Andrew:

Minor Suits

Minor-suit games are generally to be avoided; but not minor-suits. Because there is little practical difference (except at matchpoint duplicate) between a 40 and a 60 part-score (both are easily converted into game if the next deal belongs to you), it pays to play the safest part-score rather than the highest scoring. After 1 ♥-1 ♠-1 NT, all the following hands should remove to 2 ♦.

Hand (i)	Hand(ii)	Hand(iii)
♠ J 7 5 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K Q 10 2 ♣ 9 7 6	♠ Q J 10 2 ♥ 8 ♦ Q 9 5 4 2 ♣ J 9 6	♠ K 7 5 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ J 9 5 4 2 ♣ Q 6

Note that this bid is a weakness take-out, all game-going hands jumping to the three-level (the identical principle as responding to a 1 NT opener).

North Deals
N-S Vul

♠	Q 4
♥	A K 6 5 2
♦	Q 10 8
♣	A 8 4

♠	A 8 6
♥	Q J 10 9
♦	K 6 3
♣	K 10 3

N
W		E
S

♠	J 10 9
♥	7 4 3
♦	A 7
♣	J 9 7 5 2

♠	K 7 5 3 2
♥	8
♦	J 9 5 4 2
♣	Q 6

What happened

West	North	East	South
	1 ♥	Pass	1 ♠
Pass1	1 NT2	Pass	Pass3
Pass

A 1 NT overcall in this dangerous sandwich position shows a very good 15-19.
15-16.
Mistake. Must rescue.

1 NT by North started poorly when ♣ 5 went to ♣ Q and West’s ♣ K. Declarer won ♠ A at Trick Three (best) and led ♦ Q. East won ♦ A, cashed ♠ J9, and switched to ♥ 7 (best). Declarer won ♥ K and led ♦ 10 but West ducked his ♦ K. Next declarer tried ♠ Q but West won ♠ A and led a second heart (setting up two winners in the suit). All declarer could do was win ♥ A and lead to ♠ K. Down two.

What should have happened

West	North	East	South
	1 ♥	Pass	1 ♠
Pass	1 N	Pass	2 ♦1
Pass	Pass2	Pass

Correct - weakness take-out.
Preferring diamonds to spades.

2 ♦ handles nicely. Dummy wins West’s ♥ Q with ♥ K and leads ♠ Q. The best the defence can do is to win the first or, say, second spade and play ♦ A, ♦ K and a third trump. Win in hand and concede a third spade, claiming the rest with two long spades (thanks to the 3-3 split), the club loser going on dummy’s second top heart. Nine tricks and part-score plus one.

If you remember just one thing... Avoid minor-suit games but not minor-suit part-scores.

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Andrew:

Minor Suits