BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

YOUR partner opens 1 ♥ , and the next hand doubles. What action do you take?

THIS hand has similar distribution to yesterday, but it is slightly weaker with poor trump support. I wouldn’t crime passing as we discussed yesterday; however, this is a perfect hand on which to bid 1nT.

You have a stopper in each of the other three suits with a very weak hand — otherwise you would have redoubled. The advantage of making this bid is to obstruct the opponents — and possibly preventing them from gaining the initiative of bidding 1nT.

note that it would not be sensible to bid 1 ♠ , because you clearly know from the double that West should have spades. If you don’t use this style at present, discuss it with partner and give it a try! It works well.