Today's hand is a bidding problem. What is the correct bid for the North hand in the sequence shown? The answer will depend on what bidding agreements the North-South partnership have made. For our purposes, let's assume that they are using Standard American agreements.
There are a number of potential bids to select from. Three clubs, three diamonds, three no-trump, and four diamonds are the ones that should be looked at.
Three clubs is a good choice. It is a new suit at the three level and should be considered forcing. It doesn't have to be a real suit, but it should show a stopper for no trump.
Three diamonds would not be forcing and would tend to indicate a very minimum holding. South would be hard pressed to bid again.
Three no-trump appears to be a close-out and will probably be the end of the auction. I think that the North hand has too much to take this kind of unilateral action.
Four diamonds is my choice for this hand. Bidding past three no-trump tends to indicate a slam interest. North has to be thinking about South's choice of two spades as opposed to two no-trump at his second turn. The two spade bid is a good indication that South is two suited, diamonds and spades. The ace of clubs and the ace of hearts are very important cards when partner has the other suits. If North held the king-queen of these suits, instead of the aces, he would be much more likely to bid three no-trump because this would not be a holding that would create slam interest.
In most cases, when North bid three clubs, the pair rested in three no trump. When four diamonds was bid, six diamonds became the final contract. {5}The ace of spades is the lead of choice against the diamond slam. If East had to lead against three no-trump, the six of hearts would be the best choice, though I doubt that many would find it.
Learn to take your time and review all of your options before making your choice when responding to partner's powerful bidding.
Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League held the Silver Bowl Sectional Bridge Tournament in Solon on August 3-5. The following players were successful in their respective events on August 3. Additional results will be listed in future columns.
Afternoon 299er Pairs (25 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Elisabeth Alexander, Chagrin Falls, and Carolyn Karch, Chardon. 2. Dorothy Brookins, North Canton, and David Plottner, Chagrin Falls. Stratum B. 1. Mary Kay Covington, Beachwood, and Helen Burns, Moreland Hills. 2. Fred and Eleanor Kidder, Cleveland.
Afternoon Stratified B/C Pairs (38 Pairs). Stratum B. 1. Lynn Nosse, Grafton, and Barbara Zink, Olmsted Falls. 2. Kerry Davidson, North Olmsted, and Donna Largent, Cleveland. Stratum C. 1. Nosse and Zink. 2. Ellen Rie, Cleveland, and Joan Rogoff, Beachwood.
Afternoon Stratified Open Pairs (38 pairs). Stratum A1. 1. Lois Butler, Chagrin Falls, and Paul Klarreich, Brooklyn, NY. 2. Sukumar Roy, Shaker Heights, and Molly O'Neill, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Stratum A2. 1. Butler and Klarreich. 2. Gary Sikon, North Royalton, and Joe Novak, Mentor.
Evening Stratified Open Pairs (46 pairs). Stratum A. 1. William Cornwell, Hubbard, and Sally Veauthier, Columbiana. 2. Lois Butler, Chagrin Falls, and Bernard Heyman, Pepper Pike. Stratum B. 1. Mary Gleghorn, Stow, and Nancy Evans, Cuyahoga Falls. 2. David Norris, Rocky River, and Gary Montain, Westlake. Stratum C. 1. Lynn Nosse, Grafton, and Barbara Zink, Olmsted Falls. 2. Duane Seelinger, Mentor On the Lake, and James Novak, Solon.
Evening 299er Pairs (12 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Rick La Manna, Stow, and Kathleen Sevcik, Olmsted Falls. 2. Ron Miner and John Reed, Chagrin Falls. Stratum B. 1. Miner and Reed. 2. Robert Ryan, Macedonia, and Victor Case, Akron.
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