Where are the Clubs?

[Gerben42]

Justin: I agree. After this hand I agree even more.

 

So what happened:

I bid 5♦ right away (okay maybe 2♥ first would have been better.

 

The lead was ♥A and all followed.

The continuation was ♥K and all followed (!)

The third trick was ♥Q and LHO discarded, partner however had another.

 

Yes, overcaller had ♥AKQ only. His partner had ♣A and partners King dropped singleton under that. Down 2, 50 points less than the field who had bid 4♥-1.

 

Partner had:

 

Qxx

xxx

AKJxxx

K

[Echognome]

Gerben - I'm confused. Aren't you ruffing partner's club? RHO was lucky to get away with his overcall, but once he had you are never finding hearts as a strain.

 

Roland - Yes in Matchpoints you should always seek to bid 3NT whenever possible. However, anytime you can find a small slam in a minor, you are going to be miles ahead of the field. As long as you can back out in 4NT on occasion, you are usually just fine.

 

I don't like jumping in diamonds because of LHO's failure to support his partner, which he could have done with a support redouble.* This marks LHO with 2 or fewer hearts and we don't really know partner's length at the moment. I personally would start with 2NT showing diamond support and a heart stop. This should love partner in a better position to determine the strain of the hand. NT is obviously the wrong strain on this hand with clubs wide open, but difficult to end up in the partscore.

 

*Assuming we know that the opponents are playing these.

[PriorKnowledge]

4C splinter. This hand screams slam. You have length and weakness in opps suit, a void and AK in unbid suits and great 4-card support in partner's rebid suit. Except for the JH, every honor in your hand is working towards slam.

 

The only alternative bid is 6D. If partner has D-AKxxx and a singleton heart, the hand is cold for 6D.