Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 01/04/2018
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Results for Set 33
(for instructions, click here)
#1) West deals, Nobody Vul., North bids 2
A K Q J 5
A 4
J 7 6
A 6 5
|
|
10 6
9 5 2
A 5 4
K Q 9 8 5
|
Scores for Board 1:
6NT:10
6
:9
6
:8
5
:6
4NT:5
5NT:4
5
:3
Valuation-wise, West is surely worth 2NT (maybe even more)! If he does open 2NT, East might barely have enough appreciation for his 5-card suit and prime values to invite slam (via 3
then 4
natural -- NOT GERBER!). If he does so, West has a great hand for slam and might just leap to a black-suit slam. However, he could go scientifically and bid 4
after 4
(presumably agreeing clubs, showing a heart control and denying a diamond control). This is not an easy slam to reach with only 19 opposite 9 and relatively balanced hands.
#2) West deals, nobody vulnerable
A K 7 5
6 4
Q 9 8 5 4
A 9
|
|
Q 9 8
A K Q 9
K 10 7 3 2
10
|
Deal 2 Scores:
6
:10
4
:7
5
:5
3NT:2
6
:1
A normal start is 1
-1
-1
-2
. After that 4th-suit forcing to game bid, West should be in no hurry to bid notrump. It is a much better description to bid 2
to show at least 5-4 (for 1
then 1
he didn't promise the 5th diamond). The key to slam bidding is to go slowly and show the shape early. After 2
, East raises to 3
and will drive almost single-handedly to the near laydown small slam.
#3) South deals and opens 1
, Both Vul.
A K 10 9
A K
A 2
A J 9 8 4
|
|
5 4 2
Q J 6
4 3
K 10 5 3 2
|
Deal 3 Scores:
6
:10
3NT:7
5NT:6
6
:5
4
:4
5
:3
7
/
/NT:2
West doubles South's 1
and all East can do is bid 2
. West has a huge hand and will likely bid 2
next (this is NOT a Western Cue-bid; it says nothing about diamonds--it neither asks nor tells--it just shows a big hand). East, having promised nothing (could have been a zero-count!) with 2
, now must show a sign of life. He might bid his three-card heart suit -- but he surely is worth something other than 3
. After seeing a sign of encouragement, West might just bid 6
himself.
#4) West deals, Nobody Vul, South doubles
A K 6 4 2
--
Q 9 8 6 5 3
A 5
|
|
Q
Q 9 4 2
A K 7 4 2
J 10 2
|
Board 4 Scores:
7
:10
6
:7
4NT:5
5
:4
West should open 1
, planning to bid spades (twice) next. The auction begins 1
-1
-1
. East now has to decide if he has a limit raise in diamonds (the low road), or a game-force (in which case he would bid 2
). Once West hears of a good hand and diamond support, he has slam interest. The ideal way to reach seven is if West gets to jump to 5
, Exclusion Keycard Blackwood--but this is far from easy.
***Full Book by Larry Cohen with Bidding Practice and results/analysis.***