Sometimes, you have several calls that seem available by Bobby Wolff

Sometimes, you have several calls that seem available

Sometimes it is a clear matter of one or the other, like in some of today's examples. However, they are not less important than the others.

How will you fare?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A J 7 4 2
♥ 9 8
♦ 10 8 7
♣ 10 4 2

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

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

A: 2♠: Despite your limited values, your fifth spade should persuade you to compete to two spades here. It is not the job of the takeout doubler to bid his values twice. He can raise you in competition with extra shape or find some other call with extra values. But even if you are facing three spades and a minimum opening, no harm will come to you in two spades.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A 10 2
♥ Q 5
♦ A 10 8 6 4
♣ K Q 5

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

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

A: 5NT: Your partner's action shows 18-19 points or the equivalent (since he cannot hold 15-17 or he would open one no-trump, and with a balanced minimum he would pass). While you could jump to six no-trump, I think five no-trump to offer a choice of slams might get you to an eight-card minor fit. That might well play better than no-trump, given your exposed heart holding.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 5 4 3
♥ Q 10
♦ A K 9 5
♣ A 8 4 3

Q: 3 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	Pass	3♥
?

A: Pass: When faced with a marginal hand for acting over a pre-empt, the general rule is to act with shortage in the opponents' suit, and pass with length. But there are exceptions; this hand seems too light, and with a soft defensive holding in hearts, I'd rather defend. The risk of going for a penalty, or turning a plus into a minus, is just too high. Were partner not a passed hand, the decision would be harder.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A 6
♥ 10 6
♦ A 10 4 3
♣ A J 10 8 7

Q: 4 - How do you open that hand as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	Pass
?

A: 1♣: A few people (too many, in my opinion) still open one diamond with this pattern in the minors. I could grudgingly accept that that would not be entirely unreasonable with this precise shape and a very good four-card diamond suit plus weak clubs. But, generally, I prefer to open one club and rebid at no-trump (or raise a major with three trumps).

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

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

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

A: 2♠: It is a subtle point that a call of two spades, which I recommend here, should be constructive, not simply weak -- whereas if your partner had rebid two clubs, that inference would not be available. With a weak hand and no diamond fit, you can pass two diamonds here, confident that diamonds will be playable facing shortage; that safety does not exist facing a two-club rebid.

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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