How would you bid this hand? Bridge Column for March 8, 2002, Harvey Bernstein Neither side vulnerable. North deals. North S: A Q 3 H: A 9 D: 3 2 C: A Q J 10 6 2 The Bidding: North East South West 1C Pass 1S Double ?? Let's start todays column with a bidding question. Using whatever methods you like, what bid would you make with the North cards after the sequence shown above? You would like partner to know that you have a very good hand. The bid that should come to mind first is three clubs. This says that you hold a decent six card club suit with at least 16 high card points. Your second choice might be redouble. This should show a very nice hand with tolerance for spades. Some players like to play that a jump shift to three hearts would show an invitational hand with three card spade support. Three spades is an alternative, but that bid should be reserved for a hand with four card spade support. Here is the entire hand and the actual bidding sequence: North S: A Q 3 H: A 9 D: 3 2 C: A Q J 10 6 2 West East S: Void S: J 9 5 4 2 H: J 6 5 2 H: Q 8 7 3 D: A K Q 10 9 8 6 D: J C: 7 4 C: K 5 3 South S: K 10 8 7 6 H: K 10 4 D: 7 5 4 C: 9 8 The Bidding: North East South West 1C Pass 1S Double 2D Pass 2NT Pass 3C Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass You will note that North made a "reverse" bid of two diamonds after West's takeout double. This bid is called a reverse because it is a bid of a suit that is higher in rank than the suit that was first bid, and it is at a different level of the bidding. The purpose is to show a good hand. Two no trump by South is a good bid. It denies a three card club suit or four cards in either of the red suits. It is also temporizing, that is, showing modest values. North could easily justify a three spade bid at this point. We don't know how South would respond, but if spades break well there is certainly a play for game. North decided to bid three clubs. If South passes, the result will depend on the defense. East could start with the jack of diamonds When this holds he should switch to a small spade. West will trump and play a high diamond. East should trump and return a spade. West will be able to trump for the defensive book. The king of clubs will always score the setting trick. However, the bidding does not end here. South thinks that North has a diamond stopper and bids three no trump. West is perfectly pleased with this contract and does nothing to disturb it. The queen of diamonds is led. Against no trump contracts, the lead of the queen asks partner to play the jack, if possible. This is a standard play and helps the opening leader determine the location of that card. In today's hand, East is happy to play the jack since it is his only diamond, and West takes the first seven tricks to score +150. This is a good result but some Souths were doubled in four spades for -300. How would you have done? _______________________________________________________ Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.