BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

WHaT action do you take next as North in the above auction, and would it make any difference if East had passed instead of raising diamonds?

I FEATuRED a similar situation a few months ago when dealing with the topic of competitive bidding. It is most important that you should focus on valuing your own hand in the light of partner’s bidding, without being influenced by the fact the opponents have shown values.

In fact, East’s bid should persuade you to raise partner’s 2 ♠ direct to game, because you can judge that he probably has a singleton diamond and, at most, a doubleton. Partner didn’t have to bid over 2 ♦ ; the fact that he bid freely means he has some values and at least five spades.

You will be very unlucky if 4 ♠ doesn’t make; he only needs ♥ K or ♣ A, or even ♣ J to ensure ten tricks. If East passes over 1NT, you should still bid when partner takes out into 2 ♠ . But now you only raise to 3 ♠ , because partner may have a Yarborough with six spades.

At the table, North passed and 11 tricks were made.