July 2018 - 49

Newer Players

Bidding Basics
BY LARRY COHEN

larryco.com

Responding to 3♣ and higher
When partner preempts on the three
level, expect a seven-card suit. On the
four level, an eight-card suit. Partner
has a weak hand (less than opening bid
strength), typically with most of his
points in his long suit. If vulnerable,
expect a sounder preempt.
Given these parameters, game is
unlikely. If you respond 3NT to a threelevel preempt, you are not asking partner's opinion; you are saying you want
to play there. Such a bid is rare. You
would need close to nine tricks in your
own hand and all suits stopped. Here
are some possible 3NT responses:
♠5 ♥K 2 ♦A K Q J 8 7 6 ♣A J 2
Respond 3NT to 3♠ by partner.
♠K Q J ♥- ♦K Q 10 9 ♣A Q J 10 9 8
Respond 3NT to 3♥.
Also, if you have stoppers and some
honors suggesting parter's suit will
run, bid 3NT:
♠K 4 ♥A Q 7 ♦A J 2 ♣ Q J 8 3 2
Respond 3NT to 3♦.
If you are interested in game opposite a high-level preempt (usually it
will be in partner's long suit), you can
put partner in game. Base this not on
high-card strength (queens and jacks
aren't typically worth much); try to
have aces and kings. Put partner in
game with each of these hands:
♠Q ♥A 2 ♦A K 7 6 5 ♣A 10 8 7 2
Raise 3♠ to 4♠.
♠A K Q J ♥A 2 ♦K Q 7 6 5 4 ♣2
Raise 3♥ to 4♥.

If you respond in a new suit, it is
forcing one round (unless your response happens to be a bid of game,
such as 4♣-Pass-4♠). This new-suit
response is rare, but here are some
examples:
♠A Q J 8 7 6 5 ♥3 2 ♦A J 3 2 ♣-
Respond 3♠ to partner's 3♥.
♠2 ♥A K Q J 10 7 6 ♦2 ♣A K 3 2
Respond 4♥ to partner's 4♦.
With many good hands, you will pass
partner's preempt. Without a fit and
without expectation of making a game,
just pass. For example:
♠A Q 7 6 5 ♥- ♦A 6 5 4 ♣Q 8 7 6
Pass partner's opening 3♥ and hope
for the best.
♠2 ♥K Q 8 2 ♦K Q 6 5 ♣K J 10 2
Pass partner's opening 3♠. (If you
bid 3NT and go down five, you'll never
try that again.)
♠- ♥A Q 7 6 5 4 ♦A 6 5 4 2 ♣K 2
Pass partner's 4♠ opening.
Will you pass with all bad hands? No.
Just as after partner's weak two-bids,
support with support. Raise to the four
level if your side has 10 trumps (and
sometimes raise a minor-suit preempt
to five with lots of shape). Don't blindly
follow this rule (if vulnerable, flat, and/
or loaded with cards in the other suits,
go cautiously). Here are some weak
hands where you would raise partner's

preempt to make things more difficult
for the opponents:
♠K 3 2 ♥2 ♦J 10 7 6 5 ♣10 8 7 6
Raise partner's 3♠ to 4♠ whether or
not RHO has acted.
♠- ♥J 7 6 ♦A 7 6 5 4 2 ♣Q 7 6 5
Raise partner's 3♥ to 4♥ whether or
not RHO has acted.
♠Q 7 6 5 4 ♥3 ♦Q 7 6 5 ♣5 3 2
Raise partner's 3♦ to 5♦. (If vulnerable, maybe only to 4♦.)

BIDDING BASICS QUIZ
For the first four questions, nobody
is vulnerable, and partner deals and
opens 3♥. What is your response?
1. ♠A Q 7 6 5 ♥6 ♦A Q 7 ♣Q 7 3 2
2. ♠4 ♥Q 3 2 ♦K Q J 8 2 ♣J 10 8 2
3. ♠A 2 ♥A ♦A J 10 8 7 6 ♣K Q 4 2
4. ♠K Q 4 ♥8 ♦A K 2 ♣A K Q J 3 2
For the next three questions, both
sides are vulnerable, and LHO passes,
followed by partner's 3♠. RHO passes.
What is your response?
5. ♠K ♥K Q 2 ♦A 7 6 5 4 ♣A 7 6 5
6. ♠- ♥K J 7 6 5 4 ♦K Q 7 6 5 ♣A 2
7. ♠J 10 7 6 ♥3 ♦A 7 6 5 4 2 ♣3 2
Both sides are vulnerable, partner
opens 3♦, and RHO doubles. What is
your response?
8. ♠A 2 ♥J 7 6 5 4 ♦K J 2 ♣10 7 6
See next page for answers
July 2018 Bridge Bulletin

49
http://www.larryco.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2018
