Bridge - The Scotsman 08/02/2012

This example of a slam based purely on high-card power comes from a League match. When partner opens 2NT he traditionally shows 20-22 points. For some the 3-point range is too wide: they prefer to work in two-point stages, so 2NT is 20-21; 2C followed by 2NT 22-23; and so on. Either style allows partner to work out immediately whether slam is possible. Here East could see a combined 33 or 34 points. There seemed little point in doing other than jumping to 6NT. West was pleased to see the queen of diamonds appear on the second round, and led a heart towards his QJxx for the twelfth trick.

It is sometimes possible to make a Grand Slam with these values, and one East-West partnership chose to investigate. They found their diamond fit, but 7D was too high, even with the successful finesse against the queen of trump.

Many years ago Jeff Rubens offered some excellent advice. If slam requires partner to have a perfect maximum for his bidding do not push – the chances are that he will not have the right cards. But if a perfect minimum will be enough you should investigate – now you can afford partner to have some wasted values. Here East might wonder what he needs from partner to produce 13 tricks: ace-king-queen of diamonds, or AKxxx: the king of spades, KQ of hearts, or the doubleton king; and the ace of clubs, plus a parking place for his third club. Possible – but surely unlikely!