Andrew:

Ditti “Avoid minor-suit games, not minor suits”

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The 4 ♥ and 4 ♠ games require one more trick than 3 NT, but that is normally a price worth paying should there be an eight-card fit. The 5 ♣ and 5 ♦ games require two more tricks – just one fewer than a small slam – and that is normally not a price worth paying.

Bid minor-suits at low levels, for there is little practical difference (except at Duplicate Pairs) between making 2 ♦ and 2 ♠ (when was the last time having a 60 part-score and a 40 part-score made a difference?). However when you realise you have the values for game, strain to play in 3 NT rather than the dreaded Five-of-a-minor.

A. After 1 ♥ - 1 ♠ [you open 1 ♥; partner responds 1 ♠] rebid 2 ♦ with these hands:

Hand (i)	Hand (ii)
♠ 5 ♥ A K J 4 2 ♦ J 9 7 6 ♣ A J 4	♠ K 5 ♥ J 9 8 5 3 2 ♦ A K 7 6 ♣ 3

B. After 1 ♥ - 1 ♠ - 2 ♦, rebid 3 ♦ with these hands:

Hand (i)	Hand (ii)
♠ K J 6 2 ♥ 9 7 ♦ K Q 4 2 ♣ Q 6 3	♠ K J 9 3 2 ♥ J 4 ♦ Q J 5 3 ♣ J 3

A. and B, are, as things stand, part-scores.However...

C. After 1 ♥ - 1 ♠ - 2 ♦- 3 ♦, rebid 3 NT
with these hands:

Hand (i)	Hand (ii)
♠ Q ♥ K Q 9 8 7 ♦ A 9 4 2 ♣ K J 3	♠ A 2 ♥ Q J 9 8 5 ♦ K 9 5 3 ♣ A Q

South Deals
None Vul

♠	8 7
♥	K 5
♦	A 10 8 3
♣	J 8 7 4 2

♠	Q 9 6 5 2
♥	9 7
♦	Q 9 7 6
♣	A 10

N
W		E
S

♠	A J 4 3
♥	10 8 6 4 3 2
♦	—
♣	K 9 5

♠	K 10
♥	A Q J
♦	K J 5 4 2
♣	Q 6 3

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

Whether you add a point for each of the doubletons (when supporting); or whether you use the Losing Trick Count (eight losing tricks), North has a 3 ♦ bid, the equivalent of 10-12 pts.
Don’t even think of bidding 5 ♦ – as expected this would have no hope of making [the only game contract higher than 3 NT with a chance is 4 ♠ by E-W!].

3 NT by South

Lead: ♠ 5

On our deal West led ♠ 5 to ♠ A and you as declarer win ♠ 3 return with ♠ K. Needing to pick up diamonds without loss, the odds slightly favour the drop (♦ AK) but you should cash ♦ K first (key play). Why? Because you can pick up all four diamonds with West (should East show out) but not the reverse (dummy holding the crucial ♦ 8).

If both follow on ♦ K, you plan to lead to♦ A. However East does show out on ♦ K, so you now lead ♦ 2 to ♦ 7 and ♦ 8, ♥ 5 to ♥ J, ♦ 4 to ♦ 9 and ♦ 10, cash ♦ A felling ♦ Q, overtake ♥ K with ♥ A and cash ♦ J and ♥ Q. Nine tricks and game made.

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Andrew:

Ditti “Avoid minor-suit games, not minor suits”