This article was taken from Andrew's What Should Have Happened Book
If you have already shown a bad hand but partner still invites you to keep on bidding, he is saying “ Do you have a good bad hand or a bad bad hand?”
West Deals N-S Vul |
♠ A J 10 5 ♥ A J 8 ♦ A K 9 4 ♣ Q 2 |
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♠ K 8
♥ K ♦ Q J 10 5 2 ♣ K 10 7 5 4 |
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♠ 7 6
♥ 10 9 7 3 2 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A J 8 3 |
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♠ Q 9 4 3 2 ♥ Q 6 5 4 ♦ 8 3 ♣ 9 6 |
West | North | East | South |
1 ♦ | Dbl | Pass | 1 ♠ |
Pass | 3 ♠ | Pass | 4 ♠ |
Pass | Pass | Pass |
4 ♠ by South |
North - too strong to overcall 1NT (15-18) - began with double. This commanded partner to name his best suit outside ♦s - with at least nine points South would jump the bidding in his best suit. Hence South’s 1♠ response was consistent with between zero and eight points. North then made a strongly invitational jump to 3♠ and the spotlight turned to South. With four good-looking points - that’s four more than he promised - and a fifth ♠, it was clear for South to bid game.
West led ♦Q. Declarer won ♦K, cashed ♦A and led ♦4. East discarded, so declarer trumped low and led ♠Q, running it successfully when West played low. A second ♠ went to ♠K and dummy’s ♠A. Declarer trumped ♦9 and played ♥4, taking West’s singleton ♥K with dummy’s ♥A. He scored ♥Q and ♥J and conceded two ♣’s - eleven tricks.
ANDREW’S TIP: Is your hand better than it might be? If the answer is yes and your partner is inviting you to keep bidding, accept his invitation!