Both sides vulnerable West deals
W N E
S
1 1 Pass ?
What action would you take with each of the following South hands?
(1)
K10732
Q2
K432
76
1. 1 is bound to be a good contract, so you are not trying to find a
safer partscore. Your heart tolerance gives
you a comfortable fallback position if North
can't support spades. You are bidding
because you might have a game opposite a
good fit and because you may be able to
compete effectively if the opponents have a
good club fit. 1
is not forcing.
(2)
A32
Q32
J1062
543
2. One of the best pieces of advice we can offer is to support partner
when you have support. You would raise a 1 opening to 2 or perhaps respond 1NT, and in
competition it is at least as important to
give partner the news about a fit. Get in
your opponents' way whenever you can.
(3)
52
7
KJ10852
A987
2. Taking out to a new suit at the two level strongly implies a long suit.
Substantial strength is not required. 2
figures to be a better contract than 1 and
partner will not go back to hearts with only
five cards in his suit. With a stronger hand
and a good suit, you would jump to 3,
encouraging but also not forcing.
(4)
K2
J3
KJ743
Q1072
1NT. You are not unhappy with 1 but opposite a strong overcall you might
have an easy game. 1NT shows about 8-11
points and a club stopper. 2 would be a
poor choice with this type of hand, which is
not at all like (3) above.
(5)
A9432
Q10843
4
104
4. You might not make it, but this descriptive bid (strong support,
moderate strength, lots of distribution)
will usually be a paying sacrifice when it
goes down. 4 is a two-way wager: either you
make it or the opponents would have made
their own contract. Sometimes they misjudge
and compete to a level where they can be
defeated.
(6)
52
QJ62
K10942
32
3. This is not for everyone. Social players would treat the jump raise as
quite a strong bid. It is popular practice
among tournament players, however, to use
these jump raises as obstructive moves,
designed to crowd the bidding for their
opponents. With a strong raise, these pairs
would cue-bid 2, then show support. This
bid in the opponents' suit would have no
relation to the holding in clubs.