Vil begins a new series of commentaries on hands played at his home club of Hutt on Thursday nights.
From Thursday 11/07/2019
Board 12 Dealer W NS Vul
Here we have a typical example of ‘an opening bid opposite an opening bid equals game’. North opens 1NT, South bids Stayman (2C), North bids 2H and South 3NT. Many Souths might bid only 2NT and they might be rewarded if North’s declarer play is not the best, and some declarers were in fact down one, but the point is that the NS hands should be bid to 3NT. Judge for yourselves whether 3NT should make .. or replay it by clicking here.
Board 24 Dealer W Nil Vul
How much do you trust partner’s takeout doubles? North has a good enough 11 count to open 1C and East should double. South bids 1H and West should now bid 2S and keep competing to 3S if necessary, which this time it wouldn’t be. No doubt some Norths would not open the bidding and East would open 1NT, which West should pass, though West might think about trying Stayman. That would get EW to 2S which is a very good spot despite the fact that the spades break badly. Even 4S could make if the defence slips up. Why could West try Stayman? Because West has ten points, and can at a pinch raise to 2NT if East bids 2H. Sometimes it is worth looking for a major suit fit with only a ten count when partner opens 1NT. Replay this hand by clicking here.
If you would like to know more about the declarer play and how and why South should play this hand in 3S and how EW should defend it, you should enroll for my “Declare and Defend” series which is already well under way, but not too late to join in.
43
K852
AT94
KQJ