J52 A7 AK95 AQ85

Not surprisingly the auction starts with two passes, but S does surprise you by opening 1, which is alerted and explained as precision. (At least 16 HCP, any distribution). You have read somewhere that with a strong balanced hand you should not act immediately over a strong 1 and now is as good a time as any to test that theory.

So you pass, and LHO bids 1, conventionally, showing 0-8 points with any distribution. Partner is silent throughout the auction and RHO now introduces his suit: 1. If you had been short in Spades you might have doubled at this point (still take out) to contest the partscore but now that is too dangerous because of the shortness in . So you pass again, willy-nilly, and LHO raises, 2. Since 1 was not forcing this shows that he isn't completely broke and has a couple of scattered points.

You're in for a new surprise when S now introduces his second suit: 3, as a natural game try (in Spades of course, that is the agreed trump suit) and even more when, after you pass his partner accepts: 4!

Could it be your birthday? After two passes you think you're looking at 5 defensive tricks and your double shatters a couple of windows. Your surprises aren't over yet because S redoubles.

So this was the auction:

West	North	East	South
	p	p	1 a
p	1 b	p	1
p	2	p	3
p	4	p	p
X	p	p	XX
p	p	p

1. How many points do dummy and your partner hold together at most?
2. Do you think dummy has a picture card? Yet his partner's bid must have improved his hand in some way. In what way?
3. What do you lead?