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What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for February 2003

The best submission in February came from Keith Huggan.

Comments:
6D (and 7D) or 6NT was cold. Do you have any thoughts on how we could get to the slam level?

And Peter's Response:

Hi Keith!
The first and most important issue the partnership needs to sort out is the use of negative doubles.
The correct objective in the use of a negative double is to keep an otherwise unmentionable suit in the picture. To preclude bidding another suit which is eminently biddable in respect of both hand and suit strength, just to convey the presence of the major, is to distort bidding unnecessarily.
Over (2S) North should bid 3D. On this hand South can now appreciate that slam is in the offing, bid 4D (forcing), and the partnership will proceed in your favourite way.
Reaching 7D will depend on South's appreciation of the value of the HQ either by finding out about North's HK in a Blackwood sequence, or in responding to a grand slam try by North. Getting to 6D after 3D: 4D and a couple of cue bids should be a doddle.
On other hands, after 3D, South holding hearts, can bid them. No extra strength is needed or ought to be implied as 3D is essentially forcing to game.
My advice: Don't use negative doubles when natural suit bidding gives a better picture.
Hope this brief explanation has helped.
Regards,
Peter Fordham

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