This question came from a BAND club game….How do you bid the grand?

Here is your hand:

South
♠ A Q 9 8 7 6 3
♥
♦ A J 4
♣ Q J 9

North East South West
1♣        1♥     1♠        2♥
2♠        3♥     ?

Now what? Well, space is limited and spades have been set.  South would like to ask for aces but the heart void is glaring him in the face!  Enter left stage ~ Voidwood!  Once trump have been set, a jump to the five level asks partner for keycards outside of the jumpbid suit.  South, in this auction, would jump to 5♥ to ask partner for keycards outside of the heart suit.

Partner’s hand:

North
♠ K 5 4
♥ 8 6
♦ 10 3
♣ A K 10 8 7 4

The rest of the auction looks like this…

North East South West
1♣       1♥     1♠         2♥
2♠        3♥     5♥        Pass
7♠        AP

North, realizing that partner’s voidwood ask is guaranteeing enough controls for 6♠ outside of the heart suit, jumps to 7♠ to show a couple of keycards and a source of tricks (clubs).  Science at its best!  The logic goes like this: If partner can force to the six level, I have a little surprise for him in my club suit so I’m going to bid the grand!

Now you say your partner doesn’t play Voidwood? Well then South would cuebid 4 ♥ and then cuebid 5 ♥ and hope partner figures it out!  

Let me hear your comments!

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