Both sides vulnerable.

Artificial bids can be very valuable when the right hand comes along, but, as with many glorified panaceas, they are not always a rousing success. Consider this deal from the U.S.-France match in 1971.

At the first table, with a French pair holding the North-South cards, the bidding went as shown. Two diamonds was an artificial game-forcing bid, and two hearts was an artificial response denying an ace.

From then on, the bidding was natural but ineffective. From South’s standpoint, his partner’s three-spade bid might have been based on a hand such as ? J98754 ? 7 ? 952 ? J64.

So South bid only four hearts, allowing for this possibility, and North, though aware he had greater values than his previous bids had shown, elected to play safe and pass. There was nothing to the play, and North easily made six.

At the second table, where Jim Jacoby and Bobby Wolff were North-South for the U.S., the bidding went in this sprightly fashion:

The opening one-club bid was artificial, showing at least 17 high-card points. After West chimed in with three clubs, Jacoby’s double was also artificial, promising at least seven points.

Over East’s jump to five clubs, it was then easy for Wolff to undertake the heart slam. With both opponents bidding clubs strongly, he concluded that his partner’s high cards were most likely in spades and/or diamonds, which was precisely where he needed help. So he bid six hearts and gained 750 points for the U.S team.

Tomorrow: >> Famous Hand.

Steve Becker