Bid with Barry by Barry Rigal

Five more problems for opener in the uncontested auction. Determining what is forcing and what is not is an issue that confronts us all on an almost daily basis. As responder we all tend to rely on the crutches of fourth-suit forcing or new-minor to set up a game-force. It is not so easy for declarer, who may not want to make a jump shift and use up valuable space.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q J 10 5 3
♥ 2
♦ A 4
♣ A J 9 8 2

Q: 1 - As South, what do you bid next?

South	West	North	East
1♠	p	1 No-trump	p
2♣	p	2♦	p
?

A: Pass, happily. Partner has shown a weak hand with a long diamond suit. You should be grateful to have two-card support for him and a ruffing value, in the knowledge that you are at least in a trump suit where you have the majority of cards!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A K
♥ J 4 3
♦ Q 6 5
♣ Q J 10 9 7

Q: 2 - As South, what do you bid?

South	West	North	East
1♣	p	1♠	p
1 No-trump	p	4 No-trumps	p
?

A: Jump to 6♣. You have enough (in the context of having previously shown 12-14 balanced) to bid slam over the quantitative call of four no-trump. En route to six no-trump, offer clubs as an alternative destination – partner can always retreat to six no-trump if he wants.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A 7 5 3
♥ 4
♦ A K 8 5 4
♣ 10 7 2

Q: 3 - As South, what do you bid next?

South	West	North	East
1♦	p	1♥	p
1♠	p	3♥	p
?

A: Pass. Partner has invited game, with a six-card suit and 10-11 points. You may regret having opened the hand – but you will only make matters worse by trying three no-trump, or looking for somewhere else to play. Pass and accept your minus – and apologize as you put down dummy!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A Q 10 3
♥ A K 6 3 2
♦ J 7
♣ 6 2

Q: 4 - As South, what do you rebid?

South	West	North	East
1♥	p	1♠	p
?

A: Jump to 3♠. You may be a little light on high-cards, but your excellent trumps and good controls make this the value bid. After all, game might make facing as little as an ace and five spades to the king!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ J 9
♥ A 7 6 4
♦ A K J 9 6
♣ 7 6

Q: 5 - As South, what is your next bid?

South	West	North	East
1♦	p	1♠	p
?

A: Bid 2♦. Normally rebidding your suit shows six, but with a really good five-card suit and no sensible alternatives, the suit rebid is permitted on five. Bidding one no-trump with a small doubleton club seems wrong, and raising spades is out -- so what else can one do, since two hearts shows real extra values?

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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