BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xQ 3 2 uA 10 4 vA Q 9 6 wQ J 7

Partner opens one no trump, 15-17. What call would you make?

A. You can’t possibly have 33 combined points, and an invitational four-no-trump bid might get you to slam with only 31 combined points. Bid three no trump.

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

xJ 10 3 u7 3 vA Q 7 6 wA Q 10 4

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1x Pass

?

What call would you make?

A. This is an easy one. Bid two spades. That’s a much better bid than one no trump.

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

x2 uA Q 9 v8 7 5 3 wA Q J 6 3

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1x Pass

?

What call would you make?

A. One no trump would show 12-14 and two diamonds would show 17 or more. This is one of the rare occasions where it is right to rebid a five-card suit. Bid two clubs.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xK uQ 10 9 7 6 vA Q 2 wK J 9 5

Partner opens two spades, weak. What call would you make?

A. There are hands for partner that will produce a game with this dummy, but you are likely to go minus looking for such a hand. Pass and hope they balance.

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

xQ 9 3 u8 6 3 vA K Q J 10 7 4 wVoid

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w 1v 1x Pass

2w ?

What call would you make?

A. They are not going to let you play in two diamonds and you are not going to let them play in less than three diamonds. Get there now. Bid three diamonds.

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

xA J 10 uA K 9 4 vA 4 wA Q 8 4

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2NT- Pass

?

-8-10, no five-card major

What call would you make?

A. As in question 1, you can’t have as many as 33 combined points. We would not criticize a partner who bid a quantitative four no trump, but we like three no trump.

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