Sydney University Bridge Club (SUBC) Answer Page

Answer to Problem

The general goal of an auction is to arrive at the correct destination. Both the level and the suit (or notrumps) are important. With a hand like this one opposite a 20-22 point 2NT opening it is important to realise that slam is not out of the question. When investigating a slam you should count your tricks, not points. Here, the semi-solid diamond suit will usually produce 5 tricks and you have a lot of useful intermediates. This hand rates to be about 11 points and if partner is a maximum, you may well want to be in slam. Most people with this hand counted 9 HCP, bid an automatic 3NT and thought nothing more of it. This hand is worth more than just 9 points once partner has opened 2NT.

Dealer:	West
Vul:	East/West

	North
	AQ76
	AKQ2
West	A108	East
K103	Q9	42
J8764		93
J7	South	653
AJ3	J985	1087654
	105
	KQ942
	K2

BIDDING
South	West	North	East
-	Pass	2NT	Pass
4NT	Pass	6NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

This hand came up in the 2008 NSW Youth Team Selection. At our table, my partner and I had a complicated auction and I chose to play in 6S. This was perhaps a poor choice since it forced me to tackle spades immediately. However the SK and S10 were both onside allowing me to make the contract.

Well done to Toby Palmer and Ben Woolan. I haven't been told how their auction went, but they were the only pair to bid 6NT on this hand.

Author: Leigh Matheson