Source: Mr Bridge
Sometimes you pick up a hand that looks small but, as the auction proceeds, it can grow. In a money game as dealer at game all, you pick up:
The hand is weak but you bid 4
last time as your prospects seem to have improved. It is your turn again after 5
from LHO and two passes. Well, you have only a queen but partner has bid twice vulnerable and is favourite to be 5-6 in the blacks. You try 5 bravely, which RHO doubles on the way out. This is the full deal:
5 makes easily and 5 will make too if you miss your club ruff. Your hand grew in value once you knew that partner had a black two-suiter, so do not underbid just because it is small!
Still in a money game, you pick up:
This is typical, another small hand! Your gloom is short-lived when your partner deals and opens 2
(your big bid). You respond 2
(negative/waiting) dutifully and partner surprises you again by re-bidding 2. Now it is time to re-evaluate. Partner has announced a game-forcing hand with hearts as its primary suit. In that context, your hand has become very powerful as you have four-card trump support and a singleton. Do not underestimate the power of this hand. Best is 3, a ‘splinter bid’ showing a spade shortage and good heart support. Partner next bids 4 as a cuebid; now you have nothing more to say so should sign off in 4. To your surprise, partner leaps to 6! Fear not, the full deal:
South was in fact looking for a grand slam with his 4 cue-bid. Once he heard you show your spade shortage, he knew that the small slam was a virtual certainty. Now that you are getting the idea:
Partner opens 1 and RHO overcalls 1. You pass and LHO passes too. Partner bids 3 and RHO passes. It looks natural to give preference to three hearts, but think! Re-evaluate your hand. You have three-card support when you might not have and you have a useful card in partner’s second suit so you should take the pressure off partner and bid 4. The full deal:
As you can see, partner really does not have anything special for his actions and 4 is a great contract, making easily with the even heart break. So remember; be prepared to re-evaluate your hand as the auction progresses and ‘don’t underbid small hands’.