With Bob Jones
Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
S-J 8 2
H-K Q J 6
D-4
C-A J 6 4 2
WEST EAST
S-10 6 3 S-9 7 5
H-10 5 4 H-8 7 2
D-K J 8 7 D-A 10 6 3
C-10 9 8 C-7 5 3
SOUTH
S-A K Q 4
H-A 9 3
D-Q 9 5 2
C-K Q
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 3C Pass
3S Pass 4C Pass
4S Pass 4NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Seven of D
The Gerber convention is used by many players as an ace-asking bid when Blackwood is unavailable. When the last bid is a natural no trump bid, a raise to four no trump is quantitative, not Blackwood. A jump to four clubs is Gerber over a natural no trump bid. Note that it must be a jump to four clubs, so it does not apply over a bid of three no trump, or three of anything else. This is a subtlety that many players miss. A non-jump bid of four clubs over three of anything is needed as a natural bid.
On today’s hand, North-South can make a slam in three different strains — clubs or either major. They do not have an eight-card fit, so none of these slams is easy to bid. North could smell a slam after South’s two no trump opening, showing 20-21 points, and started by using Stayman to look for a possible eight-card heart fit. When that failed to materialize, he introduced his club suit and they were well on their way.
The partnership hit a serious bump in the road when South interpreted the four-club bid as Gerber. He intended his four-spade response to show two aces. North interpreted this four spade bid as a cue-bid in support of clubs, so he bid four no trump, intending that as Blackwood. South, who believed that he had already shown his aces, passed — OOPS!
It could have been worse. Had the opponents held South’s nine of diamonds, four no trump would have been defeated! At least they got a plus score.
(Bob Jones welcome readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail responses may be sent to
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