NT or the Major?
Board 10 from 24/07/2019
Dealer E All Vul
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A
AT92
AQ6
AQ853The East hand is not good enough to open, so let us move on to South. Does South have a weak 2S opening? That might make the NS bidding easier, because North should now realise that the only viable game to bid is in 4S, the likelihood of any entries to South’s hand in No Trumps makes 3NT a dicey proposition. North should just bid 4S and hope South’s spades are good enough. As it happens they are not, but South has compensating values in the minor suits, which is why 3NT made when it was bid.
Now let us consider how the bidding should go after three passes. Is North’s hand good enough to open 2C? I suggest that a 1C opening is in order; if South cannot respond then game is unlikely. As it happens, East would then overcall 1H and South bid 1S. North can then bid 3NT which South would have no option but to pass. A more disciplined North would cue bid hearts to show the very strong hand, and then when South rebids spades, jump to 3NT. South should draw the inference that North is looking for the best game, and now bid 4S, expecting something in spades. That is the difference between an immediate leap to 3NT and a leap to 3NT following a forcing bid, which is the cue bid in hearts.
As you can see by clicking here both 3NT and 4S make, though the only declarer in 4S managed to go down.
More on the declarer play in our Declare and Defend series.
