I blew the chance to bid a slam on the following OK Bridge Internet board. I was sitting North, with South dealing and East-West vulnerable:
NORTH
♠️ A 10 9 7 4
♥️ A K
♦ Q 10 9 8 4 2
♣️ —
WEST EAST
♠️ J 6 3 2 ♠️ Q 5
♥️ 8 4 ♥️ J 10 9 7 3 2
♦ 6 5 3 ♦ J
♣️ K 9 6 5 ♣️ Q J 4 3
SOUTH
♠️ K 8
♥️ Q 6 5
♦ A K 7
♣️ A 10 8 7 2
The bidding proceeded as follows:
South West North East
1NT Pass 2♥️• DBL!
Pass•• Pass 3♦••• Pass
3NT All Pass
• Transfer to spades
•• Pass shows two spades
••• Second suit 5+ strong
Opening lead: ♥️8
Doubles of artificial bids ask for an opening lead in that suit. Did East really want West to lead hearts?
In any case, we made six for +490, but it was a bad score that netted us -1.50 imps. Nine of the 29 North-South pairs reached a superior 6♦ contract.
Was there any way we could reach that bridge promised land? Let’s table strict adherence to point count. True, I had a 13-point hand, but I should have added three more for the fifth and sixth diamonds and fifth spade. Furthermore, once a fit is established in spades or diamonds, the club void is worth another five points. But the main concern is tricks, not points; and I should have seen real potential here.
Instead of passing 3NT, I should bid 4♦ to show at least six of them and interest in slam. With the ♦A-K in tow, partner would be delighted to take up the challenge.
Here’s a better auction:
South West North East
1NT Pass 2♥️ DBL
Pass Pass 3♦ Pass
3NT Pass 4♦• Pass
4♥️/4NT•• Pass 5♦/5♠️••• Pass
6♦ All Pass
• Forcing
•• Depending on your system, a Roman Key Card Blackwood bid
••• Showing two of the five key cards (four aces, ♦K), plus the ♦Q
North-South pairs who bid 6♦ earned a +920 score and +7.46 imps.
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