Bridge
19 August, 2026
With a strong 2-suited hand, don't be afraid
Bidding a strong hand in competition can be tricky – even more so if you hold a strong 2-suited hand.
Bidding a strong hand in competition can be tricky – even more so if you hold a strong 2-suited hand. With neither side vulnerable, your right-hand opponent opens 1♣️ as dealer. What will you do with this?
Your hand is much, much too strong for a 1❤️ overcall. You might consider a takeout double, but what will you do if partner jumps to 3♠️ or even 4♠️? What you need is a forcing bid that shows both of your suits at once.
This is a perfect "unusual 2NT" overcall, which most play as showing the lower two unbid suits – in this case diamonds and hearts – and some 10+ high card points. Let's say you bid 2NT and your left-hand opponent passes. Partner jumps to 4❤️. What will you do now?
Your powerful hand just got better – partner clearly has a good fit with hearts and some values outside. You have only 3 losers – if partner can cover a couple of these then slam must be an excellent prospect.
If you inquire with 4NT Roman Keycard Blackwood, playing 1430 partner responds 5♣️ showing one, so she holds either ♣️A or ♦️A. In both cases it ought to be possible to make something of your excellent diamond suit. You can't find out about the spade king unless you play advanced inquiry methods, but an optimistic bid of 6❤️ seems entirely reasonable.
In fact the slam is unbeatable, because this was the full deal:
It's often the case that at the bridge table, as elsewhere, fortune favours the brave!
Rakesh Kumar
The Southern Highlands Bridge Club runs three duplicate sessions every week (Mon 1:00 pm, Wed 6:30 pm, Sat 1:00 pm) at the East Bowral Community Centre. Highlands players and visitors welcome!
For more information: https://shbc.bridgeaustralia.org
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