A bit more tricky by Bobby Wolff

As much as uncontested auctions often make it possible to say what call is right or wrong, things get a bit more tricky when the opponents get into the bidding. Sometimes you'll act the same way as if they didn't, but sometimes their inference allows you to make a different call - or even demands you to do so. What should it be in these five examples? See how you fare.

Question 1

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

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

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

A: Pass: Your side does not appear to have an eight-card fit, and your partner surely rates to have a minimum opener, or he would have found a call at his second turn. While defending two clubs undoubled may not be your best possible score, it may well be the best result possible that you can achieve. So I would pass now.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 7 2
♥ Q J 10 9
♦ K J 9 3
♣ 7 6 5

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

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

A: Pass: The cue-bid is typically looking for a spade stopper for no-trump. Had the next hand not doubled, you might have bid three clubs rather than three diamonds. (Your partner cannot have clubs and diamonds, or he would have reversed into two diamonds.) After the double, it feels right to pass and give partner a chance to describe his hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 9 5
♥ K Q 6
♦ Q J 10 7 3
♣ A 10

Q: 3 - What is your call as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: 1NT: You have three plausible actions here. You can overcall one diamond, perhaps planning to double if the opponents agree a suit cheaply. You can double, making sure you find a major-suit fit cheaply, if you have one, and perhaps minimizing the risk for your side, while possibly missing no-trump. Or, my choice, you can overcall one no-trump -- the path with the highest risk but largest reward.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 4
♥ K J 10 8 5 4
♦ K 10 6
♣ 9 5 4

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

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
2♥	Pass	Pass	Double
Pass	Pass	Redouble	Pass
?

A: 2NT: You described your hand perfectly at your first turn; if your partner wanted to play hearts, he would have passed when doubled. But he decided to run, and who are you to say that he is wrong? The optimal way to get to the better minor suit fit is to bid two no-trump and redouble if doubled. The additional bonus is that this way you ensure that your partner becomes declarer!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K Q 5 3 2
♥ A 8 6 5
♦ 10 4
♣ K 3

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

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	1NT	Double
?

A: Pass: Had your RHO not doubled, you would have bid two hearts, of course. So should you now ignore the likelihood that there is heart length on your right and make the two-heart bid anyway? I'm not sure of the answer here. I'd certainly bid a better heart suit, but that doesn't feel necessary here. I think I would pass and await further developments.

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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