Q. Both vulnerable, you hold:

Q. Both vulnerable, you hold:
A K Q 10 2 7 A K J 5 3 9 5
Partner opens the bidding with one heart. What do you respond?
A. If you are not yet in the 21st century, by all means jump to two spades and then bid diamonds next.
Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
A 9 3 7 2 A K J 6 2 10 7 6
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 1 Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. This is partly a matter of style. There are those who believe that you should not raise partner's one-level response without four-card support. They will bid two diamonds and then have a problem if partner now bids two hearts. We do not like placing such a restriction on opener, and we would raise to two spades immediately. If there is game in the hand, spades is the most likely strain.
Q. Vulnerable, as South you hold:
8 5 A K Q 7 3 A J 8 5 4 8
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 1 Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Bid two diamonds. Unless partner can move over that, you won't be missing a game.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
K J 7 3 8 7 2 A K Q 7 8 2
The bidding had proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 1 2 Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Bid two no trump. Won't you be thrilled with your choice should partner raise to three no trump?
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
Q 8 7 2 9 5 A Q 5 4 8 6 5
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 2 Pass
3 Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. You have a near-maximum raise to two spades, so tell partner you have that and values in diamonds by bidding three diamonds.
Q. Vulnerable, as South you hold:
J 7 9 6 5 7 5 4 2 A J 8 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 1NT Pass
2 Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. A direct raise to three hearts is a game force. Your hand is on the border between these two courses and, while we would force to game with the direct raise, we don't fault you if you take the pessimistic view and bid two no trump.
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services
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