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Answer The fashion nowadays is to open very light, making life difficult for the opponents. Nevertheless, in a recent big event in the US both West players passed on this hand. Why was that? When you are considering a borderline opening, look at the quality of your suit. Here the spades are moderate. Nor are the queen of hearts and the jack of clubs very good value for three points. Finally, you are in the first seat. In the third seat you would be justified in opening on this hand. Awards: Pass-10, IS-6, INT (weak)-5. David Bird — Knight Features
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SINCE
a direct raise of IS to 4S is usually played as a pre-emptive bid, based
on good spade support but few points, it is necessary to use some other
bid to show a sound raise. North-South here were playing Splinter Bids,
where a response such as 4C would show a sound raise to the spade game
including at most one club. Part of this method is that with no
side-suit singleton you respond 3NT. How would you play the spade game
when West leads the four of clubs? The original declarer saw no reason
to spurn the club finesse. Dummy’s queen lost to the king and East
returned another club. Declarer eventually had to play on hearts himself
and there was no way to avoid three losers in the suit. The mistake came
as early as Trick 1. Declarer can make certain of his contract (unless
trumps are (4-0) by rising with dummy’s ace of clubs. After drawing
trumps, he plays three rounds of diamonds, throwing a club from dummy.
He then exits with a club. It makes no difference which defender wins
with the club King. He will have to concede a ruff-and-discard or open
the heart suit, restricting declarer’s losses there to two tricks. Ten
tricks either way.
You are first to speak
at Love All. Would you open IS or pass? What are your reasons?