Goren on Bridge

QUESTION 1: Neither vulnerable, as South, you

hold:

♠ J10 ♥ 87 ♦ QJ75 ♣ AQJ92 Partner passes as dealer and right-hand opponent also passes. What call would you make?

A: You could open 1C in third position, but there will be rebid problems over a major-suit response. Why look for problems with an 11-point hand and no major? Pass.

Q2: North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠ J1086 ♥ 109765 ♦ 9 ♣ 954 Partner opens 1NT, 15-17. What call would you make?

A: Modern tournament players like “Garbage” Stayman. Bid 2C and pass a response of two in either major. Bid 2H, pass or correct, over a twodiamond response.

Q3: East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 872 ♥ 64 ♦ AQ1072 ♣ J87 NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST 1♦ Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass ? What call would you make?

A: “Inverted” minors can cause problems when you have a normal raise to the two level. It hasn’t worked out so badly here — you’ve just wrong-sided the contract. Bid 3NT. Q4: Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ J83 ♥ AJ9854 ♦ 9 ♣ K102 Right-hand opponent opens 1NT, 15-17. What call would you make? A: Whatever methods you use to show a one-suited overcall, use it to bid 2H. This is what an overcall of a strong no-trump shows — a good weak twobid. Q5: North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ QJ10765 ♥ 1073 ♦ Q9 ♣ 63 NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♦ Pass ? What call would you make?

A: Partner has shown a game-forcing hand short in spades. What can you do? Bid 3NT and hope for the best.

Q6: East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ AKQ954 ♥ A Q 6 ♦ A 7 ♣ J 6 As dealer, what call would you make?

A: Some neo-modern wise guys would open 2NT. We like the old-school bid of 1S.