Fit Jumps Opener 18-19 Balanced 171220 Hand 5

Board 5 North Deals	♠ K Q ♥ Q 9 7 4 ♦ A Q 8 4 ♣ A J 2
♠ 9 8 7 ♥ J 6 3 2 ♦ 10 3 ♣ K 8 7 5	N W E S	♠ J 10 6 5 4 3 2 ♥ 10 ♦ 9 6 ♣ Q 6 3
18 4    3 15	♠ A ♥ A K 8 5 ♦ K J 7 5 2 ♣ 10 9 4

NS 6N; NS 6♥; NS 6♦; NS 4♣; NS 1♠; Par +990

	North	South
	1 ♦	2 ♥
	4 ♥	4 NT
	5 ♠	5 NT
	6 ♥	Pass

6 ♥ by South

Lead: ♦ 10

Made 6 — NS +980

The same principle applies to a direct jump to four of the major. So here 4 ♥ shows 18-19 hcp. This time south has plenty extra and it is all but impossible for north to be missing the ♣ AK - ♠ KQJ ♥ QJxx ♦ AQxx ♣ QJ is the only hand with 18 hcp without a club control. Some might downgrade that and open 1 NT.

Therefore despite the holding of ♣ xxx, Blackwood is reasonable here. The 5 NT bid promises all of the key cards and shows interest in a grand. Here though north has nothing extra - well there is a matter of judgement on how to value the ♠ K. Some of the ♠ KQ and ♣ AJ must be wasted though opposite a hand with at least four-four in the red suits.

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