"Plain Jane" - Potpourri of Bidding Challenges by Marti Ronemus

Less experienced players often think that if they could just learn a few more conventions, their game would improve geometrically. Well, it just isn't so.

Bobby Darin knew the reality in 1958 when he recorded "Plain Jane." At least 85% of auctions only require us to have a solid grip on basic fundamentals. Let's take a look at some "Plain Jane" bidding sequences.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q J 10 9
♥ K Q 10 5
♦ Q 9
♣ 8 6 5

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1 No-trump	Pass
2♣*	Double***	2♠	Pass
?

**Stayman: "Do you have a four-card major?"
***Lead Directing Double. Usually, the double of an artificial bid (like Stayman) is for lead direction.

A: 4♠: Pard showed 15-17 points with his opening bid. Opposite that, we've got game-going values. We found our major suit fit. We don't need any more information so we place the contract.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ Q J 10 9
♥ K Q 10 5
♦ Q 9
♣ 8 6 5

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	Pass
?

A: 3♠: We have the same hand, but this time Pard opens 1♠. We need to make a Plain Jane limit raise, showing 10-12 points and usually four pieces of trump.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K Q 9 5 4
♥ 8 7
♦ A Q 9
♣ K 8 4

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♦	Pass
?

A: 3♦: We don't need to get fancy here. We can't rebid our Spades, as that would promise six. We hold a No-trump shape, so we could bid 2 No-trump. But holding two honors and an honorette in Pard's bid suit, why not show him a little support first? We like raising Diamonds. If we had a Heart stopper, No-trump would be our first choice.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K Q 9 5 4
♥ 8 7
♦ A Q 9
♣ K 8 4

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♥	Pass
?

A: 2 No-trump: Same hand, but this time, Pard has bid 2♥. Knowing that the Hearts are covered, and knowing we (most likely) don't have an eight card major suit fit, we're going to limit our hand by bidding 2 No-trump. Pard will know we have a minimum opener with stoppers in the unbid suits. Now it's his problem.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K Q 9 5 4
♥ 8 7
♦ A Q 9
♣ K 8 4

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	2♠	Pass
?

A: Pass: Pard limits his hand with his 2♠ bid. Even if he is at the max of 9 points, we aren't going anywhere. "Plain Jane" bidding requires that we be able to Do the Math. We do it, and we pass.

And now, how about a not-so Plain Jane hand?

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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