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Daily Bridge in New Zealand
It's Fri
for our Less Experienced Players
Do you know where you’re going?
A bidding problem for you today on the second round of bidding. Your partner opens with 1H and after your 2C call, partner bids 2D. What is your next bid with the following North hand?
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West |
North |
East |
South |
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1 ♥ |
|
Pass |
2 ♣ |
Pass |
2 ♦ |
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Pass |
? |
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Remember you are strong enough to bid 2
, a bid that shows at least 10 high card points and at least 4 clubs. One important factor is what do you know about your partner’s hand after their 2
bid?
Even if you play that 1
promises a minimum of 4 hearts, you know now that your partner has at least 5. That is because they opened a higher suit and continued with a lower one. We open the lower of 2 x 4- card suits. Therefore, in this case, our partner must have at least 5 hearts.
We do not know how many diamonds South has (just 4+) and we do not care. We have established a fit in hearts and that will be our trump suit.
Enough hcp for game
Our partner opened the bidding and we have 13 hcp, meaning we have enough hcp to bid directly to game. We know which game we want to play. So, bid it. 4. That bid should end the bidding as your partner has already limited their hand to no more than 16 hcp by their 2 bid. (With more they would have bid 3.)
Your second bid (a jump to game by responder in opener’s first bid suit on the second round of bidding) is known as a Delayed Game Raise. It tells your partner that you have a fit in opener’s suit and enough high card points for game. It should show a hand in the 12-15 hcp range because with more, you could be looking to bid a slam.
Most importantly, the opener must pass this bid. Contract reached. Let’s see all 4 hands:
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South Deals |
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West |
North |
East |
South |
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1 ♥ |
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Pass |
2 ♣ |
Pass |
2 ♦ |
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Pass |
4 ♥ |
All pass |
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West can lead the unbid suit, a low spade to East’s ace. East continues with 
Q and tries to cash a third round of spades but South can ruff this. South draws trumps in three rounds and then turns their attention to the club suit.
There are 5 winners to be taken though make sure you start with Q as otherwise, that card will block or stop you taking your winners. Discard 3 diamonds from the South hand on the high clubs and then lead a low diamond from the dummy. If East is asleep, South will score their K but assuming East takes their ace, South will score their remaining trump at trick 13 for 10 tricks.
Know your
Then go there!
Contract made. Well bid and played carefully.
Richard Solomon
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