South is holding a hand with 19 HCP and a VOID and opens 1H. N responds with 2H with 10 pts and H support.
At this point, what should S do?
The hand made 6H, however, if the SLAM is bid I would
suspect that W will lead her 2 aces off the top.
Mark:
This is a bidding problem of hand evaluation. I think south was too conservative 3 times!
Normally, you only open 1 of a suit with 19 high card points, but this hand is WAY stronger than 19, based on distribution and intermediate cards I would open 2 clubs. If partner responds 3 clubs, south bids 3 hearts. North might take the plunge to 6 hearts, and that works to perfection luckily here. If either partner bids Blackwood, they discover 2 missing aces and stay out of the good slam.
This is a case that the actual opening bid of 1 heart could have led to slam. When north raised the opening heart bid, south knows that the hand is cold for at least game and quite likely slam.
You definitely don't want to bid 3 hearts which is non- forcing and you
could end in part score on a slam hand. This is what I would do if I opened 1
heart and was raised to 2. I bid a "game try" 3 diamonds or 2 spades.
If partner declines the "game try", meaning he had a minimum for the
original raise, I bid 4 hearts, which shows that I was really interested in
slam, not in doubt about game. With some north hands containing 4 hearts to the
king and very little else you could still get to a decent slam when north
realizes the potential in diamond or spade shortness.
Against 6 hearts, west has to choose which minor suit
ace to lead. They are about equal in chance of success if he hasn't heard about
the club length in the north. After a diamond ace lead, or a non- ace south
makes 6 easily. After a lead of the club ace, south makes 7 without having to
resort to a finesse or a ruff.
Back to the bidding, this is a good illustration of
why you don't use Blackwood with a void. Also, as you explore game vs. slam,
remember not to make any non- forcing bids along the way.
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