Harvey Bernstein's Bridge Column

At a local duplicate game last month, this hand was played nine times. The North-South score was either +510 or +440 with one exception where there was obviously a problem and a diamond partial scored as +190.

What kept all of these pairs out of either makeable grand slam? The opening bid was very normal, as was the two club overcall. South has a number of choices. A negative double is forcing but really does not accurately reflect his holding. I think that a three club cue-bid would be correct. This shows either a limit raise or better in hearts, or the start of some other forcing auction.

I suspect that most players in the West seat would bid four or five clubs. I think that North should bid four or five diamonds at this point. If South has hearts this will not be a problem and if South does not have hearts he will know that North has a strong hand with both red suits. A double is also acceptable but if South leaves this in for penalties they will only defeat five clubs by three tricks which is only +500, which is just not enough.

After five diamonds, I vote for South to either bid five spades or six diamonds. It is likely that North will pass five spades so I favor six diamonds. This is not the optimal contract but in view of the interference, it has to be a good spot.

Even if you consider South's two spade bid to be forcing, it will be hard to ever really describe the power in the South hand without making a cue-bid. These are difficult hands but you have to be ready to deal with them when they come up.
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