The article on this topic is here.
Which (there is only one) auction below by South guarantees a balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2):
A)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
Pass | 1 | Pass | 1NT |
B)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
Pass | 1 | Pass | 1NT |
C)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
Pass | 2 | Pass | 3NT |
D)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
Pass | 1 | Pass | 3NT |
A
B
C
D
D) None of the first 3 auctions guarantee a balanced hand.
Which (there is only one) auction below by South guarantees a balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2):
A)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Pass | 3NT |
B)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
3 | 3 | Pass | 3NT |
C)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
Pass | 3 | Pass | 3NT |
D)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
Pass | 1 | Pass | 3NT |
A
B
C
D
D) -- A raise to 3NT (assuming it isn't conventional) shows a balanced hand (no singletons or voids).
In A), the 3NT bidder could have, say:
KQ108
KJ1087
Q
AQ2.
In B), the 3NT bidder could have, say:
3
KQ10
KQJ107
J1096.
In C), the 3NT bidder could have, say:
K2
--
AKQJ10876
QJ3.
With which hand (only 1) should South bid 2NT in this auction:
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Pass | ||
1 | 2 | Pass | 2NT |
1)
J1093
KQ54
A
7642?
2)
K1076
Q653
J1096
2?
3)
KQ7
Q1076
KJ2
1093?
4)
J10982
K876
K42
2?
Hand 1
Hand 2
Hand 3
Hand 4
#3 is a perfect 2NT bid.
#1 is better suited for a raise (via a 2 or 2 cuebid)
#2 and #4 are not strong enough.
Identify the one (only one) auction below where South could easily be unbalanced (no jokes, please):
1)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
2NT |
2)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Pass | 3NT |
3)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
2 | Pass | 3NT |
4)
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Double | Pass | 1NT |
Hand 1
Hand 2
Hand 3
Hand 4
On Hands 1,2 and 4, South should be balanced.
On Hand 3, South could easily have something like:
2
KQJ
KQJ1098
AK10.
On this auction:
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | ? |
With which hand below (only 1) should you, South, bid 3NT?
1)
KJ98
A32
QJ87
K2?
2)
KJ
KJ93
AJ107
J32?
3)
QJ6
QJ6
QJ76
Q54?
4)
A
K32
KQ108765
Q43?
Hand 1
Hand 2
Hand 3
Hand 4
With #1, A negative double is better.
With #3, South isn't strong enough for 3NT
With #4, South is unbalanced and should bid 2
With which hand below should you, South, bid 2NT.
None vulnerable. The auction starts:
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | ? |
1) KQ1093
4
AJ5
KJ32
2) Q105
54
KQ1092
KJ10
3)
98
A76
Q9852
AJ10
4)
A73
4
10876
KQ1087
Hand 1
Hand 2
Hand 3
Hand 4
2. 2NT on this auction shows 11-12 with a club stopper. Only hand 2 fits that description. With 1, you should bid 2. With hand 3, you should make a cuebid raise of hearts by bidding 3. On hand 4, you should pass, hoping partner balances with a takeout double. This is sometimes called a penalty pass or trap pass.