Problem

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BRIDGE HAND
London Teams of Four Championship
Semi-Final - March 2003
Bidding Problem
Hand repeated for convenience

Board 19 E/W Vulnerable Dealer South

South
ª x x x
© K J x x x
¨ J x x
§ A x

South	West	North	Easd
Pass	3§	Dble	5¨
???

Full Hand;

West
ª K x
© 10 x x
¨ None
§ Q J 10 x x x x x

North
ª A J 9 8
© A Q x x x
¨ 10 x x
§ x

South
ª x x x
© K J x x x
¨ J x x
§ A x

West
ª Q 10 x x
© None
¨ A K Q 9 x x x
§ K x

I bid five hearts which was 'nearly' right. This contract went 3 off for minus 500 when there was no spade end-play and the spade 10 was was badly placed.
In fact, five diamonds can be defeated immediately by a club ruff. Failing this unlikely lead, South simply holds up the club Ace. Five clubs is cold, however, and team mates Hill and Clack in the other room scored 750 when it was doubled after East raised three clubs to five.

How did you get on with Board 21;

Hand repeated for convenienc;

North	East	South	West
2¨*	Pass	2NT*	4NT*
Pass	5§	???

I was terrified that we were going to lose A Q diamonds off the top on the lead and I could not see how I could guarantee playing the hand. I was not even 100% sure that partner would convert a five heart bid to five spades anyway if that was his suit. So I bid five diamonds. Partner bid 5 spades and that is where we played. East led the diamond Ace, but fortunately, the heart King was offside.
Partner (David Ould's) hand;

Not quite 5-9 points but he did have a seventh spade! As a Lenten penance for his rashness, he had to manufacture an elimination to avoid 2 heart losers to secure eleven tricks.

In the other room, they were not playing multi. North and East passed and South opened 2NT. West sailed in with 4NT and North bid 5 spades. Who can blame South for bidding one for the road? Now Mike Clack took out insurance and bid 7 clubs. Fortunately this was cheap and only cost 500, so we gained 150 on the board.

Roger H Morton