Christmas Time by Matthias Huberschwiller

Christmas is approaching, so we will look at "Christmas Slams". The ones you can make with very few points, but the right points.

Can you make your way through the bidding before opening your Christmas presents?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A 9 6 5 2
♥ K 8 6 2
♦ 6
♣ K J 4

Q: 1 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	Pass
?

A: 4♦ - This is a Splinter bid.

When you make a double jump, it shows a hand worthy of game, with at least four-card support and a singleton in the suit you've bid.

This will help your partner to evaluate his hand, knowing if his points are useful or not.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K J 6 3
♥ A K 4
♦ K Q 9 6 2
♣ 2

Q: 2 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	Pass
?

A: 2♦ - You have the right shape for a Splinter... but not the right amount of points. You are way too strong, so you need to bid a new suit first.

Remember, a Splinter bid shows a game-worthy hand, no more than that.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A K 9 6 5 2
♥ A 5
♦ 7 6 5 2
♣ A

Q: 3 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	4♦	Pass
?

A: 4 NT - This is a perfect hand opposite your partner's Splinter.

You only have about 25 HCPs between your hands but they're working perfectly together. You will be able to ruff all your Diamond losers since you know your partner has a singleton there.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	4♣	Pass
?

A: 4♥ - This time you have 20 points! But you can't go to slam. This hand is almost worthless opposite your partner's Splinter.

You have so many losers and your Club honors are worth nothing. You need to stop in 4♥.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 6
♥ A 9 6 2
♦ 7 3 2
♣ A Q 6 4 2

Q: 5 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	Pass
3♠	Pass	4♣	Pass
?

A: 4♥ - The Spade Splinter after the 1♥ opening is at the 3-level, so as to not go past the game level.

Your partner wants to go to slam, but as he has shown a control he must be missing one. You have a Spade control and he has a Club control. Therefore you must be missing a Diamond control. You can't bid anything other than 4♥, or you'd be showing a Diamond control.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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