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When to accept an invite

This article was taken from Andrew's What Should Have Happened Book

If you have already shown a bad hand but partner still invites you to keep on bidding, he is saying “ Do you have a good bad hand or a bad bad hand?”

West Deals
N-S Vul
♠ A J 10 5
A J 8
A K 9 4
♣ Q 2
♠ K 8
K
Q J 10 5 2
♣ K 10 7 5 4
N
W   E
S
♠ 7 6
10 9 7 3 2
7 6
♣ A J 8 3
  ♠ Q 9 4 3 2
Q 6 5 4
8 3
♣ 9 6
West North East South
1 Dbl Pass 1 ♠
Pass 3 ♠ Pass 4 ♠
Pass Pass Pass
4 ♠ by South

North - too strong to overcall 1NT (15-18) - began with double. This commanded partner to name his best suit outside s - with at least nine points South would jump the bidding in his best suit. Hence South’s 1♠ response was consistent with between zero and eight points. North then made a strongly invitational jump to 3♠ and the spotlight turned to South. With four good-looking points - that’s four more than he promised - and a fifth ♠, it was clear for South to bid game.
West led Q. Declarer won K, cashed A and led 4. East discarded, so declarer trumped low and led ♠Q, running it successfully when West played low. A second ♠ went to ♠K and dummy’s ♠A. Declarer trumped 9 and played 4, taking West’s singleton K with dummy’s A. He scored Q and J and conceded two ♣’s - eleven tricks.

ANDREW’S TIP: Is your hand better than it might be? If the answer is yes and your partner is inviting you to keep bidding, accept his invitation!

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