Question: After partner has supported the opening heart bid, opener is
faced with bidding a jump shift to indicate point or bidding game. What would
you do?
Vic:
Answer: I would bid
game, just as East did.
Jumping to game in hearts
shows a top of the line point count, just like a jump shift would show. But a
jump shift would also show a two-suited hand & East does not have a
two-suited hand. A jump shift would consequently be an inappropriate bid in
this scenario.
When West raises to 2H they
have shown heart support & capped their point count at less
than a Limit Raise. That makes East the captain of the auction. East knows
they belong in game & it is consequently now their duty to bid game.
Remember: "The
stronger than hand the slower the bidding, until you know & then you
go".
Over the jump to 4H by East,
I would expect a less experienced West to Pass.
A more experienced West,
knowing they have 4-card heart support (not just 3-card) & also a
singleton diamond Ace, might choose to continue the auction with a control
bid of 5D. This would promise first round control of diamonds in some partnership
agreements. In other partnership agreements it might promise first or second
round control of diamonds. It would also invite opener to consider the
possibility of slam.
I am unsure if East
would opt to raise to slam or not. But it turns out EW do deserve to
make 6H.
Ain't bridge a great game?
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