The hand this month is a hand that turned up at David Gold's 'bridge4money.com' website.  This website has been running now for about two years and you can play for money at 10cents, 25cents, $1, $2 and $5 per 100 points (Honours counting too).  All the hands are dealt by computer and you play against unknown opposition and partner.  The vulnerability is also pre-selected.  Your total winnings or losses are also shown since the time you started playing - there is no hiding place!  Anyway, it is Saturday night at about midnight and you've played 20 boards and are showing a small deficit (4$) for the evening.  You are due to play with your favourite Wessex League partner next day in the Oxfordshire Swiss Pairs competition, so thoughts are turning to getting some sleep.... still how about one more hand to try and make up the loss?  It must be worth it.. so you click the 'play another hand' button in the '$2 per hundred' room - and the following hand turns up, with both sides vulnerable.....

                765
                J2
                AK10532
                98

mmmmmmm  You've picked up better hands - but perhaps partner will have a good-un?  The hand on your left is dealer, so you prepare yourself to concentrate and get that money back!

The bidding-

LHO                                        Partner                                    RHO                                    Me

2C*                                            4S!                                        pass                                       ?

Well what now?  Perhaps a few explanations are necessary - on B4M everyone plays the same documented system.  You can see opposite that your partner is in the top third of money earners (he has three stars) and he has not only passed the ordinary bidding test but the advanced bidding test too - he is identified with a triangular 'bidding hat' with a red star in the middle (you have one, of course).  This is the information you have to give you some guidance on the competence of your partner - and you are playing for $2 per hundred - idiots don't last long in there.  Well what do you bid?  2C shows a game going hand - the strongest bid that can be made in the system.  Pard has bid 4S with both sides vulnerable.......  Pass?  5D?  6S?

well, say you pass and the bidding proceeds--

LHO                                        Partner                                    RHO                                    You

2C*                                            4S!                                        pass                                     pass

6H!                                            pass                                        pass                                      ?

Do you wish you had bid 5D now?  what are you going to bid... anything?  It looked right to me to bid 6S so I did....... but then I nearly fell off my nice comfy seat....

LHO                                        Partner                                    RHO                                      You

2C*                                            4S                                         pass                                       pass

6H                                              pass                                       pass                                        6S

7C!                                            pass                                        7H                                          ??

Now you are regretting not bidding 5D...... what next?   What do you do?

Have a think and - click here to see if you have got it right!
 
 
  * game forcing in any suit or balanced 23/24

Clive Keep December 2008