Feet Off Ground

10th November – Board 19. East/West Game. Dealer South.

East faced a common problem on the hand shown below but once you think of what you can’t do the answer becomes more obvious.

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

West	North	East	South
			No
No	3H	3NT	End

The purists will hold up their hands in horror at that 3H opening but opposite a passed partner there is less danger of missing game. (In actual fact at the prevailing colours I would have opened 4H and let the oppo work it out from there.) Anyway, what is East to do over 3H? You can’t just pass because everyone would laugh and double is for take-out and runs the risk of partner bidding 4S, so you just have to take your feet off the ground and bid 3NT. It would work fine as it happens although on another day it might not. That is what makes bridge such an exciting venture.