From Friday, 7 February 2020
Board 2 Dealer E, NS Vul
Reader's question:
The bidding was:
South | West | North | East |
---|
- | - | 1NT | Pass |
|
2 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
|
3 | Pass | 4 | Pass |
|
Pass | Pass | | |
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.