Editor’s note: Paul Laliberte is writing this week’s bridge column.

Recently, while playing in an online tournament on OK Bridge, one of my regular partners and I reached an excellent 7♠ contract. Only 11 out of 80 pairs bid the grand slam, while most others bid to the six level, making all 13 tricks.

My partner and I play the 2/1 game force. Any two-over-one response in a suit lower than opener’s by an unpassed hand (with no interference) begins the march toward game; moreover, the partnership cannot stop below the level of game. And the greater the assets that come to light, the more slowly the bidding will proceed. Each bid made will reveal more about size and shape, and the beauty of the 2/1 system is that each call made below the level of game will be 100 per cent forcing. Those who play Standard American need to jump more frequently to show extra values; those who use 2/1 jump much less frequently because oftentimes there is no real need to do so.

The deal featured in this column is a case in point. South was dealing with East-West vulnerable:

North
♠K 9 3
♥A Q 6 4
♦10 4
♣A K J 9

West                         East
♠8 6                        ♠J 10 7
♥10 9 8 7                ♥J 5 2
♦7 6 2                     ♦J 8 5
♣8 7 5 2                  ♣Q 6 4 3

South (Laliberte)
♠A Q 5 4 2
♥K 3
♦A K Q 9 3
♣10

The bidding proceeded as follows:

South             West             North             East
1♠                 Pass             2 ♣(1)          Pass
2♦(2)            Pass             2 ♠(3)          Pass
3♦(4)            Pass             3 ♥(5)          Pass
3♠(6)            Pass             4 ♣(7)          Pass
4NT(8)           Pass             5♣(9)           Pass
5NT(10)         Pass             6♣(11)         Pass
7♠(12)         All Pass

(1) Full opening values; game force.

(2) No need to show extra values at this point; slow and steady.

(3) Three-card spade support and extra values (typically, a mid-range hand).

(4) First-round control.

(5) First-round control.

(6) First-round control.

(7) First-round control.

(8) Roman Key Card Blackwood (spades agreed).

(9) 0 or 3 key cards.

(10) With all five key cards (and presumably the spade queen), bid asks more information.

(11) Club king (cheapest useful king).

(12) Promise of the club king actually more than necessary; the grand slam all but assured.

Opening lead: ♥10

After dummy came down, the grand slam was assured when spades were drawn in three rounds. With no losers in any of the side suits, the contract rolled home: +1510 and 8.59 imps.

I believe that many Standard American pairs will reach slam on this deal, but bidding the grand will be more problematic. First, the auction will not be the same. When South bids diamonds (best not to jump at this point), North will have to skip in spades in order to force to game. (Bidding 2♠ would promise three-card support and only limit values.) With 18 high-card points, South will undoubtedly bid 4NT (for many, Roman Key Card Blackwood). Despite North’s three key cards, South may be reluctant to bid 7♠, because it won’t be apparent that partner holds 17 high-card points. The dealer may settle for 6♠, fearing that partner holds something like: ♠ K x x ♥ A J x x ♦ x ♣ A J x x x.

Without knowing early on that partner has spade support and extra values, South will be in a quandary. The 2/1 game force solves that problem.