BRIDGE with Bob Jones

Q 1 — Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ J65 ♥ KQ2 ♦ 963 ♣ A K J 6 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass What call would you make? A— With no stopper in either side suit, this looks like a heart raise. However, we can't recommend a raise on this balanced hand. Bid 1NT. Q 2 — North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A763 ♥ 6 ♦ 10 7 4 ♣ K Q 7 6 4 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 2♥ 2♠ 3♥ ? What call would you make? A— Bid 4S. This is limited by your failure to cue bid 4H, which would be a stronger raise. Q3 — East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ Q J 8 6 ♥ Q 10 5 3 ♦ A 9 ♣ A J 8 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass 2♥ Pass Pass 3♦ What call would you make? A — It is almost always wrong to bid 3-over-3 with only eight combined trumps. Pass. Partner will usually bid on if he has five hearts. Q 4 — Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A Q 7 5 ♥ A 9 6 ♦ A 10 7 ♣ 864 As dealer, what call would you make? A — To open 1D with 3-3 in the minors, we want an extreme discrepancy between the two suits, something like AKJ vs. 6 4 2. Open 1C.