BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

You open 1 ♦ , and ‘reverse’ with 2 ♥ after partner’s 1 ♠ response. What do you bid next when partner responds 3 ♦ , and would it make any difference if his response was 2NT?

What do you know about partner’s hand? he has at least four spades and, in the first instance, has positive preference for diamonds to hearts. and, in the second instance, has at least one stop in clubs (the unbid suit).

In both cases, you should bid 3 ♠ , which is unconditionally forcing, and describes your 3-4-5-1 distribution perfectly. Partner’s support for your suit does not deny a five-card spade suit, and he will know that you don’t have four-card support for spades or you would have raised him directly.

these situations look very simple when explained in print. Yet, a very experienced player opted to bid 4 ♦ on this hand at the table!