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 Third-seat Openers by David Bird

Whether or not you should open the bidding depends, to some extent, on which seat you are in. In this quiz, we will look at 'opening in the third seat'.

You know then that the first two players hold relatively weak hands, not good enough to justify an opening bid. If you also have a weak hand, you will suspect that the opponent on your left has a strong hand. You will therefore want to make life more difficult for him.

Question 1

  Your Hand
♠ K 10 9 6 4
♥ A 2
♦ Q 9 8 2
♣ 7 3 		 
Q: 1 - After two passes, you have to decide what action to take in the third seat. What will it be?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 1♠. You would not open in the first two seats on this hand. In the third seat, you should venture a 1♠ opening. It will then be more difficult for LHO to express his hand accurately. If instead you pass, he will have opening bids of 1♣, 1♦ and 1♥ at his disposal.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 2

  Your Hand
♠ 6 4
♥ K Q J 9 7 2
♦ 10 9 3
♣ 8 2 		 
Q: 2 - Both sides are non-vulnerable, and the two players in front of you pass. What will you say?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3♥. In the first two seats, you would open a straightforward 2♥. In the third seat, you must consider that you hold a hand that will make a likely five tricks if you choose trumps. If the opponents choose trumps, you might make no tricks at all. This is the test to check whether your hand is suitable for pre-emption.

An opening bid of 3♥ will pose a bigger problem than 2♥ would, to opponents who you have every reason to expect can make a good contract somewhere.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 3

  Your Hand
♠ A 9 7 2
♥ K 2
♦ J 9 7 6 2
♣ J 3 		 
Q: 3 - Surprise, surprise, the two players before you both pass. What will your action be in third seat?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: Pass. Opening 1♦ does not have much going for it. You cut out only one opening bid from your LHO (1♣). Also, you will not make life that difficult for him by opening with such a low bid. With a borderline opening one-bid, look at the strength of your suit. Is it one that you would like your partner to lead?

You should discount 2♦ (a weak two) because your suit is very weak and you have two defensive high cards. The difference between your playing strength and your defensive strength is not that great.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 4

  Your Hand
♠ Q J 9 8 6 5 3 2
♥ 6 4
♦ 10 3
♣ J 		 
Q: 4 - Only your opponents are vulnerable and you are surprised to hear two passes in front of you. What will you say?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 4♠. No lower bid is acceptable. There is a huge difference between your playing strength and your defense. Your LHO will hold a great hand. Just imagine how annoyed he will be when you open 4♠!

If you are at all nervous of making such a high bid, look again at the fact that you are non-vulnerable against vulnerable opponents. The more you go down, the bigger the makeable vulnerable contract will be the other way.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 5

  Your Hand
♠ J 9 8 6 2
♥ K Q J 5 2
♦ Q 3
♣ 7 		 
Q: 5 - Both sides are non-vulnerable. What will you say after two passes?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: Pass. Your spade suit is weak and you would want a heart lead against any contract the other way. If you are desperate to make some sort of bid, then open 1♥.

Some of the time, if you pass, you will have the chance to enter the auction later. Partner can then choose between your suits.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Question 6

  Your Hand
♠ 7 6
♥ 10 3
♦ A J 6
♣ K Q J 9 8 3 		 
Q: 6 - What will you say on this hand?
SouthWestNorthEast
--PassPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3♣. In the first two seats, you would open 1♣ because you are too strong for a preempt. In the third seat, it is easily best to open 3♣. Your LHO will hold reasonable values and the opponents are likely to have a good major-suit contract their way. Make life difficult for them!

Don't think: 'We might miss a game if I open with a preempt'. This is very unlikely when your partner is a passed hand. Don't be one of those players who tends to make an excuse not to pre-empt.

Your result so far:
Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

Overall Results

Your results:   out of    Average: 

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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