Q. Vulnerable, you hold:

Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
8 3 K 9 3 K Q 10 7 6 Q 7 5
Partner opens the bidding with one no trump. What do you respond?
A. There is no reason to expect an 11-trick suit contract to be easier or safer than nine tricks at no trump. You have game-going values, so bid three no trump.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
K Q 10 7 6 8 3 Q 7 4 K 10 7
Partner opens the bidding with one no trump. What do you respond?
A. If you play transfer bids, transfer into spades and jump to three no trump to show game-going values with a balanced hand and five spades. If not, jump to three spades and let partner decide.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
J 6 5 Q J 7 5 3 8 A 10 7 5
Partner opens the bidding with one no trump. What do you respond?
A. Start with a Stayman two clubs. If partner responds two diamonds, bid two hearts to show invitational values and five hearts If you play transfer bids, we prefer transferring and then bidding two no trump with a more balanced hand (5-3-3-2) and would still go via the Stayman route.
Q. Vulnerable, As South you hold:
J 10 7 6 A 8 7 4 9 A Q 7 6
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
Pass Pass 1 Pass
1 Pass ?
What action do you take?
A. Raise to two hearts, if only for its pre-emptive value.
Q. East-West vulnerable, as South you hold:
Q 10 7 6 8 5 4 10 9 2 K 8 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Dbl ?
What action do you take?
A. At this vulnerability, we like the pre-emptive value of the master suit and so would bid one spade to steal some of the opponents' bidding room.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
A K 8 Q J 7 6 8 7 6 9 5 4
Partner opens the bidding with one heart. What do you respond?
A. If you play limit raises, you have no problem. Your two quick tricks and trump support merit a jump to three hearts despite your flat hand. If that weapon is not in your arsenal, make the slight underbid of two hearts and hope partner can bid again.
This 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
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