BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

PLAYING Pairs, what do you bid on each of these hands after partner makes an Astro 2♣ overcall of the opponent’s weak 1NT opening and next hand passes? THIS is the most exciting of all the Astro situations because you know immediately from the overcall that you have at least a 4-4 fit in hearts. In fact, the fit is likely to be better because the Astro overcall should generally promise a five-card suit, and I’d respond on that basis.

The excitement comes from the fact that you can make a limit-bid jump raise in hearts and the opponents can’t be sure whether you are fairly strong or merely being pre-emptive. On (a), you’d raise to 3♥, the response you might also have made if partner had opened 1♥.

On (b) and (c), you bid direct to 4♥. The opponents cannot safely double you, nor are they likely to find their fit in spades.

With (b), you don’t seriously expect to make 4♥ unless partner has precisely the right cards, but you shouldn’t go more than one off.

With (c), you fully expect to make game, even if partner has as few as 7HCPs.

Put these hands opposite the one we’ve had all week: ♠ 10 8, ♥ A 10 9 7 5,

♦ K Q 7 5 2, ♣ 4, and you’ll be able to see how efficiently and well this little Astro bid works.

Defending against Astro can be awkward and that’s one reason we don’t permit its use, and other conventions like it, at rubber bridge.