Bidding quiz

You are South, and the bidding has gone: North East South West

1[D] Pass 2 [C] Pass

2[D] Pass ?

What would you bid now with each of the following five hands?

1. [S] KJ [H] 95 [D] KJ8 [C] AQJ1096

2. [S] AJ7 [H] J73 [D] 10 [C] KJ9643

3. [S] AK6 [H] 854 [D] Q9 [C] AQ872

4. [S] Q8 [H] AJ [D] 962 [C] KJ8652

5. [S] K94 [H] QJ8 [D] Q10 [C] AJ963 ***

1. Four diamonds. There is certainly at least a game somewhere, as you have values well beyond a minimum opening bid opposite partner’s opening bid. Indeed, it might even be possible to make a slam despite partner’s minimum rebid.

Ordinarily, minor-suit games are to be avoided, since it is usually easier to make nine tricks in notrump than 11 tricks in a minor. However, a notrump contract here looks much more dangerous than a suit contract, so a jump-raise of partner’s diamonds (forcing) is therefore best. The double raise also leaves room for partner to use Blackwood or make a cuebid in hearts if he is interested in a slam. If he actually does bid four hearts next, you should take a stab at six diamonds.

2. Pass. In view of partner’s minimum rebid, game is now unlikely. Trying to improve matters by bidding again might easily result in making them worse. Partner will probably make no more than eight or nine tricks in diamonds, so there is no good reason to bid again.

3. Two spades. It is unusual to bid a three-card suit, but there is no better way of inducing partner to bid notrump if he has a heart stopper. If he does not bid notrump at his next turn, you will have to settle for game in diamonds.

4. Three diamonds. You can’t very well give up without making at least a mild game try, even though partner made the weakest possible rebid. He might pass three diamonds, but even so it is better to offer him a shot at game in case he has a maximum (around 15 points) for his twodiamond rebid.

Two notrump rather than three diamonds is an alternative possibility, but it would be a bit more dangerous.

5. Three notrump. Here you have ideal notrump distribution and strength in the unbid suits, so you have no real choice other than to bid three notrump. It would be wrong to bid only two notrump, which is not forcing in this sequence. If you did, you might find yourself left at the post.

Tomorrow: Doubling the odds.