Straightforward! by Bobby Wolff

Some of today's answers should be straightforward if you know your conventions.

Some others are open to preferring one call rather than another, but as always you should be on the same pages as your partner(s).

What will you bid?

Question 1

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

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

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

A: 2NT: There is no reason to be overly complicated here. You have invitational values, and a call of two no-trump shows these values with hearts and clubs, allowing partner to pick a final contract. This hand is just too good for a one-no-trump rebid and is certainly not worth a force to game.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - What is your call as South?

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	Pass	1♠
?

A: Double: This hand has too much to pass, but at the same time, I draw the line at bidding one no-trump with three small spades, even though I have a maximum for the call. I will double and run the risk of missing three no-trump if my right-hand opponent has responded very light. At least this way we should get to our best fit in a red suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 10 5 4 3
♥ A Q 6
♦ 4 2
♣ A 8 7

Q: 3 - What is your call as South?

South	West	North	East
-	3♦	Pass	Pass
?

A: 3♠: This hand is too good to pass. It does not have to be right to act, but in fourth seat with opening values and short diamonds, it looks normal to bid. Are you going to re-open with a three-spade bid or with a takeout double? Doubling may find a 5-3 heart fit or lose a 5-3 spade fit. It may also get you more easily to three no-trump or three diamonds doubled, but put me down for a reluctant three-spade bid.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A K 6
♥ A K 10 3
♦ Q 7
♣ 7 4 3 2

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

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

A: 2♥: The two-diamond call is a one-round force, asking you to bid your suits up the line. There is no reason not to bid two hearts. You know you have the suit, and sometimes your left-hand opponent doesn't have as many as he should. In any event, partner will bid a new suit if he doesn't fit them, so no harm will be done.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 6 4
♥ A 6 5 2
♦ 10 5 2
♣ 10 9 8 2

Q: 5 - What do you answer as South?

South	West	North	East
Pass	2♠	Double	Pass
?

A: 2NT: An idea much favored by the experts is to let fourth hand respond to the double of a weak two to show a weak hand either by bidding a suit at the two-level, or (as in today's deal) by bidding two no-trump as a puppet to three clubs. He then shows his suit or passes three clubs at his next turn. A direct bid of three clubs or three hearts here would be at least a king better than this hand.

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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