Bidding with care

Wednesday night hands continue to test both bidding and card play for everyone.

40% of all contracts failed, 15 by 3 or more tricks, 21 by 2 tricks.

This suggests we are stretching our bidding as some contracts are being made on distribution and kind trump breaks.

And occasionally the bad trump break with flat hands bite us on the bum.

Hand 1 is a prime example.

After 1D -1S - 1NT some Norths rebid spades which lead to 3S, 3NT, 4S.

22 points and no shortages is a recipe for disaster, and so it was.

4 pairs down 3 and one pair down 2. Even 1NT should fail by 2 tricks.

So how do we bid this hand with care and give it due diligence?

Souths standard rebid is 1NT showing 12-14. North ought to be happy as the spade suit is not overly strong.

Might you as South, be wary of bidding 1NT with doubleton QJ clubs?

Is the heart suit robust enough to secure needed tricks?

Might not the 3 cd spade fit be a help in a spade contract with doubleton club?

As South, we must PASS  1S.

Perfect hindsight makes us all world class bridge players.