This conundrum was written by NICOLAS LHUISSIER and was originally published in the magazine Bridgerama+ No. 68 - you can find out all about it further down the page.
Variations on a hand
4. What do you bid as West?
5. What do you bid as West?
6. What do you bid as West?
Click here to reveal the answer
4♦ : When the 2NT opener does not execute the transfer, this means he has only two Hearts. You nevertheless want to play in Hearts? Repeat your transfer to force East to say 4♥. That way you show at least a six-card suit. In the present case, you will bid again over 4♥ (showing a control with 4♠) because you have slam ambitions.
4NT: If you say 5♥ directly, this shows a distributional hand but no real intention to play the slam. An excellent way to suggest playing the slam is to start by saying 4NT as if you had a two-suited hand, then continue with 5♥ on the likely response of 5♣, a way of encouraging East to bid the slam without forcing him to do so.
4NT: East’s bid describes a Diamond control and implies a Heart fit. It denies control in Spades, but not in Clubs. As you have a nice hand, you can ask for East’s keycards and reach slam if he shows three. One possible hand opposite: ♠J63 ♥K104 ♦A ♣AKJ942
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