BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

Your side is vulnerable at Pairs. Your RHO opens 1 ♠ after your partner has passed. What would you bid on the above hand?

This is a situation that most players find difficult. Because you have four feasible alternatives, good judgment is required to select the bid which describes your hand most accurately. Your decision is going to be influenced by your partnership style and the vulnerability; the choice is not all that easy. here are the pros and cons of your alternatives:

a) 2 ♦ . A very feeble bid on such a strong hand, justified only by the fact that partner has already passed, and your side is vulnerable.

b) Double. You are just about strong enough for the bid, but the big danger is that your partner will correctly assume that you have a heart suit, and are short in spades. Remember the principle that a double of one major normally promises the other.

c) 3 ♦ . A good descriptive bid if you are playing strong jump overcalls; it is non-forcing, and it has pre-emptive value against LHO. however, many pairs play weak or intermediate jump overcalls in modern- style competition, for which the hand would be too strong.

We will look at the other alternative tomorrow.