Is your hand weak, average or good?

Mark Twain said, “Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy, you must have somebody to divide it with.” At the bridge table, if partner makes a mistake, you get the grief too. If you play brilliantly, partner shares your joy. Today, though, we are going to look at a bidding situation in which you can tell partner whether you have an average or good hand. Look at North’s cards. You open one club — or would you have upgraded to two no-trump? Partner responds one spade, you rebid two notrump, and he continues with three spades. What would you do now? Let’s start with the first question. Yes, I would have opened two no-trump. Four aces are great, and there are three good spot-cards. But it is close because of the 4-3-3-3 shape. Given that you opened one club, your hand is super. Partner has shown six spades and slam thoughts. With five spades, he would have rebid three of a minor. With only game interest, he would have jumped to four spades. Now, therefore, you should show enthusiasm. Jump to four no-trump or six spades. (If you have a hand unsuitable for slam, you should raise three spades to four.) Against six spades, West would probably lead a heart. Normally he would pick the nine, top of nothing, but against a slam, there is a strong case for the three. Still, declarer will likely win with dummy’s ace, draw trumps and take a ruffing heart finesse (leading the queen from the board) to guarantee 12 tricks: seven spades, two hearts, one diamond and two clubs.