April 2020 - 67

Special Contributors

Dear Billy
BY BILLY MILLER

Dear Billy,
In a recent club game, we were
North-South. North held:
♠10 8 7 3 2 ♥9 ♦A K 6 2 ♣A J 9.
South's hand was:
♠A K 6 ♥5 3 2 ♦J 10 8 7 3 ♣Q 3.
Our auction went as follows: West
opened a weak 2♥ bid. North doubled. East raised to 3♥, and South
bid 4♦. Everyone passed.
Should North double 2♥ or bid
2♠? If North doubles, what should
South bid over 3♥? If North bids
2♠, what should South bid over 3♥?
Diamonds Not That Valuable!
Dear Val,
With an anemic spade suit, but a
perfectly lovely shape, I would double
2♥ with the North hand. After the 3♥

American Bridge
Teachers' Association

dearbilly@aol.com

raise, with the opponents finding a fit,
if South doubles 3♥, it is considered
a takeout or "responsive" double. It
also shows the appropriate values to
compete at this level. Over that double,
with a fifth spade, North should jump
to 4♠. If North had been 4=1=4=4 with
the same high-card total, he would only
bid 3♠.
Had North bid 4♣ over the double
with a different hand, say a 3=1=4=5
shape, South's plan would have been to
convert to 4♦, so all bases are covered
with the responsive double of 3♥.
The double of 3♥ is the more flexible action, which opens more doors.
4♦ is more unilateral, with diamonds
being all or nothing. It is also remotely
possible that with some hands (and
some frisky opponents), partner may
bid 3NT over the double ... but partner

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cannot do so over 4♦. So when two
or three possible calls seem plausible,
it's very good form to choose the least
unilateral action.
Had North overcalled 2♠ (which
I would not have done), South has an
easy 4♠ bid. So all roads lead to 4♠ ...
with top-notch bidding!
Dear Billy,
Partner and I missed a cold slam,
and each of us thinks it's the other's
fault. I dealt and opened 1♦ with:
♠A 7 5 4 ♥A K 8 7 ♦A 8 5 ♣A 8.
Partner responded 1♠ with:
♠Q J 9 6 2 ♥10 ♦K 6 ♣K 10 9 6 3.
I raised to 4♠; partner passed. The
spade finesse was onside and clubs
were 3-3, so partner made seven
without breaking a sweat.
At our game that night, the deal
was played nine times, and no one got
to slam, so I can't ask anyone there
how to do it. Can you suggest a way?
No Perspiration
Dear Icy Cold,
With the 5-5 shape and control-rich
side suits, any strong hand with four
or five key cards should have a good
chance to make slam opposite that
hand. Why not ask the question? 4NT!
Partner's hand is too good to pass 4♠.
If, perhaps, the 4♠ bidder only has
three key cards, your side should still
be safe at the five level. This is a case
where common sense is more important than a fancy bidding system.
Sometimes simplicity should win out. ◾
April 2020 Bridge Bulletin

67
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April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020
