Q 1 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-2 H-A K J 4 D-A Q 5 C-A K 9 5 4
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1C Pass 1H Pass
?
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What do you bid now?
A – You would like to make a splinter bid to show your spade singleton and strong heart support, but a jump to two spades would be a jump shift, showing a second suit and a strong hand. To show your singleton, you must jump a level and use three spades as your splinter.
Q 2 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-Q 7 6 4 3 H-A 2 D-J 4 3 C-A K 4
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1C Pass 1S Pass
2D Pass ?
What do you bid now?
A – North’s reverse bid was forcing, so there is no need to go jumping around. Bid three clubs — on a good day that may elicit three-card spade support from partner!
Q 3 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-Void H-Q 8 5 4 D-A J 9 7 C-A K 8 4 3
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1C Pass 1H Pass
?
What do you bid now?
A – Again you would like to make a splinter bid to show your singleton, but a jump to two spades is a natural jump shift, three spades would show a singleton and a jump to four spades shows a void. You don’t want to take the bidding beyond game yet. Pretend you have a singleton spade and jump to three spades.
Q 4 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-A Q 9 5 H-A 10 8 6 D-9 8 3 C-7 3
The bidding has proceeded:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1D Pass 1H Pass
2H Pass ?
What action do you take?
A – If you were sure partner held four-card heart support for his raise, you are just worth a game try. However should partner hold only three-card support, even two hearts might not be in the cards. A vulnerable partial is too valuable to risk — pass.
Q 5 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-A J 5 H-A K 10 6 D-J 10 6 5 2 C-7
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1D Pass 1S Pass
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?
What do you bid now?
A – Pity, partner responded in the wrong major. Since your five-card suit is woefully weak, the best you can do is simply raise to two spades and see what transpires.
Q 6 – Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:
S-K Q 6 H-A K 10 8 D-J 10 7 6 2 C-7
The bidding has proceeded:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1D Pass 1S 2C
?
What action do you take?
A – Playing most standard methods place you at a disadvantage similar to the above, and you have to raise spades with three cards in the suit. However, “support doubles” are gaining in popularity. You still raise with four-card support, but with three-card support you double. Since you seldom want to double an overcall at the one- or two-level, you play that a double by you here promises three-card support and two spades guarantees four spades.
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