THE GAME OF BRIDGE Weekly Chat on Contract SPECIALY WRITTEN FOR "THE POST" BY "APROACH BID"

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 16

THE GAME OF BRIDGE Weekly Chat on Contract SPECIALY WRITTEN FOR "THE POST" BY "APROACH BID"

ASKING BID SITUATIONS

AGREEING ON A SUIT AFTER A ONE NO-TRUMP RESPONSE. After partner has responded with one no-trump to an opening bid of one in a suit, a jump to four in a different suit by the opening bidder is an asking bid, setting the trump suit at the opening suit bid. (A jump to three in another suit is simply a game-forcing bid.) To J ake this asking bid after partner has made a minimum response, the opening bidder must have a hand almost strong enough for a two-bid, one on which he is prepared to bid game in his own suit even if the no-trump response is a minimum, while there are slam possibilities if the partner's hand has more than minimum values. As a one no-trump response may cover a hand containing as much as two plus honour tricks, the opening bidder, when prepared for a sign-off, runs no risk in making an asking bid which may bring a responses showing a fit between the two hands. The type of hand on which this asking bid can be employed is illustrated below. y A.K.Q.8.7.2. Jf, A.Q.6.3. $K.J.10.5.2. North."l 4 QS-T----95. % i V j.10.6. J. 10.6.3.2. g! ' B ♦ Q-9' BJf, 10.2. I South. 1 Jf, J. 9.7.5. 4|k A.6.4.3. ' 9 9.4.3. Jf, X.8.4. North dealer. East-West remain silent throughout. North. South. 19 1 N-.T. 4 *(?)!,, 442 5^3 5 N.T. 4 6 Jf, 5 6*6 1. After Souths one no-trump response. North is prepared to play the hand in four hearts, even if Souths one notrump is a minimum, while if South has anything better, there are slam possibilities if the hands fit. North therefore makes an asking bid of four clubs, to which South can reply with a sign-off of four hearts if necessary. 2. South, however, with second-round control in clubs and the Ace of spades, bids four spades. 3. With this encouragement, North is prepared to investigate still further, as, failing a positive response to a further asking bid, there is a safe signoff for South at five hearts. North, therefore, bids five diamonds, asking for second-round control in that suit. 4. South responds with five, notrumps, which at this stage of the bidding simply shows the control asked for. 5. If South has third-round control in clubs (he has already shown secondround control), a grand slam can be bid. North asks about this control by bidding six clubs. 6. South signs off with six hearts. AN ASKING BID AFTER A FORCING TWO-BID. When, after partner has responded

Open from 28th to 31st Dccc mber—both days inclusive.

to a forcing two-bid, the opening bidner rebids his suit, and then makes a non-jump bid of four in a new suit after his partner's second response, the fourbid is not an asking bid, but is simply a regulation bid, showing a strong opening suit with a much weaker, prol> ably a four-card, suit. In order to make an asking bid in this position, it is necessary to make a jump bid, as:— South. North. :+ S4 S 4k 3K.T. 4 Jf, (a regulation bid) , but 5 Jf, (an asking bid). When the response to an opening bid of two in a suit has been followed by an asking bid, the responding hand must — 1. If holding second-round control in the asked suit and an Ace. bid the Ace. 2. If holding second-round, control in the asked suit and no Ace. bid the required number of no-trumps.' Otherwise, sign off in the agreed suit at the lowest level. Suppose the bidding goes-— South. North. 4+ (?) North, holding spades K.J.x.x.x., hearts x.x.x., diamonds X.x., club 3 A.x.x., must respond with five clubs, but. change /the Ace of clubs for the King of any other card, and the response is four no-trumps, showing second-round control in diamonds, but denying an Ace in the hand, since the first preference in showing a fit is another Ace. All other requirements which govern asking bids after an opening suit bid of one remain unchanged, except the following:— "Holding the King or a singleton of the asked suit and two outside Aces, or holding two Aces, including the Ace of the asked suit, jump one trick in no-trumps. The following hand is. a Culbertson example of a jump asking-bid after an opening two-bid: — * A.K.Q.J.3.2. S xotth . 1 * 7.5, • ~ « V 8.6.5.8." Jf, A.QJ.6.2. I South. J J|U X.7.5. West. East. 2 ▲ 2 N.T. '4^ (?) 4 N.T. West's four-club bid asks for secondround control of clubs. East, with second-round control, but without an. Ace in the hand, must respond with four no-trumps. (If East's second-round control "was a singleton instead of the King, he must hold three of his partner's, trumps, otherwise he must sign off, as a singleton is worthless unless there are ruffing values in the hand,') West, knowing that his partner cannot hold the Ace of diamonds, closes the bidding at six, spades.