BRIDGE

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x 2 u A 10 8 v A K Q 3 w A 10 7 6 4
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1v Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. If a jump to three spades is a splinter bid, showing a powerful diamond raise with a singleton in the bid suit, that would be descriptive and best; or if a jump to three diamonds is forcing in your methods, do that. If neither of these options is available to you, you have to jump shift to two hearts -- an invitational jump to three diamonds would be a woeful underbid.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x 3 u A J 10 8 6 v 8 7 5 w A K 6 5
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 1x 2v
?
What action do you take?
A. You have minimum values and poor distribution for this auction -- a singleton in partner's suit and three losers in the overcaller's strain. Pass, and see what partner can do.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x K 8 u 9 6 5 3 2 v A Q 10 6 3 w 8
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1u 2w
Pass Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. That depends on your methods. If you play that a cue-bid of the overcaller's suit is a limit raise or better in partner's suit, bid three clubs. If not, you must jump to three diamonds.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x K 10 9 6 3 u 8 v J 9 7 6 w K 7 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1NT* Pass 2w Pass
2x Pass ?
15-17*
What do you bid now?
A. You are straddling the fence between an invitational raise and a jump to game. The game bonus vulnerable makes it attractive; to be aggressive and bid four spades. Not vulnerable, however, it's a closer call. We have no quarrel if you opt to bid four spades with your five trumps and singleton, but we prefer the more conservative approach and invite game with a raise to three spades and pick up a partscore if partner is minimum.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A Q J 8 5 3 u A 2 v A 9 6 w 7 4
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1u Pass 1x Pass
2NT Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. You are well within the slam zone, and could make anything from 11 to 13 tricks. You need room to investigate, and the first thing is to tell partner you have a good hand with a six-card suit by rebidding three spades. No, this does not say you have a weak hand and are trying to get out. If North raises to four spades, cue-bid five diamonds.
& copy; 2004, Tribune Media Services