29th November 2017

What would you bid with the hand below on the following auctions from the Lancashire Swiss Teams at Bolton last month.


 S  K1087654
 H  KQJ
 D  A7
 C  A

Non-vul vs Vul. IMPs Dealer West

South
West
North
East

2D (weak) Double 4D
?





South
West
North
East

2D (weak) 2S Pass
?






This is quite a pleasant problem to have.  Raymond Semp on the first auction decided that partner must have a singleton diamond and the major suit aces for his take out double of two diamonds so just bid seven spades.

John Currie on the second auction did not have the same inference of a singleton diamond, but checked for aces and bid the grand slam also, hoping that partner had a useful value somewhere to take care of the losing diamond.

Partner's hand was AQ932, A932, 2, J95 so there were no problems in the play.  Neither pair in the other room bid the grand slam, so both teams gained 11 IMPs.