Partner
RHO You
2H Pass
?
♠KJ84 ♥72 ♦AJ4 ♣KQ76
Pass. Count tricks, not high-card points. Partner will have an average of 5-6 tricks for a non-vulnerable weak two bid. You have only two sure tricks outside (the ♦A and ♣KQ) and slim chances for any more.
Partner RHO
You
2H Pass ?
♠AK9873 ♥1062 ♦2 ♣A94
4H. This 11 points much stronger than the 14-point hand in Problem 1. It has better support and at least four or five tricks (the ♠AK, ♣A and one or two diamond ruffs). There's no point in bidding your spades and giving the opponents extra information.
Partner
RHO You
2D Pass ?
♠63 ♥J1084 ♦K72 ♣A1083
3D. This raise is not an invitation. It's a "blocking bid" that furthers partner's preempt and makes it more difficult for the opponents to enter the auction. To make this bid, you need at least 3-card support and a few tricks.
Partner RHO
You
2S Pass ?
♠8763 ♥4 ♦AJ1072 ♣654
4S. This is called an "advance sacrifice". The opponents can surely make 4H (maybe 6H) and you expect to go down only one or two in 4S doubled (on some layouts, 4S will even make). Since you know you have a good sacrifice, get there right away and use up the auction space the opponents may need to find their best contract.
Partner RHO
You
2S Pass ?
♠A8 ♥A73 ♦AQ104 ♣9765
2NT. This shows invitational values (14+ points) and asks partner for a feature in an outside suit (ace or king). If partner bids 3D to show the ¨K, jump to 4S. Pass if partner bids 3S (no outside ace or king). If partner bids 3C or 3H to show a feature in that suit, that honor won't be as valuable, so you should retreat to 3S. Partner knows you have invitational strength, so he can bid on to 4S if he has a little extra.
Partner RHO You
3H Pass ?
♠AJ7632 ♥10 ♦AK102 ♣K4
4H. Partner's vulnerable 3H opening shows a very strong 7-card suit, so don’t worry too much about your trump support and don't introduce spades. Partner’s hearts are better than your spades.
Partner
RHO You
4H Pass
?
♠AQJ10764 ♥Void ♦10843 ♣KJ
Pass. A vulnerable 4H opening is a very strong suit and around 8 tricks, and you may contribute two. Don’t “save” partner by bidding 4S.
Partner RHO You
3C Pass ?
♠AQJ3 ♥KJ84 ♦KQ3 ♣52
Pass. At this vulnerability, partner may have just 5 playing tricks. It's very unlikely that his clubs will be strong enough to run in a possible 3NT contract.
Partner RHO You
2S Pass ?
♠5 ♥AQ ♦Q105 ♣AKQ8643
3NT. A jump to 3NT is final. It is not a choice of games; partner must pass. To ask partner to choose between 3NT and 4 of his suit, start with 2NT to ask for a feature, then bid 3NT.
Partner RHO
You
3C Pass ?
♠A2 ♥AJ763 ♦865 ♣A75
3NT. Partner will have a strong club suit for this vulnerable opening. In 3NT, you expect to take 7 club tricks and your two aces. This is a good gamble even without a diamond stopper. The opponents will probably lead a spade, but even if they lead a diamond, they may not be able to take more than 4 tricks.
Partner RHO
You
3D DBL ?
♠KJ102 ♥AJ93 ♦54 ♣A95
Redouble. Redouble shows high-card strength and the intention of penalizing the opponents. Partner can cooperate with your plan and double their runout suit if he has moderate length and/or an honor. After partner preempts, any double by you is penalty, so you can also pass now and double later to penalize their contract.
Partner
RHO You
4S Pass ?
♠Q6 ♥54 ♦AK9765 ♣AK10
5H. Discuss this one with your partner. The best use of a new suit here is to show the specific suit where you need a control instead of a suit where you have one. It asks partner to bid 6S if he has a heart control (singleton, void or possibly the ace or king). A 4S opener is usually just spades, without outside aces or kings, so partner will seldom have a control to show if you bid your ace (5C here).
© Karen Walker