Daily Bidding Questions by Frank Stewart

A: Pass: Partner's 2NT is an effort to reach game and asks for your opinion. You would jump to four hearts with A 6 4 2, A 7 3, 10 9 7 6 4, 6 or raise to 3NT with 10 6 2, Q 7 3, K 10 9 7, K 7 6. With your actual hand, either a pass or a return to three hearts might be a winning action, but since your values are minimum, you must stay below game.

Your result so far:

A: 1NT: Any second bid will tell at least a white lie, but a bid of two hearts would be a whopper; as a "reverse" it would promise great strength. A rebid of two clubs would suggest a six-card suit but would be the choice of some players. Bid 1NT, which has the advantage of getting you to hearts if partner has K 6 5 4 2, J 8 4 2, A 4 3, 3.

Your result so far:

A: 3♥: Partner has six or more cards in hearts. With 2-5-3-3 pattern, he would have bid 1NT. With four cards in a minor, he would have bid it. Raise to three hearts to invite game. A bid of three clubs would be forcing and would commit you to game even if partner has minimum opening values.


Your result so far:

A: 5♦: You had super-maximum values for your rebid of two diamonds, hence you must continue. A leap to five diamonds might work. Since 3NT (or six diamonds if partner has a perfect hand such as K 9 7 6 4, 3, K 8 2, A 7 6 3) might be best, an option is a probing bid of three hearts.

Your result so far:

A: 4NT: Partner suggests six or more diamonds. He promises no more than about 10 points in high cards, although he may have more. Bid 4NT, Blackwood, intending to bid six diamonds if he admits to an ace, or seven diamonds if he has two. Partner may hold K74, 6, AQJ1073, 765.

Your result so far: