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You have game values but no idea which game will be best. These are the exact circumstances when you should make a bid in the fourth suit (here 3C). After partner’s next bid you will have a better idea where the partnership should play. A rebid such as 3S is not forcing. Awards: 3C - 10, 4S/4H/3NT — 5, 3S/3H/3D/3. David Bird — Knight Features
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BRIDGE
is a game where you can be carried swiftly from elation to despair in
just a few seconds. David Huggett, a grandmaster and author of several
excellent books, suffered such a fate on this deal. He was sitting
East and the opponents bid to a small slam in just two bids. He was
delighted to find that he had 10-9-x-x-x in the trump suit. His
spirits soared further when his partner, Steve Preston, led the ace of
spades. Surely this must be a good board! Er... no. Declarer ruffed
the spade lead, drew two rounds of trumps and played dummy’s top
hearts. East was welcome to ruff high at some stage but declarer lost
just one trick, in the trump suit. Plus 920 for North-South. At the
other table East opened a weak 2S and West raised to 4S. North decided
to bid just 5H and, after two passes, West competed to 5S. Does it
seem unreasonable to double this, holding 24 points? North thought
not. The defence started promisingly when two top hearts stood up.
Unfortunately there were no further tricks available and East-West
scored +850 to pick up a swing of 19 IMPs. What would have happened at
the second table if North had decided to try his luck in 6H instead?
Who knows? At worst West would double and East would lead a diamond,
the defenders scoring four ruffs for +800. If instead East were to
lead a spade, hoping to put partner on lead for a club ruff, declarer
would score an overtrick.
Answer