Forum Question 22 – Advice on Bidding
Forum Question 22 - Advice on Bidding
This question was asked to: Julian Pottage
Question
Grateful for your advice on bidding the following hand.
The bidding went 1H from East, 2H (Michaels) from S, 2S from N, 3C from East, 3S from S, 4H from W and 4S from S, X by W. Contract going 3 off.
My questions:
1. Is South’s bid of 2H justified with his strong hand?
2. What is the right response from N?
3. Given the 2S response from N, is S right to comptete to 4S?
4. How do you think the bidding should have gone?
Answer
The Michaels cue bid should show at least 5 cards in two suits. South’s hand lacks the required shape. While the South player was right in thinking that the hand was too good for a simple 1S overcall, the way to do so is to start with a double and then plan to bid spades. if in fact West bid 1S and East 2C then South should double again, showing extra values and preparedness for North to bid the unbid diamond suit.
East overbid too - a 3C rebid with only 12 HCP, not much shape and nothing from West was very risky, particularly with what would be bad breaks if South actually had the advertised 10+ cards in two suits.
After the 5D cue bid, you might still bid the grand slam. If North cue bids 5S, South can bid 6D. North is no longer worried about possible diamond loser but has to infer that South has the HA.
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