Little To Choose

17h March – Board 9. East/West Game. Dealer North.

Everybody hates dealing with enemy preempts because often the decision you make is fairly arbitrary when getting it wrong can cost a packet.

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

West	North	East	South
	No	3S	3NT
No	4D	No	4H
End

East has an obvious 3S opener but what is South supposed to do? With only one spade stop South can only hold-up once in 3NT which makes bidding that look worrisome but on the other hand if you double what are you supposed to do when partner bids four of a minor? On balance I think 3NT is probably right but then the spotlight falls on North. Should he take out into hearts or not? Certainly it works well on the actual hand and perhaps it is the safest option but it is best to have some science here. Use 4C as asking partner to bid four card suits upwards, 4D as a transfer to 4H and 4H as a transfer to 4S. 4NT is ace asking and the redundant 4S bid can be quantitative. Easy.