BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

WHAT do you bid next on each of these hands?

BOTH these hands have the same distribution and the same number of honour points. They are both full value for a raise to 4♠ but, although hand (b) has a loser less, it is hand (a) which has the better quality. In fact, North could have several hands consistent with this bidding, which would have slam prospects e.g. ♠KQ10x ♥Ax ♦AKxxxx ♣x.

North should pass after 4♠ with this, and an excellent slam would be missed facing hand (a). The solution is that, instead of bidding a direct 4♠, South with (a) can bid 4♣ on the way; this cannot sensibly be showing a natural club suit and therefore partner will assume it is a cue-bid agreeing spades and showing ♣A.

Note: I’m not suggesting this is some sort of special convention, because social players do not festoon their bidding methods with gadgetry; it’s what I’d prefer to call common sense bridge.