Q. Vulnerable, you hold:

Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
x K Q J 5 2 u A K 5 v A K w J 10 4
What is your opening bid?
A. You have a balanced hand with 21 points so forget any inhibitions about opening no trump when you hold a five-card major and open two no trump.
Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:
x A K Q 10 4 u Q J 10 7 6 5 4 v K w Void
What is your opening bid?
A. With a two-card discrepancy in length, we prefer opening one heart and then reversing in spades.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x A K 9 6 5 2 u A 7 5 v 4 w A 10 9
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1x Pass
2v Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. In the modern style, your hand is not suitable for a jump shift response, and that has created an awkward situation. You have no convenient spade rebid to show your strength and shape, so you must manufacture a forcing rebid. Bid three clubs.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A 10 9 8 5 4u K 8 7 5 3 v 10 9 w Void
The bidding has proceeded:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1NT 2w* 3NT Pass
Pass ?
* majors
What action do you take?
A. You have described your hand and partner has decided he wants no part of it. If you bid now, at least you will be able to plead temporary insanity after the likely bloodbath.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x K Q 10 9 5 3 u 4 v 7 w K Q 9 7 6
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Dbl Rdbl 2u
?
What action do you take?
A. North's redouble asks you to let the bidding come round to him. However, would you really want to defend two hearts doubled? Bid three clubs now. That shows a weak two-suiter and partner will know how to react.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x J 7 5 u A 7 6 2 v 8 3 w Q 9 5 2
The bidding has proceeded:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1u 1x Pass ?
What action do you take?
A. How did this one slip in? You have three-card support for partner's suit, an ace, a queen and a ruffing value in diamonds. To do anything other than raise to two spades would be a breach of trust in partner.
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
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