Climactic finale

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
♥AK9
♦K954
♣J4

This is the thrilling conclusion to this hand.

So far the bidding has been:

Opener	US!
1NT	2♣
2♥	4NT

To review. Partner opened the bidding 1NT. WE had a 1NT opening hand! WOW! So since we do have a four card major we started with Stayman. Partner has to respond. Partner responded 2♥ to let us know they have four ♥. We didn't have a fit there so bid 4NT to find out if Partner was minimum or maximum -- plus we were secretly hoping they would be able to support our ♠ suit. Over our 4NT bid Partner says.....

5NT.

What they heck? That isn't even a response!

What is your bid? What do you think Partner is showing? Maybe think about what they DON'T have. Might make it easier.

Show Answer

First of all I don't think Partner has four ♠. We've got no fit or Partner would have said some number of ♠. So that suit is out.

I also don't think Partner has 17 HCP. If they did then they should just man up and bid 6NT.

Plus I don't think Partner has 15 HCP. If they did they could have said "Pass"

Hmmm. Partner is probably in the middle. They can't quite decide whether or not to go and want us to make a call.

We've got our maximum (17 HCP) so we should say 6NT.

Partner's hand:
♠JT7
♥QT84
♦AQ
♣AKT3

Our Hand:
♠AQ84
♥AK9
♦K954
♣J4



The important card is the K♠. The finesse was on so you had four ♠ tricks which means 12 tricks in total. Good job!

Even if the ♠ finesse lost you had other finesses to try so it was a good slam to be in.