THE ACES

Mypartnerheld 9-8-7-5, A-Q-10-8-7, K-Q, Q-7,and opened one heart. In response, holding 12 points with three hearts and four very small clubs, I had available one no-trump as semi-forcing, with new suits at the two-level being game-forcing. What is the right way to show my hand, and how should our bidding go?

hdscIf you decide you don’t have a game force, you might respond one no-trump, which your partner may decide to pass. That means you might stay out of game, but facing something like ace-third of spades, king-third of hearts, and ace-jack third of diamonds with the aforementioned four-small clubs, you do have four top losers in four hearts, even if three no-trump is quite playable. Driving your hand to game with a call of two clubs is certainly reasonable if playing sound openers — few do, though.

Please explain the difference between the minimum number of cards promised by opener rebidding his suit (be it a major or minor) over a one- or two-level response by responder, and the number of cards promised by responder for rebidding his suit?

Responder’s rebid of his own suit shows six, except that occasionally he will rebid a very chunky five-card suit — typically over a one-no-trump response from his partner. Similarly, opener’s suit rebid facing a one-level response promises six — though occasionally the rebid of a minor facing a one-spade response may be forced with five when unsuitable for a reverse or one-no-trump response. By contrast, opener’s rebid facing a two-level response is often a decent five-carder.

When you open one club, then hear one heart to your left and two diamonds from partner, what should you do with Q-9-6-4, 3, 6-4, A-K-Q-10-9-8? Would a call of two spades promise extras? Should I therefore rebid three clubs?

cshIf your partner had been able to respond one heart, your one-spade rebid would just show four spades and not promise extras. Similarly, a bid of two spades is natural here — it may contain extras but does not promise them. That said, the absence of a negative double from your partner means you probably don’t have a spade fit, so emphasizing your excellent clubs has a lot going for it.