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Hand Evaluation Part IX

Responder Makes a Game Try

Last month we looked at game trys after the start: 1-1-2.
Now it is time to look at opener's decision opposite responder's game try. When responder makes a game try in a new suit, opener will start by assuming that this shows around a 10 or 11-count with 5-4 in the two suits. If the game try is 2NT then about 11 HCP is expected in a balanced hand with either four or five trumps, while if responder goes back to opener's first suit, she only guarantees eight cards in the two suits and a hand not really suitable for 2NT. 1-1-2-2NT-?

(i)		J 4
		Q 8 6 2
		K J
		A J 9 7 3

Bid 3. We have a minimum so should decine the game try but, with four trumps, should go back to the agreed suit.

(ii)		8
		K 9 8 6
		A 5 4
		A 10 9 8 6

Bid 4. Again we are minimum but we have three very good cards plus a singleton and a fourth trump. Game is not certain but it should have fair play.

(iii)		10
		A J 7
		K Q 7 2
		K J 9 5 3

Bid 3. We are maximum but have only three trumps and partner may have only four. The most helpful bid we can make is 3, completing the picture of our distribution and letting partner judge if any game is possible. It is better to play this bid of a third suit as constructive, showing a maximum, rather than as the same hand without the K. With the weaker hand we have to decide between pass, dubious with a small singleton; 3 despite the lack of a fourth trump; and 3, which suggests a six card suit and only three hearts but is probably the best of a bad bunch as it at least gets us to the right partscore when partner has four hearts and three clubs.

(iv)		A 7
		Q 8 6 4
		K Q 9
		K J 10 5

Bid 3NT. You are both balanced but clearly have the values for game. Partner will usually go back to 4 but it costs nothing to let her know that you have this strong no trump type, just in case she also has weakish hearts and thinks 3NT may be safer.
1-1-2-2-?

(v)		8 7
		K J 6 3
		Q 5
		A Q 9 5 3

Bid 3. We are minimum and the spade holding is poor. Game rates to be poor if partner cannot bid it herself now that we have promised a fourth trump.

(vi)		K 3
		A J 5 4
		9 3
		A 6 5 3 2

Bid 4. Good honour cards and a good spade holding more than make up for the minimum and uninspiring shape. It would be disappointing if game did not have good play.

(vii)		8
		Q 7 6
		A J 8 6
		K Q 10 5 3

Bid 2NT. We have only three trumps and have no fitting honour in spades. 2NT suggests our minimum, our diamond values, and the lack of a fourth trump, leaving partner to judge our final resting place. 1-1-2-3-?

(viii)		Q J 6 2
		8 5
		K 8
		A Q 9 6 3

Bid 4. Another minimum but with a good diamond holding and all our other honours working.

(ix)		Q J
		K Q 10 9
		Q 8
		K J 4 3 2

Bid 3. True we are near maximum in high cards but we are dreadfully short of controls and partner will need to cover a lot of our top losers for game to be good. This has all the earmarks of a 25-point partscore.

Opener's Third Bid is a Game Try. Let's look at one more game try situation. The bidding begins 1-1-2-2. When should opener make a move? Firstly, opener should bear in mind that the 2 bid will as often as not be based on a doubleton heart, responder even giving false preference with two hearts and three clubs quite often to keep the bidding alive. Responder is also limited to about a 9-count or so as with more she would have done more.

(x)		6
		A J 9 7 6
		K Q 4
		A J 8 6

Pass. We have some extras but opposite a typical responding hand 2 will be plenty high enough. We do not have the sort of hearts which will play comfortably in a 5-2 fit, we have a misfit with partner's suit, and our own sidesuit will need help from partner to get it going.

(xi)		7
		K Q 10 8 4
		A Q 6
		K Q J 3

Bid 2NT. Partner could hold a small doubleton heart and a 6-count so don't get carried away and jump to 4. 2NT shows about the values for a 2NT rebid on the previous round but we have gone more slowly to show our distribution. Partner knows pour strength, our approximate shape, and is well-placed to judge what to do.

(xii)		Q 5
		A K J 6 4
		9
		A Q 8 3 2

Bid 3. Again, remember that partner has not promised three hearts. Make a game try by repeating your second suit and she can pass, correct to 3, or if she likes her hand bid game in either suit.