Hand Question 29
How Should I Bid This Monster?
Played last night. My partner sitting S opened 1C. What do I do? In the end I took my heart (literally as I was worried about hearts) in my hands and bid 6NT which made +1 as KS was onside but I only got 58% as nearly everyone was in it but I wondered if it could have been more scientific.
Bernard's Answer
The best way to start on a hand like this is to respond with a simple 1D - this allows partner to rebid naturally - here the rebid will be 1NT (15-17) and now you know you have 35-37 points between you. The correct bid at this point is actually 5NT - which invites a Grand Slam if partner is maximum - here your partner has a fantastic 16 probably worth 17, so he might well jump to 7NT. Clearly if he did not regard his hand as maximum partner should bid 6NT. There are 13 tricks off the top without the spade finesse: 5 clubs, 4 hearts, 3 diamonds and the SA.