Andrew:

Describing your shape

This article was taken from Andrew's What Should Have Happened Book

Your challenge in the bidding should be to show partner precisely how many cards you have in your long suits. Thus with two five card suits you plan to bid the higher ranking suit first then rebid (bid twice) the lower ranking suit. Watch South describe his 5♠-6♦ shape in three bids:

South Deals
Both Vul

♠ 7 2
♥ A 8 4
♦ Q 7 3
♣ A J 8 5 2

♠ J 10
♥ K Q 5 2
♦ 10 4
♣ K Q 9 6 3

N
W		E
S

♠ K 9 8 6
♥ 10 9 7 6 3
♦ 9 8
♣ 7 4

♠ A Q 5 4 3
♥ J
♦ A K J 6 5 2
♣ 10

West	North	East	South
			1 ♦
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♠
Pass	3 ♦	Pass	3 ♠
Pass	6 ♦	Pass	Pass
Pass

By rebidding ♠s, South guaranteed five cards. Yet because he would have opened 1♠ with five ♠s and five ♦s, his sequence showed six ♦s.

North felt justified in punting a Small Slam in the known nine card ♦ fit. His partner only had two cards between ♥s and ♣s - covered by his ♥A and ♣A.

West led ♥K against 6♦ and dummy’s ♥A won the first trick. Correctly seeking to establish ♠s before drawing trumps, declarer led ♠2 to ♠6, ♠Q and ♠10. The finesse having succeeded, he cashed ♠A and led ♠3. West discarded ♥2 and declarer trumped with ♦3. He trumped ♥4 and led ♠4, trumping with ♦7 when West discarded (♥Q). He cashed dummy’s ♦Q, cashed ♣A, trumped ♣2, drew the two remaining trumps and enjoyed his established ♠5. He had made all thirteen tricks!

ANDREW’S TIP: Opening the lower ranking suit then rebidding the higher ranking suit shows a five-six shape.

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Describing your shape