Here's a bidding problem from a recent club session, but unlike other problems, you have the advantage of seeing both hands!

Can you suggest a convincing and accurate bidding sequence to a slam? Send your suggestions to me at grahamcox1954@yahoo.co.uk

The best answer will be published in due course.

This pair of hands throw up a number of difficult bidding problems which test your methods and skills:

Problem 1: What to open with the South hand? Strong 3-suited hands are notoriously difficult to handle. You could consider 1♥ , but what if partner has ♠ 9875 ♥ J53 ♦ 75 ♣ J942?  You will play in 1♥ and make 11 or 12 tricks! Or maybe partner has ♠ 10873 ♥ 9765 ♦ Q73 ♣ 954 and the same will apply. So it seems clear that you have to open 2♣ here, to ensure that you get to game.

Problem 2: Is the North hand worthy of a 'positive' response? The normal requirement for such a bid is at least an Ace and a King, so 2♦  is correct.

Problem 3: After South makes the normal rebid (after 2♣ -2♦ ) of 2♥ , what is North's best continuation? Is ♥ 1085 good enough to agree hearts as trumps, or should North introduce one of their own suits? On this hand, bidding 3♦ may well be the most successful, but more often, it will be right to agree hearts.  What is North's best option? a) 3♥  b) 4♥  c) 4♣  d) 3♦ 

a) 3♥ - this shows trump support and an ace somewhere. Oddly, it is a stronger bid than....(score 10/10)

b) 4♥ - this shows trump support and not much else. It indicates a decent chance of making 4♥ but no prospect of anything higher. (score 3/10)

c) 4♣ - because this is a jump bid, it shows trump support and a singleton or void in ♣ . It's a fair description, but splinter bids should generally be reserved for hands with 4-card trump support. (score 5/10)

d) 3♦ - This will be the most successful bid, but it's borderline as to whether it's best, holding 3♥ and only a medium-strength ♦ suit. (score 9/10)

Problem 4: How to proceed after agreeing a trump suit?

Even after we have agreed trumps, these hands are still challenging. No matter what slam methods you have, finding out that North's Ace is opposite a void, and that North's singleton is opposite KQ86 will not be very encouraging. (Note that a Blackwood bid is not helpful when you have a void) Whether North has bid their diamonds, or supported hearts, this looks like one of those hands where you just have to jump to a slam on the reasonable assumption that it should have some play. 6♥ more or less needs the hearts to be 3-2, whereas 6♦ can withstand even a 4-1 heart break, and is therefore better odds. Well done if this was your final destination!