BRIDGE

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A K Q 10 9 8 u J 3 2 v Void w A J 10 4
Partner opens the bidding with one diamond. What do you bid now?
A. It is never pleasant having a void in partner's suit. Still you have a very good hand and a self-sustaining suit, and the bidding will be far easier if partner knows he doesn't have to worry about the quality of his spades. Jump-shift to two spades.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
x A 10 4 u K Q 10 7 6 5 4 v Void w 7 6 2
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v Pass 1u Pass
3NT Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. Logically, this cannot show a strong, balanced hand (15-17 open 1 NT; 18-19 open 1 diamond and jump to 2 NT; 20-22 open 2 NT). It shows a long, solid diamond suit and denies heart support -- quite likely a singleton -- and has some scattered cards in the black suits. Pass.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
x A Q J 6 4 2 u A J 8 v J 9 8 w A
Your right-hand opponent opens 1 diamond. What action do you take?
A. That depends on your style. This hand is borderline between first doubling and then bidding your six-card spade, or settling for a simple overcall. We prefer the former.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
x Q J 8 u 8 6 5 4 v 10 5 w Q J 8 6
Partner opens the bidding with one spade. What do you respond?
A. That depends on style and system. If you play one-no-trump forcing, this is on the cusp of trotting out that weapon and then correcting to two spades and a direct raise to two spades. If that weapon is not in your armory, we slightly prefer the direct raise because of the ruffing value to one no trump.
Q. Not vulnerable, as South you hold:
x A 5 3 u K 8 7 5 2 v K 9 7 w Q 6
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 1x Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Normally, we would not hesitate raising partner's major-suit response with three-card support. Here, our opening bid is so poor, especially since our queen of clubs is insufficiently guarded, that we want to offer partner as little encouragement a possible. Bid one no trump.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
x K Q 7 6 3 u A 9 5 v A Q J 7 4 w Void
The bidding has proceeded:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1w 1u Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. First, don't even think of bidding one spade. The right way to tackle this hand is to start with a cue-bid of two clubs.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services