Andrew:

Don’t play 5♣/5♦

Able to lose just two tricks, as against three for 4 ♥/♠ and four for 3 NT, the 5 ♣/5 ♦ game contracts really are best avoided, save for those rare occasions where, without a major-suit fit, 3 NT is out for the lack of a stopper in a suit. Even then, 3 NT may be best. Take a suit of three small cards facing three small cards: three losers in 5 ♣/5 ♦ (down), yet probably just four losers (4-3 split) in 3 NT (still a chance of making).

Exercise: You open 1 ♦ and partner responds 3 ♦.

Hand (i)

Hand (ii)

Hand (iii)

♠ A 10 2

♥ K J 2

♦ A Q J 8 2

♣ Q 2

♠ A 9

♥ K 2

♦ A Q 9 7 4 3

♣ Q 6 2

♠ K 2

♥ 3

♦ K J 10 4 3 2

♣ A Q 10 6

Answers:

(i) Bid 3 NT. Balanced hand with stoppers in both majors. Clubs are dicier, but partner may well have four cards (he would not normally suppress a four-card major, though).

(ii) Bid 3 NT. Assuming diamonds provide six tricks (facing the king), just three more are needed for 3 NT; but five more for 5 ♦.

(iii) Bid 5 ♦. This time 3 NT would be madness – given the singleton heart in the very unbalanced hand.

Click to play this deal

South Deals
None Vul

♠	J 8 2
♥	A 4
♦	Q J 6 4
♣	10 9 7 4

♠	Q 9 7 5 3
♥	9 5 2
♦	10 8
♣	A J 8

N
W		E
S

♠	K 6 4
♥	K 10 8 6 3
♦	7
♣	K 6 5 2

♠	A 10
♥	Q J 7
♦	A K 9 5 3 2
♣	Q 3

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	2 ♦	Pass	2 NT1
Pass	3 NT2	Pass	Pass
Pass

Suggests 3 NT, based on his trick-source in
diamonds and ‘stopperesque’ holdings
outside. He even eyed up ♠ 10 – a card that
was to prove essential.
Near-maximum for his weak 6-9 point raise.
Likes having at least a bolster in each outside suit.

3 NT by South

Lead: ♠ 5

On our featured deal, 5 ♦ would have stood no chance – indeed nine tricks would be the limit. There were nine tricks in another contract too – namely 3 NT – but those tricks gave N-S game...

West led a normal ♠ 5 – only an abnormal club to East’s king followed by a spade switch from the East side would have scuppered the notrump game. Declarer beat East’s ♠ K with ♠ A and noted how useful that ♠ 10 was.

Rightly anticipating that dummy would be squeezed on the sixth diamond if those winners were taken first, declarer led straight back ♠ 10. West won ♠ Q and switched to ♥ 9 (best). Declarer was not going to take risks – play low and East wins and the defence promptly take three club tricks. He rose with ♥ A, cashed ♠ J and followed with the six diamond winners. Nine tricks and game made.

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Andrew:

Don’t play 5♣/5♦