Lederer 2006 - Best Bid Hand

There were many slams bid and made over the week-end but the vast majority were bid at more than one table. An exception occurred when the All Stars played England in a top-of-the-table clash in the last match on Saturday.

N/S vul.
Dealer North 
  A Q J 8 7 6 2
J
10 5
J 10 9		  
10 3
K Q 9 6
8 4 3
7 6 5 3		   9 5 4
10 8 7 5
K Q J 9 2
K
  K
A 4 3 2
A 7 6
A Q 8 4 2		  
West
Daniela
Von Amim		 North
David
Price		 East
Sabine
Auken		 South
Colin
Simpson
3 Pass 5
Pass 6 All Pass

At seven of the eight tables North opened 3 (the eighth opened 2 ) and six of the Souths merely raised to game. When Colin Simpson was South for England the bidding took a different turn.

Simpson expected North to have a good hand for his vulnerable pre-empt and bid 5 to enquire exactly how good it was. David Price felt that the quality of his trump suit and his singleton warranted a raise to six. On a non-diamond lead the contract was an excellent one. On the actual lead of the K Price needed the club finesse.

The simplicity of the auction and the uniqueness of the contract influenced the adjudication panel’s selection of this as the Best Bid hand.