BRIDGE

Q. Neither vulnerable, you hold:
x A K J 5 u 10 2 v K J 8 5 2 w 9 3
Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one heart. What action do you take?
A. An overcall of one spade has two advantages. It gets partner off to the best lead if he must attack and, if he has a good hand, four spades is your most likely game contract.
Q. Not vulnerable, as South you hold:
x 7 u K 9 6 5 v A K 2 w A 10 9 8 3
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1x Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. You are faced with rebidding either a poorish five-card minor or an off-shape one no trump. We opt for the former.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x 8 7 5 4 u K 9 7 v Q J 4 2 w A 6
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w Pass 1v Pass
1x Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. You can now make an invitational jump raise to three spades. If partner makes a move toward slam, your ace in his first-bid suit makes your hand worth a forward-going bid.
Q. Both vulnerable, a South you hold:
x J 10 u J 10 8 5 3 2 v 7 w A K Q 2
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
Pass 2x * ?
*weak
What action do you take?
A. Had the opening bid been in first seat, you should consider some action. But here, partner is a passed hand and left-hand opponent is not, so it becomes more risky to bid. Pass.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x J 10 u Q 9 8 6 v A J 4 2 w 8 5 2
After two passes, partner opens one club. What do you respond?
A. Had partner been in first seat rather than third, you would respond one diamond, giving partner the chance to bid a four-card heart suit if he has one. Here, however, partner might pass your one-level response, so it is important to get your major-suit into the auction. Respond one heart.
Q. Both vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A 9 8 u J 7 v A 10 7 6 3 w 9 6 5
Partner opens the bidding with one spade. What do you respond?
A. Your choice lies between one no trump and two spades. We prefer the raise.
XThis column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services
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