Quiz answers: Advancing partner's call over their preempt


(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