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Ask the Expert
Partner opens and you hold: A104 Q86432 976 5
The bidding, with silent opponents, goes: 1D-1H, 2C-?
What do you call? Please explain your choice.
John Dickenson. I take a preference by bidding 2D, which partner will likely pass. Partner has 12 to a bad 17 hcp. I have 6 pts, add for the club shortness and I have 9. Only on the best of days is game possible and opponents will probably lead trump, reducing my hand's ruffing values. Partner likely has 9 cards in the minors and I have 9 cards in the majors - the hands do not fit well. My spade ace is full value, heart queen of dubious value. Goal in matchpoints is a plus score which I expect to receive playing a diamond partial. Partner is likely 2=2=5=4, could be 1=3=5=4 in which case 2H could be right, but could also be 3=1=5=4 in which case 2H kills our chance for a plus score.
Bill Bauer. My rebid is governed by a favorite mantra of mine: When partner has bid 2 suits, take a preference especially if you have 3 cards in one of them. So, with the North hand I rebid 2D.
John Dickenson. I guess another thought is if our partnership plays Spiral, opener could have raised to 2H with a 1=3=5=4 minimum. Thus the opener is more likely to be 2=2=5=4 or 3=1=5=4. I am with Bill - tell your partner you have diamonds with him and go for the plus score.
Elaine Clair. If you can trust your partner to have longer diamonds than clubs, I would take a preference and bid 2D.
Dennis O’Brien. I will bid 2D but if I had a better heart suit, say QJ10xxx, at matchpoints I would bid 2H.
Mitch Snyder. I will bid 2D. I'd really like to bid 2H at matchpoints, but this suit is so bad...
Email your questions, or a pesky hand, or something you’d like to know about bidding or playing to Toysie Walker. She will forward them to the panel, one will be chosen, and the question and answers will be printed in the following week’s newsletter.
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