What should I Bid? - Best enquiry for October 2006 

Wendy Jacobs made the best submission for the month of October.

 Hand: My partner and I, vulnerable, were dealt the following:

KQ10872  AKQJ4  9  6

-  10653  AJ76  KQ972

Bidding:	West	North	East	South
	2	Pass	3	Pass
	3	Pass	4	Pass
	4NT	Pass	5	Pass
	5	Pass	5	Pass

Comments:    We are not a regular partnership playing Acol and Roman Keycard. I opened a game force 2 and, after my partner's two positive bids, thinking we may have a slam on, introduced Blackwood instead of bidding 4. When my partner showed one keycard I attempted to stop in 5 or 5 but partner took this as a Queen ask and responded 5. Thinking this was preference, I passed, and it was a disaster. How should I have bid this lovely hand please?

Peter's Reply:

Hi Wendy,

Just because a hand seems to promise game in hand, it is not necessarily the case that the best way to bid it is to start with a game demand bid.

Two suited hands are usually best started with a one level opening. The probability of playing in one of your opened suit is very low. Somebody always bids. The key to success is to find a trump fit, and if that is in opener's second suit, it will often get lost if the bidding starts at the two level. That is particularly so if responder has a positive response. Your example is a case in point.

A good rule for opening two suited hands, that is those with five or more cards in each suit, with a game demand bid, is whether the hand contains at least half of the high cards plus having only three or fewer losers.

Thus I would suggest you and partner bid this hand:  

	West	North	East	South
	1	Pass	2	Pass
	2 *	Pass	4	Pass
	4NT**	Pass	5***	Pass
	5	//

  * The change of suit is forcing after a 2 over 1.
 ** Roman Keycard Blackwood on hearts.
*** Just one keycard.

5 looks to be the right spot although 6 might make if the opponents' spades divide 4-3 and trumps behave.

Regards
Peter Fordham

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