Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:

Q. As South, vulnerable, you hold:
A J 9 8 A 7 6 2 A 7 7 5 4
As dealer, what's your opening bid?
A. If you play four-card majors, we have a slight preference for opening one heart rather than one spade, but that's one of our peculiarities.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
J 4 2 9 10 8 5 2 K J 7 6 2
Partner opens one no trump (15-17). What do you respond?
A. With a bad 5 points, what would you like to do? Clubs might be a better spot, but there's no way you can stop at two clubs. Pass.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
J 7 6 Q 8 K 6 3 A Q 10 7 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A. It is a choice between two no trump and three diamonds. We prefer the latter for two reasons: Since partner knows we have a source of tricks, it makes it easier for him to bid game with stoppers in the majors; and if there is no game, three diamonds rates to be the safer contract.
Q. Neither vulnerable, as South you hold:
7 6 3 K Q J 7 9 3 A K Q 7
The bidding has proceeded:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1 Pass 3NT ?
What action do you take?
A. There is no reason to suppose that you have a playable spot or, although you are on lead, that there is any certainty that you can defeat the no-trump game, even if you start with four club tricks. Pass.
Q. As South vulnerable, you hold:
A 7 3 A K 10 K J 9 8 4 3 6
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 Pass 2 Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A. Bid a quiet two diamonds now to see how partner reacts.
Q. Vulnerable, you hold:
A 8 A K 8 5 4 K 8 3 Q 9 6
What is your opening bid?
A. There are those who do not believe in opening one no trump when holding a five-card major. As far as we are concerned, this balanced 16 points looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, so we think it is a duck. Bid one no trump.
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. Send e-mail to gorenbridge@aol.com.
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