BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

TO MAKE the 12 tricks required for a Small Slam you need 33 to 34HCPs between two balanced hands. Counting tens as a half-point, as one does for no Trump bidding, you hold 19½. Added to partner’s possible maximum of 14, this would bring the total to 33½ and your combined hands would come within the slam zone.

The auction is likely to get out of hand if you start on any sort of investigation. Settle for the direct request for partner to bid 6nT, if he holds his maximum, and otherwise to pass, by making a quantitative (not conventional) raise to 4nT.

If you wanted to inquire about aces, you would use a Gerber 4 ♣ instead of 4nT.