A Silent Bidder

Click NEXT in the diagram to see the opening lead

Note: This is an intermediate level problem.

You agreed with your partner that a high card is encouraging and, if giving count, high-low shows an even number of cards.

You lead the ♣A and partner plays the ♣2.

1. How do you continue?
2. You decide to switch to the ♦A. Partner follows with the ♦2. How many clubs does partner have?
3. How many diamonds does partner have?
4. Which card will you play at trick 3?

Answers

1. How do you continue?
   You need to switch (many players will not find this switch)! The ♣2 from partner is discouraging. If he would have had a doubleton, he would have played a high club first. And what if he has a singleton club? He can’t! With a singleton club he would never pass your 3♣ bid.
2. How many clubs does partner have?
   Three. If partner passed your 3♣ bid it means that his clubs are longer than his diamonds, else he would have corrected the bidding to 3♦ (he needs to correct also when diamonds and clubs has the same length). Since he played a low club, he has 3 cards (he can’t have more since south followed suit).
3. How many diamonds does partner have?
   One . With 3 cards, East would have corrected the bidding to 3♦. With doubleton, he would have played a high card first (yes, to encourage you to continue – You might have a spade trick and then be able to continue a 3rd round of diamond to give him a ruff.)
4. Which card will you play at trick 3?
   The ♦10! If you continue with a club – South will ruff, draw trumps, play a high heart, establish his diamonds and finesse the hearts to make 10 tricks. If you play a low diamond, East will ruff and continue with clubs – the suit you bid and lead. He might think you have only 4 cards and will try to make you win the trick so that you will give him another diamond ruff. So you need to wake him up and play a high diamond – A suit preference for the higher suit where you have an entry. The ♦T asks for a heart back! Partner will know to switch to hearts and the defense will be able to cross ruff another 3 tricks for 2 down (club, diamond, 2 heart ruffs and 2 diamond ruffs for the defense).

Click the Next button in the diagram to follow the play.

Things to remember:

• At first sight you might think that your partner (East) is just a silent bidder who systematically discourages every suit you play. But it’s not so. Your partner’s bids and signals are very helpful, if you are able to read them.
• If your partner has bid 2 suits, and you are longer in his first suit (or they are of the same length), you must correct the bidding to his first suit, even with 0 points! In our example, East has passed your 2nd suit, meaning: my clubs are longer than my diamonds.
• Simple signaling can tell a lot. Discuss with your partner when to signal and what. Notice: Suit preference is given not only when discarding, but also when a switch is obvious or when you give your partner a ruff, telling him which suit to return in order to get another ruff.
• You may agree to play various conventions to show 2 suited hands when you overcall (like Unusual 2NT, Ghestem, Michael’s Cuebid, etc). If you do so, you need to agree if that type of bid is limited. Some play that such bids are used only with weak distributional hands (6-10 points), others play it as unlimited, and some play that it can be either weak or very strong (16+). Whatever you agree, just make sure you're on the same wavelength!