Bidding is about many things by Bobby Wolff

Bidding is about many things. Sometimes you have to decide if you want to play slam or not, sometimes it is just about finding the right part-score.
Test your skills in these five examples.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 3
♥ K Q J 7 5
♦ K J 5 3
♣ A 6 3

Q: 1 - What do you bid next as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	Pass
2♥	Pass	3♦	Pass
?

A: 4♦: Tempting as it might be to use Blackwood, you are a long way short of a decent slam if partner has a minimum hand. A simple raise to four diamonds is irreproachable; you should also be able to bid four clubs as a cue-bid for diamonds. (If you had hearts and clubs you would just bid three no-trump now.) Either way, if partner does not cooperate, you can settle for five diamonds.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

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

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
2NT	Pass	4NT	Pass
?

A: 5NT: You have an easy acceptance of the invitation but no idea which slam is best. The easiest way to get partner to choose between diamonds, spades and no-trump is to bid five no-trump here. This is not a buck-passing, nonforcing action. It asks partner to offer his ideas of a suitable slam up the line, and you will then offer yours or pass his suggestion if it meets with your approval.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 5
♥ 10 2
♦ 9 8 5 4 2
♣ 10 9 8 6 3

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

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	Pass
Pass	2♥	Double	Pass
?

A: 2NT: Once you pass your partner's opening bid, you cannot have enough values to want to play no-trump. Accordingly, you can bid two no-trump to get your partner to pick his better minor. It is a general principle that a limited hand that hasn't tried to play no-trump can't suddenly change its mind in response to a double. Such no-trump calls almost always suggest two places to play.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

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

South	West	North	East
-	1♦	1NT	Double
?

A: Pass: It is normally correct to run from one no-trump doubled when you know your side has the minority of high-cards. That is not so here, and with your values in the only suit that the opponents have shown, you have no particular reason to be afraid of any suit. Pass, and allow your partner to decide whether to run or not.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K 5
♥ A 8 6 5
♦ 7 6 4
♣ 8 6 5 4

Q: 5 - What do you bid next as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♥	1♠	2♦	Pass
?

A: 3♣: Partner's reverse to two diamonds (forcing you to give preference at the three-level) shows extras. Now should you bid two no-trump to protect your spade king, or give preference to three clubs, allowing partner to look for no-trump himself? I prefer the latter -- which I'd play as forcing in a noncompetitive auction. Showing your four-card support may be critical to partner's plans.

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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