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The Intermediate Series

Lesson 2 – When Partner has Two Suits

Quiz

 

Last lesson I introduced responder rebids when partner bids two suits. There is an important matter that must be addressed before we continue.

When opener’s rebid is in a minor it can be on a three card suit. How else would opener rebid over 1NT when he has ♠Axxxx ♥Kx ♦xxx ♣AQx? The best bid is 2♣. What this means to you as a responder is not to raise the minor unless you have five card support. Ok, let’s see how good you are:

 

Partner          You

1♣                   1♥

1♠                   ?

What do we know?

Partner has at least three clubs and four spades. He may be balanced or unbalanced; he may have a minimum or a maximum. In another words, not much!

One question: Playing a strong notrump is whether opener should rebid 1♠or 1NT with ♠Axxx ♥Kx ♦xxx ♣AQxx? I would say 1♠.

 

 

Quiz 1

 

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

 

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

 

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

 

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

 

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

 

6.     ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

 

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

 

8.     ♠xxxx ♥Axxxx ♦xx ♣AK

 

9.     ♠x ♥K1098x ♦AJxxx ♣Kx

 

10.♠xxxx ♥KJxxxx ♦xx ♣x

 

 


Solution Quiz 1

 

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

Bid 3♣. Remember that jumps are invitational. When three suits are bid the only way to force to game, besides bidding it or asking for aces, is to bid the fourth suit.

 

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

Hard hand. Playing a weak notrump this hand is easy. Here not so much. You are on the borderline of inviting. 1NT is probably best, especially at matchpoints. The lack of a diamond stopper is offset by the high card maximum.

 2♣, a definite maximum, or 3♣with no guarantee of an eight or even a seven card fit is misguided. A close second is 2♥, especially at matchpoints.

 

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

2♥or 3♥close second. Some partnerships play 3♥as a strong club raise. If you don’t it shows a good suit, usually at least six cards, and invitational to game values.

 

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

2♠, simple preference. Same reasoning as #2 above. Play in a sure 5-2 fit rather than a 4-4 or 3-4 club contract.

 

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

Can’t bid 2♦, as that is game forcing and artificial. Best of a very bad lot is 2♥. Incidentally, why respond in the first place with a 4 HCPs and a void in partner’s suit?

 

6.     ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

1NT. Over 1♣I would have bid 1♦, not 1♥, so I could have rebid 2♦over any rebid, or raised hearts. Now I am stuck with 1NT.

 

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

Same as 6.

 

8.     ♠xxxx ♥Axxxx ♦xx ♣AK

Close between 3♠invitational and 4♠. I think the AK in partner’s suit and your pure points warrants the game bid. What is the difference between 4♠and 2♦on this auction? 2♦shows a better hand. 4♠says I want to be in game but I have no extra values.

 

This is the principle of fast arrival: In a game forcing auction the slower you go when a fit is found, the better the hand.

 

9.     ♠x ♥K1098x ♦AJxxx ♣Kx

Jump to 3♦. We know this not game forcing, as 2♦is how we force to game. So what is it? 5-5 in the suits bid and invitational values. Opener should value a hand with high cards in the red suits, and aces in the black suits. And obviously an eight card fit is desirable!

 

For example, ♠AQJx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣QJxxx is 13 HCPs, a fit and a ruffing value, but the correct bid is 3♥. However change the hand slightly to less high cards ♠Axxx ♥AJ ♦K10 ♣xxxxx, this hand is definitely worthwhile accepting on.

 

10.♠xxxx ♥KJxxxx ♦xx ♣x

Pass. Your goal responding with subminimum values was to improve the contract. You have done very well finding a 4-4 fit. Don’t encourage partner who will play you for more. Most hands where game is makeable, partner should have rebid 2♠, not 1♠.

 

Quiz 2

Partner          You

1♠                   1NT

2♣                   ?

 

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

 

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

 

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

 

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

 

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

 

6.     ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

 

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

 

8.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦Qxxx ♣AQxxxx

 

9.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦KQJxxx ♣xxxx

 

10.♠x ♥AQx ♦xxx ♣xxxxxx

 


SOLUTIONS to Quiz 2

1.     ♠xx ♥Ax ♦xxx ♣AQxxxx

Bid 3♣. You have 5+ clubs and 12 points (remember count distributional points when you have a fit and are likely going to play in a suit). This is a maximum invite in my view, as you have two aces and a sixth club. If partner accepts he will bid game or probe with three of a red suit, showing a stopper.

2NT is also possible, but not as descriptive. An important point to remember as opener on these auctions: When you DO NOT accept it is always better to play in the suit, EVEN at matchpoints.

However the opposite is true if accepting: If going on to game, 3NT is better at matchpoints as you only need 9 tricks and it scores higher than five of a minor.

 

2.     ♠xx ♥AJ10xx ♦xxx ♣KQx

2NT. Yes you have a 5th heart, but 2♥can be bid on a six count. You might be concerned of bidding 3NT without a diamond stopper, or missing a 5-3 heart fit. The key here is if partner is accepting your game invitation, he should bid out his pattern on the way to game. So if he is 6-3-0-4 or 5-3-1-4 shape he would bid 3♥over 2NT.

 

3.     ♠x ♥Q109xxx ♦Qx ♣KQxx

Bid 2♥. You are close to inviting but the questionable ♦Q indicates caution.

 

4.     ♠AK ♥xxxxx ♦xx ♣xxxx

2♠.  Your heart suit is too weak to bid. It is almost always better to play in a 5-2 fit that a 4-3 one. Partner may surprise you by bidding 3♥on the next round of bidding, and you would bid game. You can’t do that if you pass 2♣.

 

5.     ♠- ♥Q10xxx ♦Qxxxxxx ♣x

2♦.  If partner bids 2♥ pass! If he bids anything else I would pass. “No double, no trouble.” Pass of 1♠was right.

 

6.      ♠x ♥xxxx ♦Axxxxx ♣Kx

2♦. Easy. Pass all other bids by partner.

 

7.     ♠xx ♥Axxx ♦J10xxxx ♣x

2♦or 2♠. Close. 2♦is less likely to get partner excited as would 2♠. Here is another important lesson: When there is a misfit it is usually better to play in the suit of the weaker hand.

 

8.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦Qxxx ♣AQxxxx

Here 2♣was possible over 1♠, but 1NT was better. Now you need to catch up! This hand is too good for 3♣. 4♣or 5♣are acceptable. Many more experienced players use a jump in the other major to describe this holding. Here that would be 3♥.

 

9.     ♠x ♥Ax ♦KQJxxx ♣xxxx

3♦, natural, usually 6+ diamonds and 11-12 points.

 

10.♠x ♥AQx ♦xxx ♣xxxxxx

 

Too strong to pass 2♣. Bid 3♣. As we learned in intermediate lesson 1, a potential big fit can make up for missing high cards. Give partner ♠Axxxx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣AKxx and you can see what I mean. A minimum opener opposite a 6 count and 12 tricks are cold if clubs 2-

 

 

NEXT COLUMN – LESSON 4:

Opener’s 3rd bid.

 

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