Total Confidence

26^th October – Board 20. Game All. Dealer West.

Freak hands come along from time to time and often we don’t have enough experience to deal with them. But remembering a few basic rules can often show the way.

	North: S Q J 5 H J 10 5 4 D Q 10 8 7 C 7 6
West: S A 9 8 7 6 H Q 9 8 3 2 D K C K 10		East: S none H none D A J 9 5 4 2 C A Q J 8 5 4 3
	South: S K 10 4 3 2 H A K 7 6 D 6 3 C 9 2

West	North	East	South
1S	No	2C	No
2H	No	3D	No
3H	No	4D	No
6C	End

It all boils down to total trust and confidence in partner I suppose. In the auction above 3D is, in the first instance, fourth suit forcing, to game as it happens because it is at the 3-level. 3H shows 5-5 in the majors and now 4D shows a slam going hand with the minors. Slam showing because without any such lofty aspirations the bid would surely be 3NT. So given all that West can hardly bid less than 6C holding those precious minor suit kings.