Ordinary yet full of interest

Today’s hand from a recent Otago Bridge Club duplicate session may look somewhat ordinary but is fascinating from a bidding perspective. It is East’s hand which is of real interest.

What would you call with the East cards?

There are arguments for opening at the one, two, three and four levels. Passing probably is not an option because, after looking at the hand for any length of time, to then await developments by no bidding might make things awkward for your partner.

Of course your choice will be very much a matter of personal and partnership style.

Although it may seem offbeat to start at the one level, the hand does have both a rebid and defensive tricks in the event the opponents get too high and your partner doubles.

Opening with a weak two may not find favour with many, especially considering the favourable vulnerability and the seventh heart. However, one consideration in favour of the weak two is it tends to place less emphasis on the quality of the suit called, which a higher level preempt might do.

Given most of the pairs playing in the event reached four hearts, it seems likely that a threelevel opener was the preferred treatment. West should respond three spades and perhaps East denies a fit by calling three no trump. West then converts to four hearts.

Some players advocate regularly opening weak 4711 (eau de cologne) hands at the four level, but surely the heart quality is too poor for this.

If West held a monster hand and, say, the singleton king of hearts, he/she might check for aces, push for a heart slam and be very disappointed in the outcome.

There is little to the play of the hand in four hearts. With trumps splitting favourably and both minor suit kings on side, all roads lead to 10 tricks.