Out The Window

30th July – Board 24. Love All. Dealer West.

I do not support West’s opening bid on the hand shown below because it is never right to open bad suits in bad hands but here you might be able to get away with it as long as you understand a vital principle.

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

West	North	East	South
1C	No	1D	1H
No	No	2H	No
2NT	No	3NT	End

In an uncontested auction if you open with one of a suit you promise a rebid if partner changes the suit but all that goes out the window if there is interference. Here West should be delighted to pass at his second turn knowing that nothing will be lost, for if partner has a good hand he will bid again. And so it transpires! Knowing game is there somewhere East merely bids the opponent’s suit and West can show his stop by bidding no-trumps – happily raised to game by East. If you choose to open that West hand with 1C then what are you going to do if partner bids 1S? You cannot reverse with 2H and 2C is just too horrible to contemplate.