The captain asks partner for input

Rebel Wilson, an Australian standup comedian, actress, author and entrepreneur, said, “I was sporty in high school. I played tennis and hockey, and was basketball captain. Then I went to university and stopped doing sport and started eating ice cream.” Not such a bad switch!

This week, we are looking at auction captaincy. This happens when one player has described his hand accurately. He leaves the choice of final contract to partner. However, sometimes partner will be uncertain, so knocks the ball back over the net, keeping the point – the auction – going.

In this deal, what should South rebid with his hand?

He knows that game is certain, but slam might be possible if the fit is good. Which cards would he particularly like North to have?

Right – good trumps, the diamond ace and the club king.

South sounds out his partner by rebidding three clubs. Opener will think that this is a help-suit game-try. If he does not have club help, he will sign off in three spades, which South would raise to game. Here, though, North jumps to four spades, confirming four-card spade support and a good club holding. Then South leaps to six spades, the contract he believes he can make.

How should declarer plan the play after West leads the heart jack?

South should win the first trick, cash the two top trumps (unlucky!), and start on the clubs, discarding dummy’s heart loser on the third round. Later, declarer trumps the heart two and a low club in the dummy, and loses only one trump trick.