A CRUSHING BLOW
TEAMS.
DEALER NORTH, NONE VUL.
Your South hand is a balanced 15-count:
♠ AKJ9
♥ J97
♦ A32
♣ Q104
You respond 1♠ to partner’s 1♥ opening and he makes a jump raise to 3♠. With the Ace of Diamonds, strong trumps and J97 in Hearts, a slam comes into view, but you are lacking a control in Clubs.
How do you solve this problem?
By bidding 3NT, a now-standard asking relay after a non-forcing raise in a major at the three-level:
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | Pass | 1♠ | |
| Pass | 3♠ | Pass | 3NT |
| Pass | 4♣(1) | Pass | 4♦ |
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | 4NT |
| Pass | 5♥(2) | Pass | 6♠ |
(2) Two keycards without the trump Queen.
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