New Canadian Bridge

MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021

South won the diamond ace and cashed two spades discarding a diamond from hand. An advance of the heart queen was taken by the ace. East cashed a diamond and played a third one, ruffed with the king. A heart to the jack collected the ten, resulting in an overtrick.

South was precluded from responding two hearts because this call would have promised two of the top three honors.

South's resolve to rebid his seven-card suit was a good plan. North would not hold a heart void or would have introduced another suit over three hearts. South's hand would likely be worthless in 3NT opposite a singleton heart or perhaps even a small doubleton.

The nine-trick game would have no chance of success when East begins with a top diamond but declines to win the first heart.

North might have elected to rebid 2NT revealing a balanced 22-24 HCP. This action would have simplified the auction where South would employ a Texas transfer (four diamonds) to reach the heart game but with North as declarer. This would be an effective sequence.