(1) LHO Partner RHO You
2H 2S Pass ?
♠J82 ♥J652 ♦K106 ♣K75
Pass. This is a "Rule of 7" hand. When partner makes a simple overcall over their preempt, he is already hoping that you have around 7 "average" points and a few trumps. When you count your points, don't include low honors in the preempter's suit. Here, that comes to only 7 flat points with no ruffing value, so game is very unlikely.
(2) LHO Partner RHO
You
2H 3S
Pass ?
♠J ♥A63 ♦108743 ♣QJ104
4S. Partner's jump overcall shows a stronger hand and longer suit than a simple overcall -- around 16-18 points and 6+ cards in his suit. Try to raise if you have a few tricks. Partner should have a strong suit, so don't worry about having only a singleton trump. The jack may be a helpful filler.
(3) LHO Partner RHO
You
2D 2NT Pass ?
♠Q1093 ♥AQ96 ♦74 ♣J104
3C, Stayman to ask for a 4-card major. Partner is showing a strong notrump hand (15 to 18 points) with a diamond stopper. There are several different ways to handle this auction, but one of the simplest and most popular is to play "system on”, where your bids have the same meanings as your standard responses to a notrump opening bid. Discuss this with your partner.
(4) LHO Partner RHO
You
2S 3NT Pass ?
♠643 ♥Q87652 ♦K6 ♣J4
Pass. Partner is not promising a balanced hand, so you can't count on him for heart support. His bid may be based on a long running club suit and a few outside tricks.
(5) LHO Partner
RHO You
3C DBL Pass 3S
Pass 3NT Pass
?
♠Q10762 ♥K1085 ♦752 ♣5
4H. When partner starts with a takeout double and then bids 3NT, he has a very strong hand and interest in playing in a suit contract. (If he didn't have a takeout pattern, he would have made a direct 3NT overcall, as in #4 above.) He should have 3 spades (with 4, he would have raised to 4S) and 3 or 4 hearts. Your 4H bid shows 5-4 in your suits and asks him to choose.
(6) LHO Partner RHO
You
2S 3S Pass ?
♠QJ2 ♥K86543 ♦653 ♣J
3NT. A 3-level cuebid of the preempter's suit asks you to bid 3NT if you have a stopper in the preempter's suit. Partner most likely has a long running minor and an unbalanced hand, so he may be very short in hearts.
(7) LHO Partner RHO You
2D DBL Pass ?
♠J75 ♥1086 ♦QJ72 ♣1075
2H. With only 3-card suits to choose from, bidding the cheapest is usually the safest. Your hand and your diamonds are not strong enough to pass the double for penalties and a 2NT bid rates to get you too high. If you play standard responses, 2NT promises “real” values (7-10 points). If you play the Lebensohl 2NT convention, it will force partner to bid 3C.
(8) LHO Partner RHO
You
2H DBL Pass ?
♠Q10864 ♥654 ♦3 ♣AJ102
3S. Your jump is a value bid that invites game. It usually shows a "good" 8 to about 10 points. With the fifth trump, singleton and good side suit, this hand is worth around 10 playing points.
(9) LHO Partner
RHO You
3D DBL Pass ?
♠J10965 ♥A10874 ♦3 ♣J4
4D. After partner's takeout double of a minor-suit preempt, your 4-level cuebid asks him to bid his longer major. You are promising good playing strength, but not necessarily a lot of high-card points. This hand is only 6 high-card points, but it's worth stretching to the 4-level to be sure you find your better fit.
(10) LHO Partner RHO
You
2H DBL 3H ?
♠Q72 ♥53 ♦K1084 ♣AQ74
Double. This was once played as penalty, but modern partnerships prefer to play it as a responsive double. It shows values (at least 8-9+ points and length in the minor suits (if you had 4 spades, you'd bid that suit). Partner can choose one of your suits, bid 3NT or pass for penalties if he doesn't have a good fit.
(11) LHO Partner
RHO You
4S DBL Pass ?
♠75 ♥Q1065 ♦K2 ♣107543
Pass. When in doubt, take the "sure" thing. Partner has a lot of high-card points and you have some help, so you expect 4S to go down. Don’t be bullied to the 5-level unless you think you're going to make your contract. You need a very long suit and more strength to be confident of making 11 tricks.
(12) LHO Partner RHO
You
2S DBL Pass
?
♠1043 ♥A6 ♦A73 ♣J9754 _____
3C. If your long suit were spades instead of clubs, a good 9 points would be enough for an invitational jump. When your suit is a minor, though, you're often forced to make an underbid because a jump to the 4-level may be too high. Of greater concern is that if partner has extra values, 4C takes you past your most likely game of 3NT.
The real problem may be partner's, who won't know if you have 0 points or 10 points. If he has extra values, he'll have to guess.
This problem can be solved with the Lebensohl 2NT convention. If you agree to play this, your 3-level bid promises a constructive hand (around 8-11 points). To show a very weak hand (0-7 points), you start with 2NT, which asks partner to bid 3C. You can then pass or sign off in your longest suit.
© Karen Walker