Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:

Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A 7 6 4 u 7 v K Q 10 2 w A Q 9 5
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v 1u 1x 3u*
?
*weak
What do you bid now?
A. Your hand is worth some 18-19 points in support of spades. No matter what sort of a dog partner might have for his one spade bid, we cannot imagine a hand that doesn't offer good play for game. To bid anything less than four spades is a gross dereliction of duty.
Q. North-South vulnerable, as South you hold:
x K Q 10 6 4 u 9 5 v A K J 7 6 w A
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 1NT Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. With 17 high-card points and two good five-card suits, including the master suit, your hand is too good for a simple rebid. Jump to three diamonds, game forcing on this auction.
Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:
x J 9 5 4 u 10 6 5 v K J 3 w Q 5 2
Partner opens the bidding with one heart. What do you respond?
A. This is one of those hands where the answer is the same whether you play four- or five-card majors. A raise to two hearts sounds too forward-going on this junky 7-point holding, and we would not dream of introducing this excuse for a spade suit. That leaves only one no trump.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A 4 2 u A K 10 7 2 v Q J 2 w A 5
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 1NT Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. You are on the brink of a raise to three no trump with your balanced 18 points, but bear in mind that partner might have a bad 6 points. The wiser course is to invite game by raising to two no trump.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
x 5 u 6 3 v Q J 8 5 4 2 w A 6 5 3
Partner opens the bidding with one heart. What do you respond?
A. It is not a good idea to respond at the two-level in a shabby minor suit and sub-minimum values. Since you must bid something, the standout bid is one no trump, whether you play this forcing or not.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A Q 10 5 4 u A J 7 3 v K J w 8 4
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 2x Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. You have a reasonably good hand, and there could easily be 10 tricks if partner has help in hearts. To find out, make a game try of three hearts, but respect partner's decision should he sign off at three spades.
& copy;2004, Tribune Media Services
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