BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x9 7 6 4 uA K 4 vA 10 wA J 6 4

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2u- Pass

?

-Transfer to spades

What call would you make?

A. With four-card support, a ruffing value in diamonds, and a prime 16-point hand, a pronouncement of good news is in order. Jump to three spades.

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

xVoid uA K Q J 10 9 8 2 v8 6 2 w10 2

Partner opens one club and right-hand opponent passes. What call would you make?

A. An immediate jump to four hearts shows a purely pre-emptive hand. A better hand responds at the one level and then jumps to game at his next turn. Bid one heart.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xVoid uK 10 8 4 vA K 10 9 8 7 6 2 w4

As dealer, what call would you make?

A. You can open one diamond and try to learn something about the other hands, or open five diamonds and prevent anyone from learning anything at a low level. Both approaches have merit, but we prefer one diamond.

Q. North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

x2 uA J 10 6 vA J 6 wA Q 10 5 2

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Pass 2w Pass

2u Pass ?

What call would you make?

A. Should you and your partner play three hearts as forcing here, then that’s the bid. Most readers, we think, would only play that bid as invitational. They have a tough problem, and the best solution is probably Blackwood. Bid four no trump and drive to slam.

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

xA K Q 9 5 4 u8 4 vA 9 5 w9 4

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2w Pass

2x Pass 3NT Pass

?

What call would you make?

A. Pass, quickly. Your lovely spade suit should play quite well in no trump.

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 10 9 7 3 uQ 5 vQ 6 wA K 8 7

As dealer, what call would you make?

A. We open one no trump with a five-card major routinely, but only with 5-3-3-2 shape. Bid one spade.

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