We know it is safe, so we head there

People like to produce variations on well-known quotations. For example, Charles Dickens nearly wrote, “It is a far, far better thing I do now, to play in three no-trump, than I’ve ever done in five of a minor.”

This week, we are looking at deals in which we must decide between three no-trump and five of a minor.

North makes a three-club limit raise to show a maximum pass, no four-card or longer major and, usually, five or more clubs. South rebids three diamonds to indicate at least one stopper in that suit and to warn of a weak major. Here, though, when North highlights his heart holding, South signs off in three no-trump. (Note that South must guess the trump suit to make five clubs if West leads a heart.)

West opens with the spade seven, East puts up the jack, and South wins with his king. How should declarer continue?

South has seven top tricks: one spade (trick one), two hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. He can get the extra tricks from clubs, but must make sure that East cannot gain the lead; otherwise, he will push the spade nine (highlow with a remaining doubleton) through South’s queen-six into the jaws of West’s ace-10. So, declarer should play a club to dummy’s king. Here, he ends with 10 tricks. But even if East were void in clubs, the contract would still be safe.

Finally, if you and your partner use inverted minor-suit raises (recommended for regular partnerships), the stopper-showing rebids start at the twolevel.