Here is a hand from the April 2014 Winnipeg Regional where my opponent was unsure as to what was the best course of action. There are four ‘reasonable choices’:

1)    Double

2)    3♠

3)    4♦

4)    4♠.

The actual West chose double - not the best choice. The reason is that partner will play you for a more balanced hand, and may jump in clubs expecting you to have at least three of them. North may even pass the double with a bad hand and Jxxxx in diamonds.

Three spades is too conservative. This could get passed out when you have a slam in hearts. For example North would pass with: ♠x ♥Qxxx ♦Axxx ♣xxxx, and a cold 6xHx is missed.

The next choice is 4♠. This makes sure you get to game, but loses hearts as a potential trump suit. An advantage of this bid is that it brings slam into the picture (See Hand 75).

The final choice 4♦, also brings slam into the picture and specifically shows at least five cards in each major with a strong hand. The more distribution, the less high cards are needed for this call. I think this is the bid most players would make, and I am with the majority.

However there is a key element missing in this analysis. You must ask yourself the question, ‘What will I do after partner’s response to any of these choices?’ After a double and a 3NT bid by partner I will bid 4 spades. Over a major response I will cue bid 4 clubs.

Over a raise of 3 spade I will ask for key cards. If partner bids 3NT I will bid 5xHx, trying to catch up.

Over any bid over my 4 spade call I will likely cue bid clubs in case there is a grand, on the way to 6 spade.

Finally over 4 diamonds. The important auction is if partner bids 4 hearts. The correct rebid by you is 4 spades. This implies a much better spade suit than hearts, and is a mild slam try, otherwise you would have passed 4 hearts, or started with 3 spades. The full deal:

Lessons to Learn

1)    Even after you find a good bid, explore if there is a better one available.

2)    A cue bid of 4 diamonds does not promise a diamond control.

3)    Analyze what partner may bid, and what you will do then. This process may help you detect flaws in your original plan, and come up with an improved choice.

4)    Notice this potential auction I addressed over a 4xSx initial call:

5xCx is a cue bid in support of spades. The important lesson here is if partner jumps to game in a suit, a new suit at the five level cannot be natural to find a better place, as the 4 hearts has promised a self-sufficient suit. So 5 clubs on this auction is a slam try with 1^st round control in clubs.

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