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Raymond
Semp has sent me four consecutive deals from the recent
Great Northern Swiss Pairs.
Each
of them is a bidding problem. Here are the first two.
Dealer
N EW Vul
Here
the problem is how to reach six hearts.
If
North opens a weak notrump, then South bids Stayman
and, on finding the heart fit can bid three spades
to show a balanced slam try (the Baze
convention). However, this would be a bit of a
stretch by South, the hands fit exceptionally well.
Playing
five card majors and a strong notrump North will
open one of a minor and raise South's one heart
response to two. If North opened one diamond,
showing a genuine suit then maybe South just about
has enough for a slam try with the fitting diamond
honours, but if North opened one club, then South
definitely hasn't got enough to make a slam try.
If
South makes a slam try, North will show a spade
control and, with a maximum, drive to slam.
On
the second deal above East and South pass, then West
opens one diamond. How do North South reach
four hearts?
This
seems to depend on whether North thinks the hand is
strong enough to double and then bid spades or is
only worth an overcall of one spade. If North
overcalls one spade (which would be the choice of
most experts I think) then that is likely to end the
auction. After a take out double from North,
then South would respond two hearts and the game
could be reached. However, four hearts at
pairs is not that great a contract. With three
inescapable losers it needs some reasonable breaks
in the majors and I wouldn't worry too much about
missing this game.
Thanks to Raymond Semp for reporting these deals |
