Practice what you Preach
by mark horton on
February 27th, 2009
I have recommended that you should always support your partner when you have four cards in their suit. Here is an example where doing so paid an unexpected dividend:
| Dealer: East
Vul: All |
North | ||||
| ♠ | 7 6 5 3 | ||||
| ♥ | 10 6 4 3 | ||||
| ♦ | 10 6 2 | ||||
| ♣ | 8 6 | ||||
| West |  |
East | |||
| ♠ | Q 8 2 | ♠ | J 4 | ||
| ♥ | A 2 | ♥ | K Q 9 7 | ||
| ♦ | A K | ♦ | Q J 7 4 | ||
| ♣ | K Q 9 7 3 2 | ♣ | A J 5 | ||
| South | |||||
| ♠ | A K 10 9 | ||||
| ♥ | J 8 5 | ||||
| ♦ | 9 8 5 3 | ||||
| ♣ | 10 4 | ||||
| West | North | East | South |
| Horton | Helman | ||
| 1♦ | 1♠ ! | ||
| 2♣ | 2♠ | 3♣ | Pass |
| 4♦ | Pass | 4♥ | Pass |
| 6♣ | All Pass |
With North/South ‘marked’ with a nine card fit West knew his partner held at most one spade, so he was happy to jump to slam.
After tricks one and two, so was the Rabbi!
As an aside suppose the auction went like this:
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | Pass | ||
| 2♣ | Pass | 2NT | Pass |
| 4NT | Pass | 6NT | ? |
At least one South was unwise enough to double this contract. West retreated to 7cx and South doubled again.
He is still waiting for North to find a spade lead.
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