Sometimes hands can be worth more than they might appear to be. Useful upgrading tactics aided North-South on this deal, with East dealing and East-West vulnerable:

NORTH

♠ A Q 8 5

♥ 10 2

♦ Q J 10 7 5 3

♣ 8

 

WEST

♠ 9 6

♥ A K J 7 5

♦ 6 2

♣ J 6 4 3

 

EAST

♠ J 10 4

 ♥ 8 4 3

 ♦ A 8 4

♣ K 7 5 2

 

SOUTH

♠ K 7 3 2

♥ Q 9 6

♦ K 9

♣ A Q 10 9

The bidding proceeded as follows:

East       South      West       North

Pass       1NT*       2♥         3 ♥**

Pass       3♠          Pass        4 ♠

All Pass

* Upgraded to 15 HCP (see below)

**Stayman convention, with hand upgraded to 11 HCP (see below)

Opening lead: ♥A

North-South open 1NT with 15-17 high-card points. However, columnist Marty Bergen says to add a point when holding at least three honors in a suit with at least four cards. With an extra point added to the club suit, South had a hand worth 15 points.

There are many ways to deal with interference over 1NT. One method is to cuebid opponent’s suit as Stayman, asking if partner has a four-card major. The cuebid forces to game, so the bidder needs 10 HCP. Add two points for the fifth and sixth diamonds and, voilà, North had 11. When South bid spades, North raised to game.

There’s no way the defenders can win more than two hearts and one diamond against proper declarer play. With a 4 ♠ contract on 23 points before upgrading, North-South made a game many wouldn’t have bid.