This Real Deal comes from Jim Maier.

Vul:None Dlr: S	AKJ95 Q1073 Q7 K9
Q4 J652 J9532 Q7		8732 A94 1086 J43
	106 K8 AK4 A108652

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The auction:

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Pass	2	Pass	2
Pass	3	Pass	3NT
Pass	4NT	All Pass

The Funny-looking 1NT Opening Bid

Notrump openings show balanced hands. Normally, by "balanced", we mean: 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2. However, we can also treat 6-3-2-2 (or 5-4-2-2) as “balanced” (technically we use the term “semi-balanced.”). While we would never open 1NT with a 6-card major, we can occasional do it with a 6-card minor.

With only 14 HCP? I would treat South’s hand as in the 15-17 range for several reasons. One; aces and kings are more valuable than their actual point count. Two; South has two 10’s. Lastly, a decent 5-card suit is worth adding a point, so surely a 6-card suit is worth adding for (maybe even 2 points).

Add it all up and I like the 1NT bid shown. The alternative is to open 1. If South opens 1 and then rebids 2, that’s not as descriptive as opening 1NT. 1 then 2 could be an 11-count with a singleton or void somewhere. By opening 1NT, we give partner a much better picture of our hand.

The Rest of the Auction

North has 15 HCP and accordingly some slam interest—the partnership has 30-32 expected HCP. North also wants to look for an 8-card major-suit fit. With 5-5 in the Majors, we’d start with a Jacoby transfer. But with 5-4, we should use Stayman.

South’s 2 denies a 4-card major. North now needs to jump in spades to show 5 spades and 4 hearts, game-forcing. If North bids only 2, that wouldn’t be forcing. South has no interest in the majors so bids 3NT.

North still wants to invite slam, so bids 4NT. Bidding 4NT when the previous bid was in notrump is “quantitative” or “invitational” – not Blackwood. North, with 15 and a good 5-card suit, wants South to go to slam with 17.

As much as I like the South hand, it is still only 14 HCP, so South rejects the invitation and ends up in the uncommon contract of 4NT.

The Opening Lead

Usually against notrump, we try to lead a major. Here, dummy has shown both majors and West’s diamonds are his longest and strongest, so the 3 it is.

The Play

Declarer wants to first get his clubs going. Unless there is a terrible split, he will be able to take 5 club tricks to go with the 5 other top tricks (3 diamonds and 2 spades). So as to not block up the diamonds the queen is played from dummy at trick 1 (use up the honor from the short suit). Then theK is followed by the 9. East plays low and South puts in the 10. Why? This is a safety play to guarantee 5 club tricks. If East started with QJxx, going up with the ace would be costly. Playing the 10 guards against this. West wins the Q, but this means the clubs were 3-2 and will run.

What does West do upon winning the CQ? He doesn’t know that declarer’s clubs are running (he doesn’t expect declarer had 6 of them). He can see that his Q is falling in front of the AKJ, but for all he knows, his partner has the 10xxx and the suit might not be running. Leading from either jack is potentially dangerous (picture declarer with AK10x in diamonds or A9x in hearts).

This is a really tough problem for West. If he does exit in spades, declarer might take the rest of the tricks. Or, declarer might settle for 11 tricks by winning the spade ace and playing a heart. If East plays second hand low, declarer still ends up with 12 tricks.

Bottom line: It is hard to know what West will play when in with the Q. Depending on his choice and the rest of the play, declarer will take 11 or 12 tricks in his notrump contract.

Lesson Points

1) Aces and kings are worth more than their actual 4 and 3 HCP we assign them.

2) Add points for decent 5- or 6-card suits.

3) 6-3-2-2 shape is considered “semi-balanced” and can be opened in notrump as long as the 6-card suit is a minor.

4) Use Stayman when 5-4 in the majors.
5) 1N-2-2-3M shows a GF hand with 5 in that Major and 4 in the other Major.
6) A bid of 4NT when the previous bid was in notrump is not Blackwood. It is invitational (“quantitative.”)