27WED Board 14
From Wednesday 6/07/2016
Board 14 Dealer E Nil Vul
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765
875
J8543
76When you have such a huge hand as did West on this deal, you are expecting to open 2NT but what happens when your right hand opponent opens the bidding ahead of you? You can no longer bid 2NT because for most people it has a different meaning. Some people would use the direct cue bid to show such a huge hand, but that also has a different meaning (“Michaels”) for most players, but at least there is still the very simple option of a DOUBLE.
West does not expect partner to have much, so by DOUBLING South's 1H opening West might be able to not only get some information from partner, but also be able to show the huge hand on the next bid. When West doubles 1H and North passes, nearly all Easts will bid 1S. But I feel that 1S does not do justice to the East hand. When partner doubles 1H, partner pretty well GUARANTEES a four card spade suit, UNLESS partner has a very big hand (as West does this time). Therefore a jump to 2S is a far better description of East's hand: East would have raised a 1S opening by West to 2S, is about all it means. Do you see how that can help partner when he has a very good hand? To just squeak 1S may end up in partner passing, thinking you have very little, or simply raising to 2S.
West's proper rebid after East bids what is a forced 1S and could be very little indeed, is to rebid 1NT. Hard to believe and many of you would launch into 3NT but don't forget your double has forced partner to bid. If after the very weak response you still want to bid 1NT you should have 19-21 points to do so. WHY? Because to bid 1NT you must have a stopper in the suit opened by your opponents, and a direct 1NT overcall shows 15-18 HCP. Hence a 1NT bid after having forced a bid out of partner must show a better hand than that, 19-21 points, and a jump to 2NT should show 22-23 points. Don't forget that you can't make game unless you have nine tricks in your own hand, or sufficient help from partner.
Only two pairs were in 3NT and made, three others failing, how I just don't understand. EW should of course be in 4S, which has very good chances of actually making SIX if declarer is aware that South has all the missing high cards. Getting to 4S should be easy if West does double 1H and East jumps to 2S, which should show a five card suit and about 6-8 points.
