62 English Bridge February 2016 www.ebu.co.uk

WN E S

?

1NT. Although a hand with three

aces looks like it might produce

only three tricks, do not forget

you have a partner. Your aces

turn partner's kings into sure winners. The hand

could be worse; you do have a bit of shape plus a

smattering of eights and nines.

WN E S

3™

?

3NT. You might wish you could

go back to the days when a

penalty double was available.

These days almost everyone plays

double for takeout. Since your hand is far too good

to hope that partner can reopen with a double, you

must bid 3NT. The club suit will come in handy in

3NT.

WN E S

1® Pass 1t Pass

1™ Pass 3NT Pass

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Pass. Yes, you have more shape

than you have previously shown.

Yes, your void is in the unbid

spade suit. Nevertheless, you should trust your

partner who is duty-bound to have the spades

covered. A leap all the way to 3NT over 1™ should

show a strong desire to play there. If you belong in

4™ or 5®, it is not your fault! .

WNES

1t Pass 1´ Pass

2t Pass 2™ Pass

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2´. Going back to partner's first

suit typically shows a doubleton

honour (you would jump to 3´ if

you had three-card support). You would need four

hearts to raise to 3™. If the bidding continues, you

might be able to show the club stopper next time.

WN E S

1t 1´

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1NT. The overcall does not stop

you from responding what you

were planning to respond anyway.

The only difference is that now partner knows you

have a spade stopper and at least seven points (you

would pass with five or six after the overcall) up to a

maximum of a poor ten.

WN E S

1™ 2® 2´ 4®

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4™. The vigorous opposing

bidding has limited your

options. Fortunately, you hold a

decent seven-card suit. If you do not bid 4™ now,

you will never be able to convey what sort of suit

you have. Even facing a singleton 4™ should have

some play. Besides, the big fit for the opponents

increases the chance of a fit your way. r

Hand 1

´ 9 8 6 3

™ A 8 7

t A 6

® A 7 6 5

Hand 2

´ 6 4

™ K Q 9 7

t A 10

® A K Q J 7

Hand 3

´ Void

™ J 8 5 4 2

t J 3

® A K Q 8 6 3

Hand 4

´ K 9

™ J 10 9

t K Q 8 6 5 3

® A 5

Hand 5

´ K Q 6

™ Q 8

t 10 8 7

® 10 6 5 4 2

Hand 6

´ A 4

™ K Q 9 8 7 5 3

t A 8 2

® 5

Answers to Questions on Page 41 by Julian Pottage

Club Bidding Quiz

Club Bidding Quiz

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Prestbury's charity fund-raising

Prestbury Duplicate Bridge Club presented a £1,500 cheque to the East

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Treasurer, with Hospice Ambassador, Midge (Dorothy) Barber. Over its 25

year life, PDBC has given a total of £75,850 to the Hospice.