What Signal on the King in No-Trump?

This Sunday evening, Clothilde reaches out to me. She is probably one of the very best Girls in my group. She comes from a very bridge-oriented environment: her family and friends all play bridge and talk about it a lot. As a result, she is technically stronger than most of the others.

This weekend, she was playing a practice match against the Polish Girls team.

« Hi coach, can I tell you about a deal? » she asks.

« With pleasure, Clothilde, tell me about it. »

« Well, here’s the situation: I had 8 high-card points and six clubs, and my partner opened 1NT. West overcalled 2♠, showing spades and a minor. What should I have said? Double, 2NT or 3NT? »

I replied:

« I can’t answer just like that. I need to know whether you had a spade stopper and the quality of your clubs. »

Clothilde: « I had six clubs headed by the king-queen and the queen of spades third. »

Me: « In that case, I would have bid 3NT. I would consider that my hand, with this good six-card suit and the well-placed queen of spades, was worth about 10 points.

2NT is a Texas for clubs that I use either when I have a weak hand or when I don’t want to play 3NT.

As for the double, you should use it with about 8 points, that’s true, but with more balanced distributions and without a six-card suit. »

She replied: « Don’t worry, I bid 3NT, but I was wondering whether I should first show my clubs. »