BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

Your partner deals and opens 1 ♦ . What do you respond? When this hand was actually dealt, responder bid 3nT on the grounds that he had the right point count (13-15), and that this highly pre-emptive bid would block fourth-in-hand from coming into the auction.

What in fact he did was to cost his side its most productive contract.

The response of 3nT is one to be avoided if a more constructive bid can be found; although technically not a shut- out bid, it has a very final sound and makes any further exploration difficult.

nor is there very much fear of the opposition, when partner’s opening bid is facing your own opening strength.

Bid 1 ♥ , a one-round force, and await developments.