Yesterday, I gave an auction in which responder tried to convey a maximum for his bidding up to that point. There are other sequences in which this theme can arise. For example, opener bids two no-trump, and responder transfers into a major, perhaps bidding three diamonds to show five or more hearts. Immediately opener should show how much interest he has in hearts.
With nothing special, he completes the transfer, bidding three hearts.
With four-card support and a decent hand, he jumps to four hearts.
But with four- or five-card support and a super hand for play in hearts, he should bid another suit. He makes what is called an advance control-bid (cue-bid). He shows the ace of that suit, denies the ace in any suit skipped, and opens the door for a slam if responder is interested.
In today's deal, North should open two no-trump despite the five-card major. And after South transfers into hearts, North makes an advance control-bid of four clubs, which says, "Partner, I love hearts, I have the club ace, but I do not have the spade ace." South then knows where to go.
Against six hearts, West leads the club queen.
South can afford to lose only one heart trick. A careless declarer would play the ace and another heart, going down one. A thoughtful player works out how to overcome a 3-0 break. After winning trick one in his hand, he leads a low heart, covering West's card as cheaply as possible. Or, if West discards, he puts up dummy's ace and leads back toward his queen. Six hearts bid and made.
With nothing special, he completes the transfer, bidding three hearts.
With four-card support and a decent hand, he jumps to four hearts.
But with four- or five-card support and a super hand for play in hearts, he should bid another suit. He makes what is called an advance control-bid (cue-bid). He shows the ace of that suit, denies the ace in any suit skipped, and opens the door for a slam if responder is interested.
In today's deal, North should open two no-trump despite the five-card major. And after South transfers into hearts, North makes an advance control-bid of four clubs, which says, "Partner, I love hearts, I have the club ace, but I do not have the spade ace." South then knows where to go.
Against six hearts, West leads the club queen.
South can afford to lose only one heart trick. A careless declarer would play the ace and another heart, going down one. A thoughtful player works out how to overcome a 3-0 break. After winning trick one in his hand, he leads a low heart, covering West's card as cheaply as possible. Or, if West discards, he puts up dummy's ace and leads back toward his queen. Six hearts bid and made.