What should I bid? (January 2019)

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What should I bid? (January 2019)

The best submission for January came from Arie Meydan . He wins a voucher of $30 funded by TBIB, toward any purchase made at the Bridge Shop or Paul Lavings Bridgegear.

NS Vul
N Dealer
J 10
A Q 9 5 2
A 7 3 2
J 4
 
Q 7 2
J 8 4 3
K Q 10 6 4
A
[ 5 ] K 6 3
K 6
J 9 8 5
10 8 7 3
  A 9 8 5 4
10 7

K Q 9 6 5 2
 

 

West North East South
  1 Pass 1
2 Pass Pass 3
Pass 3NT All Pass  

Simple Acol.

Could you please comment on the bidding of NS.

Regards,
Arie

 

Hi Arie,

I certainly wouldn’t fault South for bidding 3 given the 5-6 shape! I think on this hand it just happens to be very unlucky that it is a mis-fitting hand. South didn’t know that it was going to be a misfitting hand when he bid 3 (North could easily have had 3-card spade support, in which case South would want to try to play in 4), and North couldn’t pass a forcing 3 bid and bids 3NT.

One suggestion (although nothing is perfect) is that North might have tried 3 “Fourth Suit Forcing” to check if another strain is possible before committing to 3NT, to which South can then bid 3 to show the 5-6 shape, and now North may try to play in 4 on a 5-2 fit instead of 3NT with only one stopper, or North may give a preference for clubs back to 4.

Nothing is perfect when it is a misfitting hand, the trick is to (try to) diagnose it early and stop as low as possible!

Kind regards,
Andy

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