Bold bidding

In a teams event at the ACBL Fall Championships, South, Peter Gill, was well worth his free response of 1NT. West’s double was conventionally for takeout; the theory is that West will seldom want to double 1NT for penalty. North’s raise to 2NT was, to be generous, bold, but the lure of a vulnerable game bonus beckoned.

Gill went on to 3NT, and West led a club. East captured dummy’s queen (not best) and returned the ten, and West ducked to preserve communication. At this point, do you like declarer’s chances?

LAST SPADE: If Gill led a spade next, he would have failed. Instead, he ran the diamonds, happy to see the 2-2 split. West could pitch a heart and a spade, but the fifth diamond skewered him. If he threw a club, Gill could safely lead a spade. So West threw his last spade.

At the eighth trick, Gill exited with a club. West took his clubs but then had to break the hearts. He tried leading low -- an honor might have worked this time -- and Gill won three heart tricks to make 3NT.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: SJ 4 H K 10 4 DA K 10 5 2 CQ J 6. You open one diamond, your partner responds one spade, you bid 1NT and he jumps to three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: I believe in being disciplined and showing support for partner’s suits when possible, but here I would bid 3NT. The hand contains a possible source of tricks in diamonds and a “slow” club trick. Partner can still pursue a suit contract. With J4 2, K 10 4, A K 10 5,K 7 6, bid three spades.

North dealer N-S vulnerable