"Simple" situations by Bobby Wolff

The art of bidding does not only lie in complex competitive auctions.

Sometimes you may not be quite sure what to do in what seem to be "simple" situations.

Will you get full 100% on these five?

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - What do you answer as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1NT	Pass
?

A: 3NT: I cannot tell you that Stayman here is a bad bid, or that it will not work. It is indeed the normal (if unthinking) thing to do. But consider that if you play a 4-4 heart fit, it might be the only game you cannot make if partner has bad hearts or if the suit does not break. With honors in your short suits and a side source of tricks, I suggest jumping to three no-trump, which gives away far less about declarer's shape.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 8 2
♥ A 10 4
♦ Q J 10 8 7 3
♣ A Q

Q: 2 - What do you answer as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1NT	Pass
?

A: 2NT: Did you -- like Walter the Walrus -- count to 13 points and decide to bid three no-trump? You have ignored the extras in distribution this hand has. (Imagine partner has the spade ace, the diamond ace-king, and four clubs to the king-jack; that is 12 tricks facing a minimum 15 points.) Instead, transfer to diamonds or force with three diamonds if those are your methods, intending to invite slam later.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 7
♥ 8 6 4
♦ A K 7 4 2
♣ A Q 7 6

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

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

A: 2NT: Time to stand up and be counted: Are you going to rebid two no-trump without a stopper or rebid diamonds (strongly suggesting six, or five with better suit intermediates than this)? I'll go for two no-trump; yes, this may wrong-side no-trump, but it may also be the best way to get to three no-trump when it is the only game we can make.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

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

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

A: 2NT: Since your partner will often be obliged to rebid two hearts on a five-card suit here, you cannot guarantee an eight-card fit. It feels right to make a non-forcing call of two no-trump rather than raising to three hearts. You are likely to be able to get back to hearts if that is where you belong.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - What do you answer as South?

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	1♠	Pass
?

A: 2NT: Everyone ought to have a way to support their partner's major and set up a forcing auction. It may not be the only way to do so, but the simplest approach is to use the response of two no-trump to a major as a forcing raise. In response, opener shows shortness, jumps to game with a balanced minimum, rebids his major or three no-trump with extras, or bids a strong five-card side suit at the four level.

Your result so far:

Open Question

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