Roberto Figueira de MELLORoberto Martiniano Figueira de Mello (BRZ) WGM (World Grand Master); for many of us Robertinho
In the South American Bridge Championship (May/2014), the players in the South position received the following hand:
K J 8 7 4 void Q J 5 K 10 6 5 3
The auction begun:
West
North
East
South
1
Dbl
Pass
??
The question that arises at this point is what do the reader say with the South hand?
South has a two-colour hand (5-5) with 13 points (10 HCP), with a fine spade suit which ensures a minimum of an 8 cards fit. Surely the answer must be positive.
It’s amazing how many players with this hand blocked the auction saying 4and leaving their partner (who doubled) with nothing to do. The takeout double requires a minimum strength equivalent to a minimum opening bid (13 points), but has no upper limit, allowing the player who doubles to have a very strong hand. As a result, if you are the partner of the player who performed the double, and you have a positive response, you should, if possible, indicate your strength creating a forcing situation to enable the auction to develop as slowly as possible.
IMPs Dealer West. N/S Vul
A Q 2
10 9 5 3
A
A Q J 7 2
10 5
A K Q 2
K 9 7 4 2
9 4
9 7 3
J 8 7 6 4
10 8 6 3
8
K J 8 6 4
—
Q J 5
K 10 6 5 3
Well, 4 is a very modest result because these hands can win 7 easily. Few found the combination of suits. Consider a possible auction to declare the grand slam …
West
North
East
South
1
Dbl
Pass
2
Pass
3
Pass
4
Pass
4
Pass
4
Pass
4NT
Pass
5NT
Pass
7
End
2is a completely artificial and positive response, North answer 3 (natural, his long suit) and South’s 4show support to his partner’s suit, establishing clubs as the trump suit. North begins to show interest in slam showing his diamond control and South shows his heart control. 4NT is ace asking, which features the king of trumps as another ace, with clubs as the trump suit. The surprising answer of 5NT shows 1 ace and a void. North has not difficult to infere that South has the K and a heart void and because of the strength showed with the 2response he probably also have the K.
A pessimist player would consider his hand as limit:
West
North
East
South
1
Dbl
Pass
2
Pass
3
Pass
4
Pass
4NT
Pass
5NT
Pass
7
End
2is natural and shows a limited hand. North sees the possibility of slam and shows his suit with 3, South’s jump to 4shows club support and a heart short suit. The last part of the sequence is like the previous auction.
We saw two possible sequences to reach 7 using popular calls used by a large number of partners. The advice to find the grand slam is very simple: With a strong hand go slow…
K J 8 7 4 
void 
Q J 5 
K 10 6 5 3
The auction begun:
