BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Weekly Bridge Answers

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ 8 2 uA J 5 4 3 vA K 8 w7 2

Your right-hand opponent opens the bidding with one club. What action do you take?

A. Obviously, the choice is between a takeout double and an overcall of one heart. There is too great a chance that a takeout double will lead you into a 4-3 spade fit rather than a 5-3 heart fit. We prefer one heart even though there is a slight danger that partner might not show a five-card spade suit with a bad hand and shortness in hearts.

Q. East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 8 7 6 4 u9 5 vJ 7 wA J 5 2

Partner opens the bidding with five diamonds. What do you respond?

A. Partner has pre-empted at favorable vulnerability and although you have a filler in his suit and two aces, there is no reason to think your hand will be good enough for slam. Make sure you become vulnerable, and the best chance for that is to pass.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA K Q J 7 6 5 2 u9 5 vA 8 w6

In first seat, what is your opening bid?

A. Holding the master suit and two aces, there is no reason to think you are going to be outbid, so don’t pre-empt your partner. Open one spade and try to find out if partner has the right stuff for slam without getting to the five-level.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 10 5 uK 9 8 vK 9 4 wA Q J 2

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass ?

What do you bid now?

A. There is a textbook response that describes your hand exactly. A jump to three no trump over partner’s opening bid of one of a suit shows a balanced hand of 16-18 points and a 4-3-3-3 distribution. It would be hard to find a better example, so bid three no trump.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ J 8 7 6 3 uQ 3 vJ 7 6 w10 3

Partner opens the bidding with two no trump. What do you respond?

A. We have seen better hands but we have to make do with this one. Transfer to spades and raise to game. That denies any interest beyond game. With a better hand, you’d transfer into spades and make some other bid.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xK 10 6 2 uQ J 7 6 3 v5 wA 9 7

The bidding has proceeded:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1NT 2v ?

What do you bid now?

A. When the opponents interfere in a no trump sequence your side has initiated, a cue-bid of their suit becomes the Stayman inquiry. Cue-bid three diamonds.

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