“Sometimes you pick up a hand that looks small but, as the auction proceeds, it can grow.”
Source: Mr Bridge
Sometimes you pick up a hand that looks small but, as the auction proceeds, it can grow. In a money game as dealer at game all, you pick up:
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DG-01.png)
The hand is weak but you bid 4
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
last time as your prospects seem to have improved. It is your turn again after 5
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
from LHO and two passes. Well, you have only a queen but partner has bid twice vulnerable and is favourite to be 5-6 in the blacks. You try 5
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
bravely, which RHO doubles on the way out. This is the full deal:
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DG-02.png)
5
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
makes easily and 5
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
will make too if you miss your club ruff. Your hand grew in value once you knew that partner had a black two-suiter, so do not underbid just because it is small!
Still in a money game, you pick up:
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DG-03.png)
This is typical, another small hand! Your gloom is short-lived when your partner deals and opens 2
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
(your big bid). You respond 2
![Diamond Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/d.gif)
(negative/waiting) dutifully and partner surprises you again by re-bidding 2
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
. Now it is time to re-evaluate. Partner has announced a game-forcing hand with hearts as its primary suit. In that context, your hand has become very powerful as you have four-card trump support and a singleton. Do not underestimate the power of this hand. Best is 3
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
, a ‘splinter bid’ showing a spade shortage and good heart support. Partner next bids 4
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
as a cuebid; now you have nothing more to say so should sign off in 4
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
. To your surprise, partner leaps to 6
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
! Fear not, the full deal:
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DG-04.png)
South was in fact looking for a grand slam with his 4
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
cue-bid. Once he heard you show your spade shortage, he knew that the small slam was a virtual certainty. Now that you are getting the idea:
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DG-05.png)
Partner opens 1
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
and RHO overcalls 1
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
. You pass and LHO passes too. Partner bids 3
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
and RHO passes. It looks natural to give preference to three hearts, but think! Re-evaluate your hand. You have three-card support when you might not have and you have a useful card in partner’s second suit so you should take the pressure off partner and bid 4
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
. The full deal:
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DG-06.png)
As you can see, partner really does not have anything special for his actions and 4
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
is a great contract, making easily with the even heart break. So remember; be prepared to re-evaluate your hand as the auction progresses and ‘don’t underbid small hands’.
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