Andrew:

“Up the line”

In the search for a trump fit, the partner of the opener should bid four card suits “up the line” – that is to say cheapest first. In this way no fit will be missed. Whilst it would not be unreasonable to bid the North-South cards to 4 ♠ on this week’s deal, there is a better contract available…

North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	A K 7 5 4 3
♥	7
♦	A 6
♣	K Q 7 5

♠	Q 10
♥	Q J 10 8 3
♦	10 5 2
♣	A 9 8

N
W		E
S

♠	J 9 2
♥	9 4 2
♦	K J 8 4 3
♣	6 3

♠	8 6
♥	A K 6 5
♦	Q 9 7
♣	J 10 4 2

West	North	East	South
	1 ♠	Pass	2 ♣
Pass	4 NT	Pass	5 ♦
Pass	6 ♣	Pass	Pass
Pass

The South player approached me with his hand – “Partner opened 1 ♠. Should I respond 2 ♥ or 2 NT?” The answer is neither! A 2 ♥ response guarantees a five-card suit, and a 2 NT response is too unwieldy and to be avoided at all costs. Look at the recommended auction and notice how the 2 ♣ response facilitates bidding to the excellent 6 ♣ contract.

West led ♥ Q and declarer won ♥ K and led ♣ J, which held the trick. He followed by leading ♣ 2 and West won ♣ A and switched to ♦ 2. Declarer won ♦ A and began establishing dummy’s ♠s. He cashed ♠ AK and trumped ♠ 3 with ♣ 10. He cashed ♥ A discarding dummy’s ♦ 6 and led ♣ 4 to ♣ Q, drawing West’s last trump. He was now in a position to enjoy all dummy’s ♠s and so make his slam, losing just to the ace of trumps.

ANDREW’S TIP: When responding, bid four card suits “up the line”.

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Andrew:

“Up the line”