.
Rather than doubling at his first turn (strongly implying 4 hearts) shouldn't E bid 2NT? OK he hasn't got 5 clubs but AK to four isn't that far short. Then if NS reach 4S the 5C sacrifice is clear and will either push them to the failing 5S or go just 2 down for -300. Chris A.
ReplyDeleteWell it would certainly work well on this hand I agree. But on another hand altogether West might be forced to give preference to clubs with just three cards and I suppose it might end in tears. But I do have doubts about doubling I must admit and I would certainly prefer 2NT to 2D.
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