Goren Bridge

QUESTION 1: Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ K9632 ♥ AQ86 ♦ 32 ♣ 94

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass

2NT Pass ?

What call would you make?

A: Bid the “new” minor, 3C, asking partner if he has four hearts or three spades. Bidding 3H instead would promise five hearts.

Q: North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ J982 ♥ 8 ♦ J954 ♣ A J 10 4 Partner opens 1S and right-hand opponent passes. What call would you make?

A: 2S is too timid. This hand is well worth an invitation. Bid 3S.

Q: East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ Q853 ♥ AQ ♦ Q J 10 8 6 ♣ A6

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass What call would you make?

A: Raising to 2NT would show an off-shape hand with the strength to open 1NT. It’s close, but all the honors in the short suits would make us devalue this hand. Pass.

Q: Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ Void ♥ 96 ♦ AKQJ764 ♣ J8 64

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH 1♥ 2♦ Pass 2♠

Pass ?

What call would you make? A: A cue bid to show an invitational raise only applies when a jump raise would be pre-emptive. Here it would ask for a heart stopper. Perfect! Bid 3H.

Q: North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ KQ52 ♥ Q82 ♦ K2 ♣ K 10 6 5

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass

2♠ Pass ?

What call would you make?

A: Game should be easy but this hand is not good enough to go looking for slam. Bid 4S.

Q: East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ 10 8 3 ♥ 984 ♦ KQ9653 ♣ 5 Partner opens 1S and right-hand opponent passes. What call would you make?

A: Responding 1NT with a fit and a minimum hand is popular with some players, but don’t do it with a distributional hand. Bid 2S and take the two level away from the opponents.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribpub.com.)

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