Here’s a quiz about what I call specialty bids, drawn from Internet play.
Q. 1 — Sitting South, with West dealing and North-South vulnerable, you hold:
♠️ Q 10 6 3
♥️ 9 7
♦️ Q 8 6
♣️ A K 7 2
West opens 1♦️, followed by two passes. What do you bid?
A. 1NT. In the passout seat, this shows 11-14 high-card points. If you have 15-17 HCP, double and then bid 1NT.
Q. 2 — Sitting South, with West dealing and East-West vulnerable, you hold:
♠️ 8
♥️ 9 8 6 5 2
♦️ 10 5
♣️ A Q 7 4 3
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
West North East South
Pass 1♥️ Pass ?
What do you bid?
A. — 4♥️. This is known as a “weak-freak” bid. It shows 5+ support of a major-suit, 0-9 HCP and usually shortness somewhere. Even if the bid doesn’t make, it will probably be pre-emptive enough to keep opponents from finding a spade fit.
Q. 3 — Sitting South, with East dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:
♠️ A Q J 8
♥️ A 3
♦️ Q J 9
♣️ A 8 7 4
East opens 1♣️. What do you bid?
A. — 1NT. A 1NT overcall, as opposed to a 1NT opening bid, shows 15-18 HCP.
Q. 4 — Sitting South, with North-South vulnerable, you hold:
♠️ Q 10 7 6 5
♥️ J 9 2
♦️ J 8 3
♣️ 9 5
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
West North West South
1♣️ 1♠️ DBL ?
What would you bid?
A. — 4♠️! This bid is based on the Law of Total Tricks. In competition, bid to the same level as your total trump. With 10 trump, bid to the 10-trick level of 4♠️. The fewer HCP you have, the more your opponents have. Yes, it’s a little risky with unfavorable vulnerability in this case, but it’s worth a try.
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