That's Unusual

It should be much easier to bid the EW hands to game than to actually make the game, which of course should be 3NT. The bidding should be simple: 1H from East, 1S from West, and 3NT from East. It may be complicated if NS are playing the "Unusual No Trump”, and that is worth a mention.

Board 13 from Wednesday 21/08/2019
Dealer E All Vul

KJ972
J9543
86
T
AT84
72
K42
8742
Q65
KQT8
AJT
AK6
3
A6
Q9753
QJ953

When East opens 1H South bids 2NT, the Unusual No Trump jump bid to show both minors. With the actual South hand that really is asking for trouble and if NS get doubled in 3D (North’s ‘better’ minor), trouble is what they will get.

I noted that some Wests were playing in 3NT, which must have been the result of poor bidding when West ignored the spade suit and bid 1NT just because it was “6 to 9 points”. Not enough learning of basics but a lucky break for EW because if West ends up in 3NT (those who responded 1NT would be raised to 3NT) then North will probably lead a low spade and that will make the play in 3NT much easier for a competent declarer, but competent is the key word here. Any West who responds with 1NT bypassing the spade suit would need to be a better declarer than bidder.

There are many different possibilities in the play, and the reader might like to think about what South’s best lead is and how the play should go after the opening lead. You can have fun by checking it out here. Those readers who will be receiving the next chapter of Declare and Defend might like to think through all the possible options for declarer as well as the defence.