An exact science by Bobby Wolff

Bidding is not always an exact science, especially when the opponents get into the game.

There are, however, always reasons for giving preference to one bid or the other - and sometimes the decision should be easy, sometimes maybe not so.

What will it be in these five examples?

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - How do you open that hand as South?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2NT: One of the old wives' tales that still circulates from time to time is that a two-no-trump opener must have every suit properly guarded. The problem is that the only way to show a balanced 21-count is to open two no-trump. If you do anything else, you cannot accurately describe your hand at your second turn.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 10 9 3
♥ Q J 4 3
♦ Q 8 4
♣ Q 10 6

Q: 2 - What is your call as South?

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

A: Pass: Facing a direct double, you would bid two hearts now; but the range for a balancing double is somewhat lower, so a free bid here should be a slightly better hand than this. You can pass, relying on your partner to reopen if he has real extras. If the opponents go back to two diamonds, you can balance with two hearts. I'd bid two hearts with the heart king instead of the queen, so it is very close.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 10 7 2
♥ 10 9 2
♦ Q J 10 9 6
♣ A 6

Q: 3 - What is your call as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	1♥
?

A: 2♦: Had the opponents not bid, your hand would have fallen very awkwardly into a gray area. It is unsuitable for an inverted raise or a pre-emptive jump raise, with a one-no-trump call being right on values but wrong in every other way. Here, though, you can raise to two diamonds and plan to bid on to three diamonds, if necessary.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ Q J 7 4 2
♥ 7 2
♦ Q 10 3
♣ A 10 5

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

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

A: 2♥: When you have decent values in this position, you should consider giving false preference to two hearts. The logic is that the 5-2 heart fit may play better than a possible 4-3 club fit. But more importantly, when partner has extras, you want to keep the auction open to let him try for game. With the club queen instead of the ace, you might pass two clubs.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ J 10 9
♥ A K 7 4 2
♦ 8 6
♣ 9 7 4

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

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

A: 1NT: Your partner rates to be relatively short in both majors, so I can see some logic in raising to two clubs as opposed to rebidding one no-trump. Nonetheless, I think the one no-trump call suggests your values nicely, and lets partner rebid two clubs, if appropriate. He surely won't have six clubs, will he?

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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