Playing in a virtual club the other night this hand came up. I am West. I am playing with someone I really do not know. 

Bidding: 1d,1h,1s,2h,3d,,3h, double,, pass, 4d, pass,  pass, pass

Why was the four diamond bid wrong? My partner knows I have points. I showed a five card spade suit and doubled the three heart bid by south. I DID not support the diamonds.I knew she had six of them and I did not support. I doubled three hearts. I think I am going to get tricks in hearts. I should have an honor in hearts. I am most likely short in her diamond suit. If you chose to pull the double, show me something different! She made five diamonds because her suit is so strong. But it makes six clubs. We did not get to the game because she did not convey enough strength and did not show me her clubs. . I can’t come in at the five level vulnerable and bid clubs. Fully describe your hand and give your partner the choice.

I think the better bidding would have been: 1d, 1h, 1s, 2h, double. This conveys strength better than rebidding diamonds. She knows I have five spades, double could also imply two card support for spades. I could then show my club suit. She should then get excited and at least put me in five clubs. No one got to the slam. But those in five clubs were tied for top.

At a recent sectional tournament in Meridian, this hand came up. I am North. I open the bidding 1sp, 2C, four spades, all pass. Why was this wrong? A jump to four spades is weak and shuts the bidding down. 

Let’s look at south’s hand: Four card trump support. 15 HCP with a stiff Ace in the opponent’s suit. So one extra point for extra spade and two extra points for singleton. What should south have bid? Cue bid the  opponent’s clubs. That shows a limit raise or better with me in spades. I have a minimal hand and will bid four spades, but south should push on. Key card ask. Answer would be two key cards with Queen of trumps and an easy six spade bid. The cue bid is such a powerful tool.

I am West. I like my hand. I am playing 2/1 with a regular partner. I opened the bidding:  1 diamond. North comes in with their shapely hand at one spade. My partner makes a negative double. South likes their heart suit and bids two hearts , even after my partner’s negative double. They explain the bid is natural. What to do? What to do? In this bidding sequence a double promises four hearts and at least 6 points, it does not necessarily promise clubs. I need to show strength and force my partner to bid again. So what do I do? I cue bid hearts. My partner saw the explanation of a natural suit by the South hand. Certainly she will not take that as natural. She goes in the tank and comes back with four diamonds. Now I am pumped. Key card ask with a response of two key cards + Queen of diamonds.  I bid seven diamonds. 

We were the only ones who got to the grand slam. One other pair bid Six diamonds and made seven.  I love a good cue bid. Consider adding it to your armamentarium. Remember people are getting more and more aggressive. North bid with only four HCP. South only had four HCP. Trust your partner! This hand was ours. 

I am South. Three passes to me. My partner and I are playing 2/1. I open one club. Pass. My partner bids 1 spade. East doubles. I bid 1 no trump. West passes. My partner bids Two Diamonds. We play that as new minor forcing. Which means you have five of the major and at  least an invitational hand. If your partner does not have support for your major, will bid two no trump or support minor. The question is: Does the north have an invitational hand. My partner has 8 HCP and a bad spade suit. This is not enough for new minor forcing; especially considering the take out double at second opportunity by East. I go down two. I lose three hearts and then get a spade switch. Now I lose four spades.  Playing new conventions is fun; but listen to the bidding and evaluate the strength of your hand before making the promise of a good hand. 

This hand came up in a virtual club game. East opens the bidding two spades. I am south. I pass, West passes and my partner makes a takeout double. East rebids spades. I passed. West passes and my partner bids four hearts. East bids four spades. I passed. West passes and My partner doubles. 

The theory on sacrificing knowing that you will get doubled:

• If coloring is favorable (you are not vulnerable and the other side is) you can go down three and still get a good board if the other side can make  four of one of the majors. Give up 500 vs 620

• If coloring is not favorable ( you are vulnerable and the other side is not), you can go down one if the other side can make  four of one of the majors.  Give up 200 vs 420

• If coloring is equal ( both non vulnerable or both vulnerable), you can go down two if the other side can make four of one of the majors. Give up 300/500 vs 420/620

Now examine the above hand in the east.  Six or seven losers. Partner has said nothing. North freely bid four hearts. Bidding four spades is a phantom sacrifice and never a good idea!  Four spades doubled down three for 800 vs the 650 everyone else made playing four hearts.