October 2021 - 48

Newer Players
Reasoning with Robert
Modern Walsh-style bidding
Responding to 1'
When partner opens 1', you can
respond with a four-card (or longer)
suit at the one level - only promising
6-plus HCP. How do you respond
when you have more than one fourcard
suit? For many years, the approach
was to respond " up the line. "
But there are flaws to that method,
especially if the opponents enter the
bidding.
The modern approach is to think
ahead, making your plan based on
how many bids you intend to make.
With a minimum (6-9 HCP), you
usually bid only once as responder.
Thus, you tend to focus on bidding a
four-card major suit (if you have one).
With a better hand (10-plus HCP),
plan to make multiple bids and bid
your longest and/or strongest suit
first. This style of responding is part
of the Walsh approach to bidding.
Responding to 1'
with a minimum
When partner opens 1', respond
1 with either of these hands:
A K Q 9 4 kJ 4 l8 5 4 2 'Q 7 3;
B 8 5 4 2 kJ 4 lK Q 9 4 'Q 7 3.
In example B, your diamonds are
much better than your spades, but
with only 8 HCP, you plan to make
only one bid, so it is best to respond
with your major suit.
Even if diamonds are longer and/or
stronger than hearts or spades, with
only 8 HCP (a minimum), you should
respond with the major. You would
respond 1k with either of these
hands:
5 2 kK Q 9 4 lQ 9 7 5 4 'J 4;
J 2 kJ 9 4 3 lK Q 9 7 4 '9 4.
48 | Bridge Bulletin | October 2021
One reason that you do not bid diamonds
first is that if the opponents
overcall spades, then you may not be
able to find a heart fit if there is one.
The modern style is to " frequently
bypass " the four-card or longer diamond
suit in favor of the major.
Responding to 1'
with a strong hand
With 13 or more HCP, you are clearly
going to game after partner opens 1':
2 kA 9 4 3 lA K 9 7 4 'Q 4 2.
Begin by responding 1l and next
bid your heart suit: 1'-1l; 1NT-2k.
This " responder's reverse " shows
10-plus points, is forcing for one
round and implies longer diamonds
than hearts (at least 4=5 shape).
With a strong enough hand, " pattern
out " - bid your longest suit first,
even if your diamond suit is weaker
than your major:
K Q J 2 kA 3 lK 10 9 7 4 '4 2.
With invitational values (10-11
HCP), you still have enough strength
to pattern out. Start by responding
with 1l and later plan to bid your
spade suit:
K Q J 2 k8 3 lA 10 9 7 4 'J 2.
You do not bid 1l with all nonminimum
hands that have diamonds.
Consider this hand:
A 8 6 2 k8 3 lK Q J 7 'K 7 2.
Though you plan to bid game, with
only a four-card diamond suit you
should simply respond 1.
To summarize: As responder, if you
bid 1l, then either you have only diamonds,
or you have a strong enough
hand to bid your second suit later.
BY ROBERT S. TODD
robert@advinbridge.com
advinbridge.com
Opener's rebids after 1'-1l
After 1'-1l, you generally rebid
notrump when you have a balanced
hand and rebid your second suit with
a two-suiter.
A J 6 2 kK 3 lQ J 7 'K 10 9 2.
After 1'-1l, rebid 1NT, not 1.
Responder either does not have a
four-card major or will be strong
enough to bid one at their next turn.
The key concept is that opener shows
their hand type with their second bid
after a 1'-1l auction - rebidding
notrump with a balanced hand.
With the above hand, after you rebid
1NT, if responder makes a reverse
into 2, then you can bid a spade
game: 1'-1l; 1NT-2; 4.
With an unbalanced hand, rebid
your second suit:
A Q 6 2 k3 lJ 9 7 'K Q 9 7 2.
Rebid 1, showing a four-card
spade suit, a five-card or longer club
suit and about 12-17 HCP (anything
less than a strong jumpshift).
NOTICE OF BINDING
ARBITRATION
By becoming an ACBL
member or renewing your
membership in the ACBL,
you expressly agree to waive
your right to have disputes
between you and the ACBL
resolved in a court of law
and agree to accept the use
of binding arbitration before
the American Arbitration
Association. The binding
arbitration provisions are
available for review at acbl.
org/bindingarbitration.
http://www.advinbridge.com
October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2021
