The Bridge Column

Q1 — Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠J ♥ Q 9 8 6 ♦ 9 2 ♣ K Q J 10 7 6 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1NT Pass Pass ? What call would you make?

A— Should two clubs be available to you as a natural bid, that’s a good choice. Most people play two clubs as a conventional bid, however, and this hand cannot sell out to one no-trump. In that case, bid three clubs. Q2 — North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A 10 5 ♥A K 9 7 5 3 ♦ Void ♣ 7 5 3 2 Partner passes and so does righthand opponent. What call would you make?

A— Partner is a passed hand and you have only 11 high-card points. Despite that, you might still have a game if partner has a good-fitting maximum. Open one heart, not two.

Q 3 — East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠K 5 3 ♥ J 10 4 ♦A 9 8 7 4 3 ♣ 3 As dealer, what call would you make?

A— We would not pre-empt with this modest suit if we had a side four-card major. We would want a better suit to risk losing the major. We don’t have one, so open two diamonds. Q 4 — Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠K Q 9 5 4 3 ♥ K 9 ♦ A K 4 ♣ A 4 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1♠ Pass 1NT Pass What call would you make?

A— This hand is worth forcing to game, so it’s too strong for three spades. The suit isn’t good enough to bid four spades, so make a jump shift into your fragment. Bid three diamonds.