This conundrum was written by NICOLAS LHUISSIER and was originally published in the magazine Bridgerama+ No. 66 - you can find out all about it further down the page.
Variations on a hand
4. What do you bid as West?
4. What do you bid as West? All Vul.
4. What do you bid as West? All Vul.
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4♦: This bid is used to show a good two-suiter with 5–5 in the majors, both against a 3♣ and a 3♦ opening. Be careful, bidding 4♥ would show a two-suited with 5–5 in Diamonds and Hearts!
5♥: Following East’s negative Double, which normally shows at least 8HCP and four Hearts, you are very likely to make 5 Hearts. You’re just a tad short of trying your luck at 6♥ and, as you don’t have room to bid a slam because you don’t have an intermediate bid, be wise and “pay the pre-empt.”
7♥: You have all the keycards and will not concede any tricks in Hearts, Diamonds or Clubs. East has shown four-card support in Hearts and two keycards plus the Queen of Hearts. What happens in Spades? It all depends on the meaning of East’s apparently cue-bid 3NT bid. In principle, in this situation where the fit in Hearts is explicit, the technical bid of 3NT is an “echo” in Spades, i.e., it shows control in Spades. If this is really the case, the grand slam in Hearts is an excellent bet! Of course, if you are not sure you are on the same wavelength as East, say 5NT. If he responds 6♦ (no King), you will still be in trouble, and have to decide between prudence and temerity.
In this issue, Bridgerama+ pays tribute to Paul Chemla (1944–2025), world champion, writer, and one of the great characters of French bridge. Brilliant, bold, and impossible to imitate, Chemla’s spirit and humor defined an era.
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If they preempt a minor, bidding their minor shows the M's. Bidding 4 of the other minor shows that minor + an unspecified M.
Over a major preempt, 4 of a minor shows that minor + the other major. If they preempt 2, cue bidding at the 3 level is usually a western cue bid asking for a stopper for 3nt.
Weird agreements for the first hand.
Usually if you play non-leaping michels.
If they preempt a minor, bidding their minor shows the M's. Bidding 4 of the other minor shows that minor + an unspecified M.
Over a major preempt, 4 of a minor shows that minor + the other major. If they preempt 2, cue bidding at the 3 level is usually a western cue bid asking for a stopper for 3nt.
Weird agreements on the first hand, usually if you play non-leaping michaels, 4c should be M's and 4d would be d+M.