Hand 250 — Direct 3NT Over 1NT

Play this hand
Dealer
N
User Side
E/W
Contract
3NT
Declarer
W
Tricks Makeable
10
Recommended Lead
2S
Vulnerability
System
SAYC

Planning

Here again are the opening bid guidelines.
These are the opening bids. They follow close to the sayc standard.
13 - 19 … 1 club No 5c major, less than 4 diamonds.If 4 clubs and 4 diamonds, then bid 1 diamond.
13 - 19 … 1 diamond No 5c major, 4 or more diamonds
13 - 19 … 1 heart 5 or more hearts. If 16 - 19 points, could also have 5 spades.
13 - 19 … 1 spade 5 or more spades. could also have 5 hearts
15 - 17 … 1 NT Balanced distribition

22 - 24 … 2 clubs point count only, forcing to game
20 – 21 … 2 NT point count only

6 - 11 … 2 diamonds At least 6 cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5
6 - 11 … 2 hearts At least 6 cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5
6 - 11 … 2 spades At least 6 cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5


5 - 9 … 3 clubs At least 7cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5
5 - 9 … 3 diamonds At least 7cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5
5 - 9 … 3 hearts At least 7cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5
5 - 9 … 3 spades At least 7cards, and 2 of the top 3 honours, or 3 of top 5

The Deal

North
8 7 6 2
A 10 8
8 6 5 3
J 5
West
K Q 3
K Q 4
K Q 10 2
K 7 4
East
A J 9
9 5 3
A 9 4
Q 10 3 2
South
10 5 4
J 7 6 2
J 7
A 9 8 6
North: 5 HCP, 4-3-4-2 (bal)
East: 11 HCP, 3-3-3-4 (bal)
South: 6 HCP, 3-4-2-4 (bal)
West: 18 HCP, 3-3-4-3 (bal)

Bidding Sequence

N E S W
PassPassPass1NT
Pass3NTPassPass
Pass

Final Comments

West plays the hand. In winners, we have
3 spades
1 heart
3 diamonds - maybe 4
2 clubs
We make our contract with 9 tricks.
As the cards lie, we can get a 4th diamond trick to make 10 in all.