Bidding decisions just keep on coming:
Q1: Sitting South, with North dealing and none vulnerable, you hold:
♠️J 8 7 3
♥️ J 10 4
♦️ 9 8
♣️ A 9 5 2
North opens 1♥️, and East passes. What do you bid?
A1: ♥️. Don’t even think about 1♠️. You have a one-bid hand, and you want to establish the fit right away. If you bid 1♠️, followed by a two-bid by North, returning to hearts would show two-card support. Support with support. As soon as possible.
Q2: Sitting South and dealing, with East-West vulnerable, you hold:
♠️ A 8 7 3
♥️ A 9
♦️ Q J
♣️ K Q 6 4 3
What do you bid?
A2: It’s tempting to bid 1♣️; but if partner responds 1NT, you have no way to show your values. You don’t have enough to rebid 2NT, which would show 18-19 high-card points, and you aren’t strong enough to reverse into a higher suit than clubs. Bidding 1NT with two doubletons? Happens all the time.
Q3: Sitting South, with West dealing and both sides vulnerable, you hold:
♠️ A 5
♥️ Q 10 8 4
♦️ J 5 3 2
♣️ 8 5 4
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
West North East South
1♣️ 1♠️ Pass ?
What do you bid?
A3: This is not a simple question. You’d like to bid 1NT, and many would. The thing is, after partner overcalls —– possibly with a weak hand — you need 8-10 high-card points to bid 1NT. In addition, 1NT would show a better stopper than the semblance in the South hand. I’d pass.
This article appears in September 11, 2026.