Kontrol ask plus MST
1S both majors, 2C relay. South saved us two steps.East needs to find that exact hand. Kontrol-ask is better with a singleton and the only relevant queen being in describer's…
Landing in 5-of-a-major
West had high hopes opposite that shape and 7 SPs. DCB revealed those honours, leaving West with a guess. Another ask would find the HJ, for what it's worth. The…
Find the spade jack
3D showed the shape, zooming to SPs, so 3H to show 7 SPs. 4C => S - yes, H - 0/2 5C => D - yes, C - yes, S…
Both routes work
Firstly, via SPs.2H is easy to forget. A common error is to respond 1S = hearts, then soon realise that you can't show this shape any more, then do some…
Loose lips
There is a good case for 2NT or 4S over 1D. Our auction gave North the chance to double 2C and get a club lead.C8-4-K-J told North that a heart…
Wrong-siding
So East found West with 5-3-2-3 and selected 3NT.One off on the club lead. Other tables played 3NT from West, which usually made. There is a case for 3S over…
Raising on Three
This is a particular problem for methods that freely open 4-card majors, such as ours.We do this much more often that Goren, say, who had the concept of a biddable…
Swap sort
Consider this scamp auction: 1♥ - (no) - 1♠ - (2♣)? 1H = 4+, denies 4S, 11-15. 1S =11+ relay.After the 2C overcall, we are still in relay, all square.…
Balanced 15-count again
Above is the West hand opposite our 1NT opening. 1NT12-15 balanced-ish, no 4cM2C3C3-3-4-33D4C10 SPs (A=3, K=2, Q=1)? 3D risked hearing 4C. Otherwise West would play 3NT. Is 10 SPs enough?…
Chunky 8
This was posted on bridgewinners. A pair missed the easy slam. How would we cope? Not so great if West does a lot of asking: 1C - 1S1N - 2S2N…