What does partner show with his bids? by Bobby Wolff

One of the questions to ask yourself before making is call is "What does partner show with his bids?"

Then, you should think about what final contract you want to aim at and how best to get there.

How will you fare in these five situations?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 10 5
♥ 9 7 4
♦ A Q 9 4
♣ 4

Q: 1 - What is your call as South?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	Pass	Double
?

A: 2♦: Your concentrated honors mean that you have just enough to risk a call of two diamonds. This makes it harder for your opponents to get to clubs. If you have a seven-card fit in either spades or diamonds, it should play well enough.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

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

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	1♦	1♠
1NT	Pass	3♠	Pass
?

A: 4♣: Your partner's jump in the opponents' suit suggests game-forcing values with short spades and probably a one-suited hand. (He might have begun with a cue-bid if he were interested in playing in clubs or hearts.) You can see three no-trump might be in danger, but slam in diamonds is a real possibility. Cue-bid four clubs and be prepared to cooperate again if partner cue-bids four hearts.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

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

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

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

A: Pass: This call is simply natural and does not guarantee a fit. (There are plenty of ways your partner might not have enough for a two-level overcall.) I would pass now, but be prepared to compete to three clubs over further red-suit competition.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ Q
♥ 5 4
♦ K Q 10 9 3
♣ Q 10 4 3 2

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

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	1♠	Pass
1NT	Pass	2♦	Pass
?

A: 3♦: Is a simple raise to three diamonds sufficient? Let's say partner has 5-4 shape and three aces; you probably have three losers one way or another unless partner has a singleton club, but ruffing out that suit may prove troublesome. So I would just bid three diamonds. Make the club queen the king, and I might do more.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

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

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

A: 3♦: Your partner's opening bid guarantees at least four cards, unless he has both majors (which he clearly doesn't here). You cannot by any means guarantee that three diamonds will make, or even come close, but it feels wrong to sell out when you have at least an eight-card fit, and the opponents also have a fit. So I would bid three diamonds now.

Your result so far:

Open Question

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

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