Over The Moon

28th January – Board 7. Game All. Dealer South.

Big hands with more than one place to play are best taken slowly to give more room to investigate all possible outcomes.

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

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

You may not like just opening 1D on that South hand but it’s the right thing to do. The last time anyone played in 1D the cow jumped over the moon and even if partner doesn’t come up with a bid then RHO will come to your rescue. I promise. As it happens North has an easy raise, enabling South to bid 2S, forcing. North bids 3C not intended as a place to play but showing values there leaving it easy for South to bid 3NT with his heart king guarded. As it happens there was never any threat in that suit but note that 3NT is ‘cold’ while 5D has three inescapable losers. As an aside those who play inverted minor suit raises will have to bid 3D on the North hand leaving less room for manoeuvre. One of the reasons I will never play that particular gadget.