Worth a Thought ...

From Friday, 7 February 2020
Board 2 Dealer E, NS Vul

A85
AT8
KJT2
QJ2
KJ64
3
Q7
AT9874
Q73
K954
A95
K65
T92
QJ762
8643
3

Reader's question:
The bidding was:

SouthWestNorthEast
--1NTPass
2Pass2Pass
3Pass4Pass
PassPass

We play transfers. My partner told me that she had a problem with the West hand. What is the best way to bid this hand?

Presumably you play transfers AND Stayman. The sequence you have given shows FIVE spades and FOUR(+) clubs. The best way to bid the West hand is to bid 2C (Stayman) and when East bids 2H, to now bid 3C which says: “I have four spades, no interest in hearts. I also have five or six clubs and not enough for game, so 3C may be our best spot”.

And, as it happens, it is, but 4S could well make on a good day. Note that West’s bidding was forcing but East could (and should) have bid 3S to show a minimum. 3S making would have been a top score! Other options can be seen by clicking here.