Fits by the opener by Matthias Huberschwiller

You have opened, your partner has answered One in a major and you have four-card support.

You need to show your fit and your zone of points.

Let’s say that you have opened 1♣ and that he has answered 1♠.

1♣ – 1♠
2♠: fit in Spades (at least 3 cards) and 12-14.
3♠: fit in Spades, 15-17 and a singleton (otherwise you would have opened 1NT)
4♠: fit in Spades, 18-19 without a singleton
4♦: fit in Spades, 18-19, singleton Diamond (Splinter)
4♥: fit in Spades, 18-19, singleton Heart (Splinter)

Question 1

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

Q: 1 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	1♥	Pass
?

A: 3♥ – You have a hand with intermediate strength (too much to bid 2♥, but not enough to bid game directly.)

By showing your support at the three-level, you show that you have a hand with the strength of a NT opening but with irregular distribution as you have opened 1♣.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♥	Pass
?

A: 3♠ – This time, you have a hand that is too strong to invite partner.

As you have a singleton, rather than bid game directly, you need to make a splinter bid and see if partner is interested in playing slam. The Spade splinter is done at the three-level in order to stay under 4♥.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A K J 4
♥ K J 8
♦ A 10 9 8 3 2
♣

Q: 3 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
?

A: 4♣ – It is true that you only have 16HCP, but the distribution makes your hand too strong to merely bid 3♠.
With a void and a six-card suit, you want to play at least 4♠ and you need to describe your hand by bidding a splinter.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	4♣ *	Pass
?

* Splinter, 18-19

A: 4♦ – Your partner’s splinter is very welcome: You have no lost points opposite the singleton and a wonderful fit in his first suit.

Careful, as you have no Spade control, you need to show interest in bidding slam by bidding your Diamond control.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠	Pass	4♦ *	Pass
?

* Splinter, 18-19

A: 4♠ – You do have the same number of HCP as in the previous deal, and even a singleton, but your hand is a lot less beautiful.

Indeed, most of your points are useless as they are in the suit where partner has a singleton. Therefore, you need to stop in game.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 6

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

Q: 6 - What do you bid as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠	Pass	3♠	Pass
?

A: Pass – Partner’s jump to 3♠ is non-forcing, it shows a hand with 15-17 and irregular distribution.

With a minimum hand, you need to pass.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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