Bidding problems

Dear BBOers, have a go at trying to solve this bridge problem. Depending on your answer you’ll score between 0 to 5 points per question. Your overall score will be displayed, along with the correct answers once you've complete the exercise. Good luck!

Bidding hands

Bidding hands


For each problem, you must find how many cards (at least) South promises with his last bid.

 

Hand 1

Correct Answer:

c) 3

There is not much to choose between rebidding 3 and 3, the choice depending on whether you want to get both suits into the picture or emphasize your major. 2 does not reflect the quality of your suit.


Hand 2

Correct Answer:

a) 3

With partner almost certainly having wasted values in Hearts there is no need to be too aggressive. Jumping to 4 takes away valuable bidding space while 6 is too optimistic.


Hand 3

Correct Answer:

a) 4

The modern style is to respond to an opening bid as often as possible. When partner reverses into Hearts, a jump to game suggests good trump support in an otherwise modest hand. Raising to 3 suggests more high-card strength while passing is much too conservative.


Hand 4

Correct Answer:

b) 3

It makes sense to introduce your second suit, hoping that it will help partner to judge what to do if the opponents compete in Hearts. 2♠ conveys the length of your Spade suit, while 4♠ is a needless risk.


Hand 5

Correct Answer:

c) 4

Once partner shows Spade support, you should apply Meckstroth’s Law and jump to game. 3 is reasonable but partner may expect more in the way of high cards. 3 runs the risk that partner might pass.


Hand 6

Correct Answer:

a) Pass

There is no “right” answer to this type of problem. Passing may allow you to show the nature of your hand on the next round. If you must open, then starting with 1 means you will have to rebid the suit on the next round while opening 1 allows you to show your Diamonds next time but distorts your shape.

 


Hand 7

Correct Answer:

b) Dbl

Having made a preemptive response, a Double simply shows some defensive prospects as South can hardly have a trump stack. 4NT would get the Diamonds into the picture but commits our side to game when partner has already decided against bidding 5. Bidding 5 would be far too unilateral.


Hand 8

Correct Answer:

a) Pass

Partner's Double is likely to be based on high-cards. West might be tempted to bid 4 because of the sixth Spade, but there is no guarantee of a fit. It has the advantage of allowing West to reconsider if 4♠ is doubled.


This article was written by Larry Cohen and was originally published in Bridgerama+.

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7 comments on “Bidding problems”

  1. Hand 5..."3♠ runs the risk that partner might pass."Partner should NOT, can Not pass new suit on 3-rd level I believe 🙂 And I woul like to show my 5-th A!C and not repeat my "naked "KJ in !S ...

  2. In hand 2, it shows that you are W and E has to bid. That can't be a w hand, since 2nt would not have been bid with a void in their bid suit

  3. On hand 2, partner's 2NT should be forward going with tolerance for spades. It doesn't make sense to bid 3D, non-forcing, here. You should insist on game in one of your two suits.

  4. No reason to submit anything. First, in many cases the understanding of possible bids by the partner should be explained. More to the matter: I won't bid 2S in hand 2 in the firs place. In hand 3, the way to make a forcing raise in H should be stated and/or whether 2H could be a 3-card suit. In hands 5 and 8, the meaning of X should be explained. And so on...

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