June 2020 - 63

Special Contributors

Dear Billy
BY BILLY MILLER

Dear Billy,
Partner opened 1♠, and I tried a
constructive 2♠ raise holding:
♠A 10 9 ♥J 8 7 6 5 2 ♦A 7 ♣7 3.
My expert opponent, who represented the U.S. in international
events many years ago, said I should
have tried a forcing 1NT response
instead in case partner could bid
2♥. While that would be exciting,
what would I do after a rebid of two
of a minor? 2♠ is an underbid, 2♥ is
gross (but might work if partner has
at least two heart honors) and 3♠
seems to be a slight overbid.
Come to think of it, how do we find
out if partner has a heart holding
like the K-Q-x?
Thrown Out at Second
Dear Caught Stealing,
Your hand is too good to bid 2♠. As
the expert said, by bidding a forcing
1NT, you might uncover a heart fit,
although it's unlikely.
The real reason to start with a forcing notrump is to bid 3♠ on the next
round showing a three-card limit raise.
Your hand is worth an upgrade, holding two doubletons that offer potential
ruffs in the short hand. It's OK to be a
little aggressive with a fit, so following
up with 3♠ is a good plan.
Dear Billy,
Question 1: Against silent opponents, partner and I had this auction:

dearbilly@aol.com

Me
1♥
3♥

Partner
1♠
4♣

I had a hand with six hearts and
about 17 points. My interpretation of
4♣ was that it was a cuebid agreeing hearts. Partner had a spade-club
two-suiter, however, with 5=1=2=5
distribution and about 8 points.
What should 4♣ mean in this sequence?
Question 2: Partner had:
♠K Q 9 6 ♥J 7 5 ♦A K 9 5 2 ♣K
and opened 1♦, followed by 1♥ on
his left. I had a 3=3=3=4 hand with
3 points and passed. My LHO also
passed, and partner reopened the
bidding with 2♦, passed all around.
I think he should have bid 1♠.
Who's right?
Benefit of the Doubt
Dear Ben,
On Question 1, with 8 HCP and a
non-fitting hand, partner should either

pass 3♥ or bid 3NT. Nobody cares
about his club suit with 8 points! Your
interpretation of 4♣ is mainstream.
As a general rule, responder does not
introduce a new suit at the four level
naturally. Applying that rule should
help to clarify auctions in the future.
On Question 2, a rebid of 2♦ is
bizarre. 2♦ should show at least six
diamonds. Let's consider other options.
A reopening double should be for
takeout, showing shortness in the
opponent's suit and support for the
other unbid suits. We do this to protect
partner who may have a penalty (trap)
pass. With ♥J x x and a singleton
club, I agree with not reopening with a
double, as partner is unlikely to have a
trap pass.
So what to do? Something is fishy
here. Most likely partner is broke. 1♠
seems like the only sensible thing to do
if you can't bear to pass out 1♥. I'd be
somewhat concerned, however, that
the opponents may be missing a game.
Reopening the auction may push them
there.
◾

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June 2020 Bridge Bulletin

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June 2020

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