Bidding Question

Hi Heidi,

In the following hand, without knowing if partner has a ♣ control or not, how would North explore game in NT or ♠?

EW vulnerable, W is dealer:

	North ♠KJT96 ♥974 ♦AJ72 ♣3
West ♠AQ5 ♥K852 ♦53 ♣QJ98		East ♠43 ♥J63 ♦964 ♣96542
	South ♠872 ♥AQT ♦KQT8 ♣AKT

N	E	S	W
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1♦	Double
1♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
???

Heidi's Answer

I wouldn't worry about having the ♣ stopper here -- South is showing a strong hand and they should have the ♣ suit stopped.

But North should want to investigate whether or not they have a 5-3 ♠ fit. South could easily have three ♠ and then the partnership has an eight card fit.

How do they ask?

They bid a suit at the 3 level.

North can bid 3♦ IF they KNOW South will bid again. South SHOULD bid again but sometimes Partner passes these forcing bids.

If North is not sure then they can bid 3♣. This is just a FORCING bid -- does NOT show anything in the ♣ suit.

But it does say "Partner I am unblanced. I don't want to play in NT."

Here North should have five ♠. Why else would they be unbalanced?

So South can bid 3♠. They already denied having four ♠ in the auction by bidding 2NT instead of raising ♠. They already guaranteed two ♠ by bidding NT -- they would not bid NT with a singleton ♠. So thisbidding 3♠ now shows three ♠.

North can raise to game in ♠ knowing they have a fit.

Suggested Auction

	North ♠KJT96 ♥974 ♦AJ72 ♣3
West ♠AQ5 ♥K852 ♦53 ♣QJ98		East ♠43 ♥J63 ♦964 ♣96542
	South ♠872 ♥AQT ♦KQT8 ♣AKT

N	E	S	W
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1♦	Double
1♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♣ or 3♦	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	Pass	Pass	Pass