BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Q. Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 5 uK 8 5 vJ 4 2 wK 9 8 5 3

Three passes to you. Do you open or don’t you?

A. Some want a little ”extra” to open in fourth seat, but we don’t. If you want partner to pass 11’s and flat 12’s in second position, you must open with this hand. Bid one club.

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

xK 10 u9 5 4 v7 5 2 wA Q 10 9 7

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Pass 1NT Pass

2u Pass ?

What call would you make?

A. We like two spades because it gives partner a chance to bid again. Should he bid two no trump or three hearts or three spades, we’ll raise to game. None of that can happen if we pass two hearts.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xA 10 9 8 uQ 8 7 3 2 vA Q 9 w9

With the opponents passing, you open one heart and partner responds one no trump. What call would you make?

A. If one no trump is forcing, you have to bid and the correct bid is two diamonds. Just pass if it isn’t forcing.

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

xK 6 4 2 uJ 10 8 5 3 vK 10 4 w10

Partner opens one diamond and right-hand opponent bids one spade. What call would you make?

A. Start by making a negative double. That probably won’t get you to hearts unless partner has four of them, but it might get you to game if he does.

Q. Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

xK 4 2 uQ 5 2 vK Q 6 wK J 10 4

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1x Pass

1NT Pass 2w Pass

?

What call would you make?

A. We would pass at any form of scoring except matchpoints, where we would bid two spades in the hope of getting a higher score. Pass is the ”bridge” bid.

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

xQ 10 8 4 u7 5 4 vK 4 wA Q 10 7

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Pass Pass 1v Pass

?

What call would you make?

A. When we learned to play long ago, you were expected to jump to two spades with this hand to show a near opener. Those days are long gone. Just bid one spade.

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