Bidding decisions galore highlighted play at the Edgartown Bridge Club on June 15. And there were hand records available post-game that allow us to share those decisions with people who weren’t playing.
1. Sitting South, with North dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:
♠ J 9 8
♥ A K Q 10 6 5
♦ 6 5 2
♣ Q
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
North East South West
Pass 1♦ ?
What do you bid?
A.—A weak 2 ♥. Forget about the ♠ J and ♣Q. Those are but ear-kissing cards. You have a great heart suit, and you need to disrupt the opponents’ auction since your partner has passed.
2. Sitting South, with West dealing and North-South vulnerable, you hold:
♠ K 8 6 4 3
♥ Q J 10 7 5
♦ —
♣ Q 10 7
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
West North East South
Pass 1♦ Pass ?
What do you bid?
A.—1♠. When you have two four-card suits, bid up the line. With two five-card suits, bid the higher one first. If partner now bids 1NT, you should respond 2 ♥.
3. Sitting South, with West dealing and no one vulnerable, you hold:
♠7 6
♥A 3
♦K Q J 8 7 5 4
♣A K
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
West North East South
Pass Pass 1 ♣ ?
What do you bid?
A.—3NT. They’ll probably lead clubs. With two club stoppers, you should have time to set up the diamond suit.
4. Sitting South, with North dealing and East-West vulnerable, you hold:
♠K J 2
♥A 5 4
♦A K Q J 6 3
♣ 5
The bidding has proceeded as follows:
North East South West
Pass Pass 1♦ Pass
1♠ Pass ?
What do you bid?
A.—A fair number of people at EBC jumped to 4♠ , which made. Hard to argue with success, but I’d be reluctant to raise spades with only three. Nor would I jump to 3♦, which isn’t forcing. So I recommend manufacturing an admittedly misleading but forcing 2♥ reverse. If partner supports hearts, that would show five spades since they were bid first. Then you can make a delayed spade raise to show three-card support.
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