Contract Bridge

You deal and open One Diamond with this hand:

♠ A9 ♥ 10 ♦ AQ852 ♣ AQJ63

What would you bid next if partner responded with: 1. One spade.

2. One notrump.

3. Two diamonds.

4. Three diamonds (forcing to game).

1. Two clubs. It is true that you have 17 high-card points and excellent distribution, when you might have had 12 or 13 points and less attractive distribution. So, it could be argued that a two-club bid does not do justice to your hand, and that you should jump to three clubs, forcing partner to continue bidding until a game is reached.

This argument is not sound, however. The fact is that the real value of your hand depends primarily on whether partner has good support for either diamonds or clubs, and how many useful points he has. You should therefore tread lightly rather than commit your side to a game you might have no chance to make. Do not be concerned by the possibility that partner might pass two clubs. If he does, indicating a very weak hand with a preference for clubs, there’s very little chance that you have missed a game.

2. Two clubs. Here partner is almost certain to have reasonable support for clubs, since he did not bid a major or support diamonds. But because his one-notrump response could be based on as little as six points, you have no right to insist on game. As before, if partner passes two clubs, it is unlikely you have missed a game.

3. Three clubs. You certainly are going to bid at least game in diamonds, but it is also possible that you might make a slam if partner has the right hand. Three clubs (forcing) is the beginning of an effort to reach six diamonds, and you are hoping partner can cooperate by raising clubs if he has the king, or by cuebidding the ace of hearts if he has that card.

4. Four clubs. A small slam is practically certain, and all your efforts should now be devoted to reaching a grand slam. You start the ball rolling by bidding four clubs. If partner responds four hearts, showing the ace, you bid four spades, also showing the ace. If partner then bids five clubs, showing the king, you jump directly to seven diamonds, expecting partner to have at least the K-x-x-x of diamonds, the ace of hearts and the king of clubs, which should give you 13 tricks on most layouts.

If partner keeps signing off regardless of how many grand-slam tries you make, you’ll settle for a small slam in diamonds.