Reverses Part 2 by Paul Bowyer

A: 3♥. This is a massive hand after partner has forced to game. 2♠ is a reverse, showing 16 points and you have 15 points, stuffed with useful controls. This hand may well be worth a slam but you cannot underwrite it. Best is to bid a quiet but forcing 3♥ and see what North does next. You may be sure that he will not Pass!

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. This is a close-to-minimum two-level response and should be offering no slam suggestions. As your side is committed to game you should bid it as quickly as possible. This is known as "the principle of fast arrival". The faster you bid game, the less you are interested in bidding beyond it.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. This is a sign-off, showing a heap. Partner has reversed, showing a good hand, but you have peanuts. Your 3♦ is an attempt to play there and North should give serious consideration to Passing it. Now, it is essential to understand the difference between preference following a one-level response (as here), which shows garbage, and preference following a two-level response, which shows a fine hand.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. This is another application of the "principle of fast arrival". By jumping to game you are showing no ambition beyond it and are attempting to dampen partner's ardour. You obviously must have a secure holding in Diamonds (the unbid suit) to justify bidding No-trumps.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT. A difficult answer if you haven't seen this type of problem before. Remember, that neither of you can Pass until game is reached so 2NT (and any other non-game bid) cannot end the auction. 2NT is a waiting bid, waiting to see if partner's next bid will clarify matters. With 16 points a slam may well be in the offing - but where? Let's take it slowly and find out.

Your result so far:

A: Pass. Partner is telling you that he doesn't want to know. His 4♥ is an application of the "principle of fast arrival" - you can expect three trumps opposite but a minimum for a two-level response. When partner tells you to shut up it is often wise to heed the advice.

Your result so far:

A: 6♥. Well, there's no point in the ritual of Blackwood here (what use is knowing if North has the ♣A or not?) but it seems to us that you are always going to bid (at least) 6♥ on this deal. You might make a grand slam, it is true, but finding out if partner has the precise cards is difficult. Anyway, 3♥ is a strong bid from North and you (with a massive 19 points) have to have a bash at a slam

Your result so far:

A: Pass. Partner is telling you that he has Diamonds securely held but also that doesn't want to know about a slam. His 3NT is yet another application of the "principle of fast arrival" - you can expect North to hold a minimum for a two-level response. Once again, when partner tells you to shut up it is often wise to heed the advice.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣. Partner has made a (forcing) waiting bid - waiting for us to tell him what we have got. Well, we can complete the description of our hand by showing secondary Club support. 3♣ shows that we quite like partner's suit and suggests our actual hand pattern (4.5.1.3). Whether this information is of any interest to partner is another matter.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. You might have raised Hearts on the previous round (1♠ - 2♥ shows five of them). As it is you made the reasonable choice to make a "high reverse" of 3♦, forcing to game. Although partner has tried to sign-off in 3NT it would be wrong to conceal the Heart support. 4♥ suggests your actual shape (5.3.4.1) and allows North to bid on to a slam should he so wish.



Your result so far: