Mysteries at The Hutt

Here is a good example of how, and why, you play weak twos, and how, and why, they work; and then, how and why they should NOT work against you if you know what you're doing. That should not be too difficult if you follow basic and logical rules.

Board 17 from Wednesday 19/07/2017. Dealer N Nil Vul

	AK9764 T7 Q965 T
82 AK82 AT3 AJ75		QJ5 Q93 K4 KQ962
	T3 J654 J872 843

North has a perfect weak 2S opening. East might contemplate a bid of 3C but East's hand is not great and passing is probably the best option. After South also passes, West now has a perfect TAKEOUT DOUBLE. West's hand is ideal to tell partner that the hand is good enough to ask partner to bid at the three level, AND that West almost certainly has at least four HEARTS. Perfect! East should then look at the options in the light of West's double. East has TOO GOOD a hand to just bid 3C, far too good considering West has doubled. If East were to bid clubs, the proper level would be FOUR clubs.

What about FIVE clubs? A 5C contract would normally require 28 or more combined HCP, and West may not have much more than 11 or 12. But whatever the case, East should be able to make the right decision based on three crucial facts: East has the POINTS to be in game but not in clubs; East does not have four hearts so game in hearts is doubtful; East DOES have a certain spade stopper as well as 13 HCP and a good club suit that should run five tricks if West has the ace, as one would expect after the double. East should therefore bid a very confident 3NT.

Now let's return to the 2S opening. IF East does come into the auction and bids 3C, then WEST has the answer. West has more than enough points for game, so should make a CUE BID of 3S which specifically asks EAST if East has a spade stopper. East does, and now bids 3NT. In all instances, after North opens 2S, the final result for EW should be 3NT. But there was not one 3NT on the night. TWO Norths at the Hutt Club were allowed to play in 2S, probably because the EW pairs were too reluctant to bid at all and did not know about takeout doubles. Two Easts were in 4C, probably because they came in with 3C and West did not know how to ask for a spade stop, or possibly when West did know about takeout doubles and did double and East bid 3C, not recognising the real value of their points and, more importantly, their spades. One WEST was in 2NT, possibly because she had the POINTS for a 2NT bid (but no spade stopper!). And in that case, why did East not go on to 3NT? There are so many mysteries on a Wednesday aren't there?