Great to be back. I know all of you are Life Masters by now.

Q & A columns have been popular in the past, so I’m going to concentrate on them this summer.

Q.1: Sitting South, with North dealing and no none vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ K 6

♥️ K Q J 10 7

♦️10 3

♣️ A 5 4 3

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

North   East.  South. West

1♠️     Pass  2♥️     Pass

2♠️    Pass   ?

What do you bid?

A.: In 2-over-1 auctions, opener may repeat a five-card suit at the two level. Resist the temptation to bid 4♠️ and instead rebid 3♣, looking for a possible 3NT contract.

Q.2: Sitting South, with North dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️K 6

♥️ K Q J 10 7

♦️10 3

♣️ A 5 4 3

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

North.  East.  South.  West

1♠️   Pass   2♥️     Pass

2♠️   Pass   3♣️     Pass

4♣️   Pass    ?

What do you bid?

A.: 4♠. Even if partner has five spades, you have legitimate delayed trump support. That may well be the optimum contract. Trust me, you don’t want to be in five of a minor. I mean, 11 tricks?

Q.3: Sitting North, with South dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:

♠️ Q J 10 6 4

♥️10 6

♦️A J 6 2

♣️ J 7

The bidding has proceeded as follows:

South     West     North      East

Pass        Pass      Pass       1♥️

1♠️        2♠️       ?

• Limit raise in. hearts

What do you bid?

A.: With at least 10 major-suit cards in a partnership, it’s often advisable to bid game. Here 4♠️ works, because you have few likely tricks against a likely 4♥️ contact by East-West. Take 4♥️ away from them!

In as duplicate game, North-South went down one for -50, a good set worth 1.93 IMPs. That was enough for North-South to place in the final standings.