Q 1 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-A 7 H-K 9 6 4 D-K Q J 3 2 C-9 3
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1D Pass 1S Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A – Why suspect we’re trying to trap you? You have a minimum opening bid but there is no reason you should make life difficult and rebid one no trump with a weak doubleton and a good five-card minor. Rebid two diamonds and see what happens.
Q 2 – As South, vulnerable, you hold:
S-9 6 5 H-A J D-A K J 8 C-9 7 6 2
What is your opening bid?
A – With 4-4 in the minors, open with your stronger minor. Basically, you intend rebidding one no trump, not the other minor. Additionally, should the opponent buy the hand you would rather get a diamond lead than a club.
Q 3 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
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S-Q 8 7 2 H-A Q 5 2 D-7 C-A K J 6
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1C Pass 1S Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A – You could not have asked for a better response, and you must tell partner that immediately. A splinter bid of three diamonds, your singleton, serves the task nicely.
Q 4 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-5 H-A Q J 4 D-A K 9 8 2 C-Q J 7
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1D Pass 1H Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A – Another occasion where you can show your strength with a splinter bid. However, you cannot bid two spades — that would be a jump shift in your second suit. What you have to do is jump to three spades to get your message across.
Q 5 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-A J 10 7 2 H-J 9 8 D-6 C-K Q 8 2
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1D Pass 1S Pass
4C Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A – If there was one bid you did not want to hear, it was for partner to make a splinter bid in clubs — almost half your hand’s value gone up in smoke. All you can do is sign off in four spades.
Q 6 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-A 6 H-A K J D-K Q 6 C-J 10 9 6 3
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1C Pass 1S 2D
?
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What action do you take?
A – You were too strong to open one no trump, and now you must get that message across to partner. Show your extra values by bidding two no trump now!
(Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses to
.)