Contract Bridge

Partner bids One Heart. What would you respond with each of the following four hands?

1. ♠ KJ874 ♥ A852 ♦ 73 ♣ 85

2. ♠ 63 ♥ AQ97 ♦ AK1032 ♣ K8

3. ♠ AQ98 ♥ 10 ♦ K92 ♣

AJ764

4. ♠ 8752 ♥ J8653 ♦ A942

♣ —

***

1. Two hearts. This is preferable to one spade, the alternative response. To bid one spade would create an awkward problem if partner rebid two clubs, two diamonds or one notrump. A preference bid of two hearts would then constitute an underbid, as you have much better trump support than partner would expect, while a jump-preference to three hearts would be a substantial overbid.

Furthermore, if partner rebid two hearts over one spade, you’d be torn between whether to pass or raise to three hearts, and either call could prove to be wrong. A direct raise to two hearts, indicating six to 10 points and adequate trump support, avoids these potential problems.

2. Three diamonds. Slam is a distinct possibility, but you’re in no position to judge whether or not it can be made. It is therefore best to make a jumpshift response, alerting partner to the prospect of a slam, and then let him decide how far to go. Of course, you plan to show your heart support next.

3. Two clubs. Here your goal is to try to describe your distribution as accurately as possible, planning to bid two spades over partner’s expected two-diamond or two-heart rebid. This sequence will show, by inference, that your clubs are longer than your spades.

It would be a serious mistake to bid one spade initially rather than two clubs. If you were to bid spades first and clubs later, there would be no way your partner could know you had more clubs than spades. In a case where you know you are going to get to a game and could even have a slam, there is no good reason to muddy the waters by bidding spades first when there is a simple way to describe your actual distribution.

4. Four hearts. Here you combine your offensive chances with your defensive fears by leaping to game. Your heart length would be a defensive liability if the opponents played the hand, and the chief purpose of leaping to four hearts is to make it difficult for them to enter the fray.

At the same time, you should not feel overly surprised if partner buys the contract at four hearts and then makes it. Your club void, five trumps and ace of diamonds might prove to be just what he needs. Hands of this sort depend largely on how well they fit with partner’s cards, but the winning strategy in the long run is to bid game at once and let the opponents try to sort things out.