The minors work at sixes and sevens

A bridge player hopes never to be at sixes and sevens with his partner, especially when bidding a six or seven. Look at South’s hand. With both sides vulnerable, West opens two hearts, North makes a takeout double, and East responds either three hearts or four hearts. What should South do in each case? Despite the useless heart king, South has a decent hand. He might gamble on three no-trump, hoping West has the heart ace and does not lead it. Alternatively, South wonders which minor is preferable. (North rates not to have five spades; else, he would have overcalled two spades.) South could jump to four no-trump, asking partner to choose between those two suits. But if North is 4-4, he will bid five clubs, resulting in the shorter fit being reached. (True, if North believes a slam will be makable, he will “raise” to five no-trump, putting the ball back into South’s court.) So, South might settle for five diamonds. How do six clubs and six diamonds get on after West leads the heart ace and continues with another heart? Note the modern style for West’s weak two — what side four-card major? Also, the Law of Total Tricks tells East to bid four hearts, getting to the 10-trick level with a 10-card fit — what vulnerability? In six diamonds, South ruffs the second heart, draws trumps, then runs the spade jack and takes the three spade tricks. Now declarer knows that West cannot be long in clubs. So, South plays a club to the ace and runs the club 10. Six clubs, though, cannot survive, even if declarer’s first play is a club to the eight.