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BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

PETER DONOVAN

West ♠ A K ♥ 10 9 8 6 5 3 2 ♦ 3 ♣ A Q 5

You deal and open 1♥ on this hand. What would you bid next if partner responds 2♦, and would it make any difference if, instead, he responded 2♣? On balance, you ought to rebid 2♥ in the first instance because, although you have a seven-card suit, it is very weak and partner’s 2♦ response has not improved your playing strength. If you believe partner is an underbidder, you’d be forgiven for jumping to 3♥, because you know he has at least eight HCPs, but what will you do if he next bids 3nT? A 2♣ response makes a world of difference to your decision and you should rebid 3♥, because now you know that, if partner doesn’t have some support for your suit, he will certainly have good long clubs, and your AQ will be priceless. Your hand has only got five losers once you have found a trump fit. Compare the following sample hands for East to see the difference:

(a) ♠Qxx, ♥Q, ♦KQxxxx, ♣Jxx — 2♦. (b) ♠Qxx, ♥Q, ♦Qxx, ♣KJxxxx — 2♣.

Both have the same points and distribution, but while no game is possible opposite hand (a), 5♣ will make opposite hand (b).

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2023-05-31T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-31T07:00:00.0000000Z

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