Burnham Bridge Club
Competitive Bidding at Pairs
15
How Are We Doing?  Example 3
♠  Q J 10 7 6 4 2
♥  5 2
♦  A J
♣  9 5
♠ 
♥
♦ 
♣
♠ 
♥ 
♦ 
♣
 W        N        E        S
                       P        P
 P        1NT     P       2♥
 P         2♠       P        ?
♠ 
♥ 
♦ 
♣
Dealer: East  Love all
1NT = 12-14
Partner opens 1NT, and you transfer to spades. Question is: Do you now make a game try?

Well, had you opened 3♠, partner would almost certainly have passed with a balanced 12-14. And opponents haven’t seemed disposed to get involved thus far, so they’re hardly likely to come in over 3♠.

We can match the tables where South opened 3♠ and played there by passing 2♠. And if there are only eight tricks available, we’re beating them.

If North is sitting with three aces and decides to punt 4♠, it’s going to depend on the ♠K finesse – a 50/50 shot.