Question for Heidi

Hi Heidi,

In the hand below, North noticed Partner had just made a reverse and would like to explore a slam. What would be the plan and how to continue the bidding?

EW vulnerable, S is dealer:

	North ♠AJT ♥95 ♦J9 ♣AKQT63
West ♠98643 ♥T7 ♦Q65 ♣952		East ♠K75 ♥J8632 ♦T ♣J874
	South ♠Q2 ♥AKQ4 ♦AK87432 ♣

N	E	S	W
		1♦	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♥	Pass

Heidi's Answer

It is good that North recognized the fact that South's bid IS a reverse. In THIS auction the reverse would be GAME FORCING. This means that, no matter what, neither Opener nor Responder are allowed to "Pass" unless a game is reached.

Are all reverses game forcing?

No. Opener normally needs 17+ HCP to make a reverse and the reverse would not be game forcing if North had responded at the 1 level. But North responded at the 2 level. They have more points.

Since North is promising a good 10 HCP, South only needs 16 HCP to make a reverse. Also their reverse would be game forcing since North responded at the 2 level.

So North can now safely bid 3♣ to show extra length in their suit knowing South will NOT "Pass". They are NOT in game.

South can also safely bid 3♦ knowing North will NOT "Pass". They are NOT in game.

What will North do?

They don't have a fit for either of South's red suits. They DO have a very nice ♣ suit and the ♠ well stopped. They will probably bid either 6NT OR maybe 4NT asking for Aces.

6NT shuts down the auction so I feel North will bid 4NT. When they find out the partnership holds all the Aces they will bid 5NT asking for Kings.

The partnership is off one King so North will settle for 6NT.

The Result?

My recommended auction playing just straight Blackwood -- nothing fancy.

N	E	S	W
		1♦	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♥	Pass
3♣	Pass	3♦	Pass
4NT	Pass	5♥	Pass
5NT	Pass	6♥	Pass
6NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

	North ♠AJT ♥95 ♦J9 ♣AKQT63
West ♠98643 ♥T7 ♦Q65 ♣952		East ♠K75 ♥J8632 ♦T ♣J874
	South ♠Q2 ♥AKQ4 ♦AK87432 ♣

On this hand North/South can take 12 tricks in NT as long as North is playing the hand. East cannot lead ♠ safely.

North will try to set up the ♦ suit since they have more ♦ than ♣. They will give West a ♦ trick but can easily take the rest.

What if we play Roman Keycard Blackwood?

That's a tougher auction to predict.

Playing Keycard Blackwood with no agreed upon suit, 4NT would be keycard on the last suit bid -- Diamonds.

South has three keycards with a void! How do they show that?

I would suggest you forget about showing your club void. Since Partner bid that suit (twice!) your void more than likely is not all that great. It's not going to help Partner set up their suit.

So you would show 3 keycards in whatever way your agreement tells you.

North will now ask for the Q♦ in whatever way your agreement tells you.

South does not have the Q♦ but they do have extra length. Can they show that instead?

Some people with extra lentgh say they have the Queen because they are sure with their extra length the Queen will drop. Here we are not sure if Partner even has Diamonds. I suggest erring on the side of caution and deny having the Q♦.

North will end up in 6NT.

Follow Up Question

If North does not bid 3♣ and goes straight to 4NT Keycard Blackwood what would the assumed trump suit for South to respond to the 4NT Keycard Blackwood be? Is it the last suit South bid, ♥, in this case?

Follow Up Answer

Yes it would be. I don't suggest North doing that. When you have the points go as SLOWLY as the opposition allows you to explore ALL the possibilities. Over 2♥ North has no idea where the contract should be played. They should rebid their suit (♣) just in case South can support them.

Follow Up Question 2

What if North bid 3NT instead of 3♣? Would this jump to 3NT signal to partner that North has at least an opening hand to encourage South to use Gerber to ask for Ace to explore slam, which would allow South to stop the bidding at 4NT or 5NT?

Follow Up Answer 2

3NT is a shut down bid by North. They are saying they have no interest investigating any sort of slam. They shouldn't have a fit for either of South's suits. They should have the black suits stopped but not much else. They should have a MUCH WEAKER hand than they have. They could make this bid with 10 HCP. 3NT is NOT an option with these cards!

Now over 3NT South can always bid 4♦ since they are very strong and very distributional but on the majority of hands South will just pass 3NT. It is a very discouraging bid.

Over 3NT a bid of 4♣ would NOT be Gerber. It would say "I DON'T want to play in NT" and "I have some tolerance for ♣" and certainly at matchpoints I would play it as a slam try. But South would have to be very strong or very distributional to make this bid. North has shown NO INTEREST in any sort of slam by signing off in 3NT. Think of it. They could not support either of South's suits, they could not rebid their suit. They did not look for any other possibilities. They just bid 3NT to play. They have no interest. (This is why North shouldn't make this bid with this hand!)

With these two hands it is up to North to drive this auction further to slam. South has done a good job of showing a distributionally strong hand. They have to trust North to take it further.