Thanks Angela

Angela sent Vil this problem which came from Tuesday 12/05/26 at X-Clubs

Hi, just one question for now, match points. All vul, dealer West who
passes. Your partner, North, opens 1D and East passes. What do you bid, holding

AQJ

Q9

AT732

J42

This was Board 23 and these were actually EW hands: East the hand you see
above and West this hand:

K52

J

KQ854

AQ65

Playing basic Acol, you really have nothing you can bid that depicts your
hand accurately, so you can just blast 3NT and hope, or you can manufacture
a bid that will help you move on. Acol players often enough bid 2C over a
major with only three cards so why not when partner opens 1D?
As it happens that would get a raise to 3C from opener and now responder can
bid 3S which should be a decent THREE card suit not necessarily four, with
concern about the heart suit. West might or might not, now bid 4S just in
case East does have four spades, but West will now know the heart situation
and bid 5D.

I have some sympathy for the Easts who bid a slam in diamonds, which is
certainly better than 3NT and can make on poor defence if the jack of clubs
is not covered (you should all know to 'cover an honour with an honour' in
such situations). Those of you who check the deal out will note that South,
dealer, might open with a weak 2H despite only a six count and not a great
suit, but passing with poor weak twos does sometimes have its rewards.
Final note: To avoid having to bid a three card minor, try playing 'Inverted
Minors'.

Do check this deal out at X-Clubs! Thanks Angela