What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for December 2006 

Edna Matheson made the best submission for the month of December.

 Hand: We were vulnerable and I was dealer, sitting South:

spades K62
hearts KQJ984
diamonds 9
clubs 543
spades 10985
hearts 765
diamonds J864
clubs 96
  spades QJ
hearts 1032
diamonds K3
clubs KJ10872
  spades A743
hearts A
diamonds AQ10752
clubs AQ
 
Bidding: West  North East South
          1diamonds
   Pass 1hearts 2clubs 2spades
   Pass 3hearts Pass  ?

Comments:    I didn't know what would be the best way to proceed with the bidding. Can you help me out?

Peter's Reply:

Hi Edna,

This is not a good auction thus far and will probably end in either 3NT or  4hearts. The problem has arisen from the 3hearts bid, either through a misunderstanding of the nature of the 2spades bid or from a misjudgment of the worth of the responding hand.

In the auction 1diamonds (P) 1hearts (P); 2spades, 2spades would be a game force. After the 2clubs overcall, 2spades has been converted from a jump shift to a reverse. While denoting a strong hand it is only forcing for one round, not a game force.

The consequence of this is that 3hearts is not forcing and, in my view, inadequate. Responder has enough for game and should bid either 4hearts or 3clubs "fourth suit forcing". Given the quality of the heart suit I believe 4hearts is superior to 3clubs.

So we would have

                      1diamonds (P) 1hearts (2clubs)

                      2spades (P) 4hearts (P)

                      ?

After this auction the South hand screams heart slam, but South ought not get too carried away. North has said "excellent hearts in a modest hand." The modest hand bit comes from its non-forcing nature. Probably a direct 6hearts would be simplest and best.

The club finesse is long odds on to succeed if it is needed and in many layouts will be unnecessary.

Regards
Peter Fordham

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