My partner and I were passive participantx on Board #8. Nevertheless, I chose it because it is a pretty good example of one of the most difficult problems in bidding—getting to the right slam after a 1NT opening. It also illustrates an important principle in playing notrump contracts.
Board #8
West dealer
Neither side vulnerable
| | North
♠ 10 7 2
♥ Q J 9 8 6 3
♦ 7 2
♣ J 6
| | West
♠ K 6
♥ K 7 5
♦ A Q J 8
♣ A 5 4 3
| | East
♠ A Q J 5
♥ A 2
♦ 10 4 3
♣ K Q 9 2
| | | South
♠ 9 8 4 3
♥ 10 4
♦ K 9 6 5
♣ 10 8 7
| |
|
West opened a strong 1NT. She had 17 points, which made this a maximum. North, my partner, decided not to interfere even though he had a fairly nice six-card major. Since we were not vulnerable, in his position I might have tried to do something with it.
East also had a strong 1NT opener. The most important thing from her perspective was to avoid any bid that her partner could pass until she had determined the right contract. She was the captain. She already had a good picture of her partner's hand. She should use all of the tools in her bidding box to determine whether slam was feasible and to find the best strain.
East had a four-card spade suit. Almost always the first bid in such a situation is 2♣, Stayman. West would respond 2♦ to deny a four-card major. So, East should already know that the correct strain is notrump. The question is whether to bid a slam.
Aside: Here is a very useful trick that could have been employed if West had bid 2♠ instead of 2♦. At this point, East would like to confirm spades as trump without abandoning the captaincy. Unfortunately, any spade bid that East would have made could be passed by West. The solution is to bid 3 of the other major, in this case hearts. This should be defined as a forcing bid that confirms spades as trumps. After West bids, East can use whatever flavor of Blackwood the pair plays to find the right spade contract. Everyone should play this treatment. It has no down-side that I can think of.
After West's 2♦ bid, East can use 4♣ (Gerber*) to ascertain whether they are missing an ace. West should then bid 4♠ to show two aces. For some that would be enough good news to bid 6NT. I might ask for kings by bidding 5♣. Only one is missing. The opponents have no aces, one king, and between four and six points worth of jacks and queens.
Aside #2: Here is another useful tool that I play with one partner. It is called Roman Gerber. It starts with 4♣ like regular Gerber, but 4♦ shows 0 or 3 aces, and 4♥ shows 1 or 4. An opener with two aces bids 4♠ with a minimum opener and 4NT with a maximum. In this case West would bid 4NT.
Assuming that the contract is 6NT, how should it be played? Let's assume also that North leads a heart, which is captured by declarer. Well, in a notrump contract, one generally counts winners. There are four in spades, two in hearts, one in diamonds, and three or four in clubs. The first thing to do is to lead out two rounds of clubs, ending on the board. When both players follow it is evident that eleven tricks are certain. Diamonds can provide #12.
The ♦10 should be led. If South covers it with the king, you have thirteen tricks. If not, lead another diamond. This approach will produce thirteen tricks for the actual layout and at least twelve for any layout of the diamond suit.
The important principle is: Take finesses (if necessary) when you still have stoppers in all of the other suits.
* Some very good players have no use for Gerber. I like it because it is easy to sign off in 4NT or 5NT if you get bad news. However, every pair must have a precise agreement as to when it is on. I recommend the simple rule "4♣ is Gerber if and only if the first bid was notrump or the last bid was notrump." One exception can be allowed: After a 3NT bid that shows 25 or more points 4♣ is Stayman.