Anything Goes

16th April–Board 7. Game All. Dealer South.

You can do more or less anything you like in third position opposite a passed partner in an effort to steal the contract. Take a look at the hand below to see what I mean.

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

West	North	East	South
			No
No	1S	2H	3H
4H	End

It should be mandatory to open 1S on that North hand after a couple of passes, the logic being that partner will not get carried away – as they so often do – having already limited his hand. Not that these tactics would cut much ice here. East has an easy overcall of 2H and South should cue-bid that suit to show a high card raise in spades. (He would bid 3S with a more pre-emptive hand). West has little option but to go to game and there the matter will probably rest with both sides being relatively happy with their efforts. If either North or South decide to bid one more for the road I imagine East would be charmed although the ensuing penalty of 500 would be a disappointment I dare say. With a lucky lie of the cards 6H is a make so I suppose the par result would be for N/S to sacrifice in 6S losing a ‘mere’ 1100 points as against 1430!