East-West vulnerable. South deals.

East-West vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA Q 8 5

uA Q 8 6 4 3 2

vVoid

w8 7

WEST EAST

x10 7 x3 2

uJ 9 uVoid

vA Q 6 vK J 10 8 7 5 3 2

wK J 10 6 5 2 wQ 9 3

SOUTH

xK J 9 6 4

uK 10 7 5

v9 4

wA 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x 2w 2NT 3v

Pass 4v 5w Dbl

6u Pass 7x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of v

Expert bidding is rapidly becoming a series of codes which take away much of the skill of yesterday’s experts. Consider this deal from the Fast Open Pairs at the recent ACBL Summer North American Championships in Las Vegas. Sitting North-South were Steve Robinson, Arlington, Va., and Peter Boyd, Darnestown, Md.

The bidding needs some explanation. After a normal opening bid and overcall, North’s two no trump was a game-forcing spade raise. South’s pass over three diamonds denied a diamond control and North’s five clubs asked for a club control. South’s jump to six hearts showed heart control and club control as well as two keys card while denying possession of the queen of the trump suit, in this case spades. The grand slam was cold after the lead of the ace of diamonds. A heart lead would have defeated the slam, but no one can blame West for not finding it. A score of 1,510 for North-South was a top, and Boyd-Robinson led the qualifying session. Despite holding 11 cards in hearts, the suit was never bid naturally.

However, we can’t help feeling that a natural auction might have led to the unbeatable heart grand slam. Suppose that North were to bid two hearts over the two-club overcall. Once South supports hearts, North knows that South’s fifth spade will take care of the club loser. Now a cue-bidding sequence might get to the heart grand slam, which is laydown no matter what the lead.

2008 Tribune Media Services