BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

West ♠ A 10 8 6 ♥ A87 ♦ K 10 5 2 ♣ 10 7

WHAT action would you take on this hand after two passes — at Love All?

YOU have four possible alternatives, using the Acol style of four-card majors: to Pass or to bid 1nt, 1 ♠ or 1 ♦ .

the Pass is clear favourite if you are playing rubber bridge, but at duplicate, you can be certain some players are going to open with 11HCPs, plus three 10s.

the Pass is still a good option, but if you do decide to bid, you must remember that partner is a passed hand.

the obvious choice of 1nt is fraught with danger when lHO is strong enough to double and RHO has the values to pass — there will be nowhere to hide. the safest and, therefore, most sensible choice is 1 ♦ ; you are unlikely to face a penalty double and you plan to pass whatever partner responds.

At the table, West decided to take the worst option of 1 , then passed east’s 2 response. ♠ ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ east’s hand is x Q J 10 x A 9 x x ♣ K 9 x x — and this contract was not successful!