Bidding Quiz: Major-suit Game Tries by David

A: 2♠. You have six losers and a strong 6-card trump suit. A game is possible, but a 4♥ rebid would be an overbid.

You would like to invite a game. To assist your partner in judging whether to accept the game try, it is best to say where you need some help. Here, you face a possible three losers in spades and would like some assistance there. You therefore bid 2♠.

A bid of 3♥ would not be a game try. It would be a shut-out bid on a hand of minimum strength but good shape, where you wanted to deter competition.

Your result so far:

A: 3♥. You have a respectable singe raise: 8 HCPs and 4-card trump support. However, you have the worst possible holding in spades, the suit where partner needs some assistance. You should therefore decline the game try, rebidding 3♥.

____________________♠ 10 5 4 2
____________________♥ K 10 8 5
____________________♦ A 9
____________________♣ J 7 5

____________________♠ J 8 3
____________________♥ A Q J 7 6 2
____________________♦ K 8
____________________♣ A 3

You can expect to lose three spades and a club, as you can see.

Your result so far:

A: 4♥. This time, you hold only 7 HCP, but you have a very helpful holding in spades, the game try suit. Partner will be able to ruff one or more spade losers in the dummy. You should therefore accept the game try, rebidding 4♥.

____________________♠ 10 5
____________________♥ K 10 8 5
____________________♦ A 9 2
____________________♣ 9 7 5 2

____________________♠ J 8 3
____________________♥ A Q J 7 6 2
____________________♦ K 8
____________________♣ A 3

You can expect to lose two spades and a club, making the game.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣. Although you have 12 HCP, the ♠Q is not worth two points and could be worth nothing. You should make a game try bid of 3♣, showing the suit where you need some help. If partner can bid only 3♥, you will pass on the next round.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. Although your partner bid only 2♥ (instead of the stronger action of 2♣ to show a sounder raise), there is still a chance of game. You should make a 3♦ game try, telling partner that you need some assistance in diamonds.

Your result so far:

A: 2NT. This is your most accurate rebid. You're showing around 11-12 points with stoppers in both the red suits. For one thing, occasionally your partner will have raised to 2♠ with only 3-card support.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. You are worth a jump raise to 3♠, but it is more accurate and helpful to make a mini-splinter of 3♦.

What does this mean? It shows a raise to 3♠ including at most one diamond. Since a reverse bid of 2♦ would be natural and forcing, there is no need for 3♦ to be natural.

Your result so far: