BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

PLaYIng Pairs, what would you respond on this hand, after partner opens 1 ♠ ? though you have no first round controls, this hand is a bit too good to make a direct game raise in spades, and justifies being in the delayed game raise category. So you bid 2 ♥ , then raise a 2 ♠ rebid to 4 ♠ .

that would be my choice of auction on this hand. though I’m aware that many players would relish the chance to use a Splinter bid, if they have it in their armoury. For the uninitiated, Splinters are advanced cue bids.

A double jump raise in a new suit, after a suit opening, is used to show game values, with trump support and a singleton or void in the suit bid. So here the response would be 4 ♦ .

It’s a matter of taste, but I prefer the Swiss convention for such situations, which is more specific, but which doesn’t crop up so frequently (no bad thing in practice). I prefer such an advanced cue bid to show slam interest, and this hand is missing too many key controls.

Nevertheless a slam was reached by several pairs because partner held three aces — but it still didn ’t make. the other hand is ♠ AJxxx ♥ A6 ♦ 10xx ♣ AJx.