BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

AS DEALER, what opening bid would you make on this hand? the Acol System requires a hand with a minimum of five quick tricks combined with playing strength to qualify for the strongest bid of all, an opening 2 ♣ . But this rule has one exception — when the predominant suit is clubs, you may be up to half a quick trick short.

If your six-card suit were any of the others, you could safely open with a Strong two, forcing for one round only. Your alternatives are a slight overbid of 2 ♣ or an underbid of 1 ♣ .2 ♣ is the better choice, especially as partner will know from the subsequent rebid of 3 ♣ that you may not hold your full five quick tricks.

however, he will know you have a powerful hand you consider worth a play for game even if it doesn’t run to a slam. When this hand arose at the table, 1 ♣ was opened, with the result that a Grand Slam was missed!