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How many cards in responder’s major does opener’s 1NT rebid guarantee? In your author’s partnerships, there is agreement that it shows at least two cards in the suit, or very infrequently a singleton ace or king. The E/W pair at this table had that understanding, and since the top two heart honors were visible, East could rely on a 5–2 heart fit at worst.
With an invitational hand, East could have rebid 2♣, New Minor Forcing, but with a mediocre 10 HCP, which would play better or more safely, 1NT or 2♥? In notrump there is no outside entry in the East hand, and while declarer may be able to establish the heart suit, there is no sure way to get back there to enjoy the long suit winners. East corrected to the 8–trick heart partial and played it there.
The Play of the Hand(s)
At our first table, the favorable 3–3 split establishes four accessible heart winners, with decent prospects in diamonds and the two black kings for three more tricks. But having carefully attended to the auction, North considered that South might hold spade length and values and began the demolition of declarer’s house of cards by leading a devastating ♠Q. When the dust settled, declarer had taken just five tricks for –200. Click here to view or play the deal in the BBO Handviewer. Use the Next button to advance trick by trick or the Play button to choose your own cards and explore alternate lines of play.
At our second table, South led a passive ♣8 against East’s 2♥ contract. North won the ♣Q, cashed the ♣A, and continued the ♣9 to dummy’s king (suit preference for spades). Declarer led a heart to the jack and queen, and when South returned the ♠7, declarer guessed wrong and ducked. North won the ♠Q, returned a spade to South’s ace, and ruffed the third spade. Declarer took the remaining tricks but went down two for the same –200. Click here to view or play the deal in the BBO Handviewer.
Closing Thoughts
Dear Reader, the next time partner opens one of a minor and rebids 1NT, carefully estimate the combined HCP range of the two hands. If it seems that our side holds only about half the points in the deck, then with a 5–card major and assurance that partner will not rebid 1NT with a stiff in our suit, consider playing in the major in no worse than a 5–2 fit. With no 5–card major in the responding hand, if there is a 4–3 or 4–4 fit in opener’s minor, favor that over 1NT.
At our second table, South paused to consider the spade position after winning the ♥Q. Where was the ♠K? If partner had it, it would always score. But if declarer had it North surely held the queen, and underleading the ace would subject declarer to a difficult decision. Declarer could have saved a trick by putting up the king, but who among us would have considered that or had the courage for it?
Although in this Deal the outcomes at our two tables were the same either in hearts or notrump, if North had not signaled for suit preference on the third round of clubs against 2♥, South might never have led one, and declarer likely could have held it to down one for –100. A small improvement, to be sure, but one worth noting in support of Klinger’s Tip.
Finally, although N/S can post positive scores in a club (+90), spade (+110), or notrump partial (+90), no plausible auction can get them to any of these after West opens 1♦. They do at least as well or better defending against an E/W heart or notrump partial.
All the best,
Rex
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