Do you have a weak hand or a strong hand? by Bobby Wolff

Do you think that you have a weak hand or a strong hand after the given bidding sequence?

Should you force partner?

Or is an invite or even a weak bid enough?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q
♥ K 10 8 6
♦ Q 9 6 4
♣ A 10 8 4

Q: 1 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
Pass	1♠	Pass	1NT
?

A: Double: With this hand, your action should be the same whether you are a passed or unpassed hand. (In one case you are stretching slightly, and in the other case you have a maximum for your call). Double one no-trump, showing a hand short in spades, playable in the other three suits. This is a rare auction where a double of no-trump is for takeout.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A 5 2
♥ A K J 3
♦ K J 10
♣ A J 9

Q: 2 - What do you bid next as South?

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	Pass	1♣
Double	Pass	1♦	Pass
?

A: 2NT: It would be easy but over-hasty to jump to three no-trump now. This is an auction where, having doubled initially, a call of one no-trump shows more than a strong no-trump. (Of course, with less than a strong no-trump, you would pass at your second turn to speak.) That being so, a jump to two no-trump now shows 21-22 -- perfect.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 7 5
♥ J 4
♦ K Q 9 8 7 2
♣ A 6 3

Q: 3 - What do you bid next as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	Pass
2♦	Pass	2♥	Pass
?

A: 3♣: Having opened two diamonds -- an action I wholeheartedly agree with when vulnerable or in second seat -- your hand is far too strong to rebid a discouraging three diamonds. I'd invent a second suit of clubs, feeling that the call would not guarantee four of the suit, but would be consistent with a hand of this nature.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 8 5
♥ A K 8 4 3
♦ 7 4
♣ A K 9 7

Q: 4 - What do you bid next as South?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♣	Pass	Pass	2♦
?

A: Pass: While you have a nice hand in terms of controls, you have very few real extras, and nothing more than you promised in terms of shape. Although you would like to find a way to compete, you have no obvious way forward; so pass, and wait for partner to bid on if he can.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ J 9 4
♥ J 10 9 3
♦ A 4
♣ K Q 5 2

Q: 5 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	1♠	Double
?

A: Redouble: While you could invite in spades immediately, this hand looks closer to a defensive hand with incidental spade support than a raise. I would redouble initially, planning to raise spades on my next turn. This gets my values across at once and allows me to show the support later. Since our side has the boss suit, we cannot easily be pre-empted out of it.

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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Overall Results

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