Evening star., 1937-01-24

response, etc. Yet, whenever we do
bid a new suit, we must have some
definite reason for so doing and not
merely make the bid because we hap
pen to have another suit.
For example, suppose we open the
bidding with one spade, holding:
Spades, A @ Xxx
Hearts, A K xxx
Diamonds,
Clubs, Xxx
Our partner raises to two spades.
Many players would now bid three
hearts. Why? What can be the pur-
pose? They surely are not interested
in a slam. Partner has given a mere
raise to two spades. They cannot be
interested in finding a better suit
than spades-after all, II you have q
strong five-card suit and your partner
raises you Immediately, there Is where
you want to play the hand. Accord
ingly, the only purpose served by q
three heart bid would be to direct the
opening lead away from that suit. The
correct bid Is a simple jump to four
spades, telling your partner that you
think you can make game, but at the
same time conveying no information
to the opponents as to what to lead.
A MOTHER occasion when players
are inclined to bid new suits
promiscuously occurs when they open
with a suit bid of one and partner
dc t1r,n Tn thiS
instance there are really only two ex-
cuses for bidding a new suit. (a) II
you intend to invite a slam later and
(b) If .your hand is obviously un-
suited for no-trump and you are try
ing to find a better contract. The
following is an example Of class A:
Spades, A
Hearts, A K Xxx
Diamonds. K Jxxx
Clubs, K X
Your partner responds to your open
ing bid of one heart with two no.
trump. You naturally bid three dia-
monds, since you have every intention
of going to an eventual slam contract.
Here is an example Of class B:
Spades, X
Hearts, K j 9S7
Diamonds. K 765
Clubs, A @
You now bid three diamonds over
your partners two no-trump response.
since you would much rather play the
hand at game in a suit than in no
trump.
But consider the following hand:
Spades, XXX
Hearts. A xxx
Diamonds, A XXX.
Clubs, X.
You bid one heart. Your partner
bids two no-trump. You are not in
terested in a slam, since, although
your opening bid is sound, your part
ner must have more than two-no-
trump response for there to be any
reasonable play for six. Your hand
is not unsuited to no-trump. Admit
tedly, you have no stopper in either
spades or clubs. but your partner by
his bid of two no-trump has indicated
that he can take care of those suits.
A second-round bid of three diamonds
by you might result in your partner
raising you to four, and you certainly
would rather play for nine tricks at
no-trump than II tricks at diamonds.
Hence. you should raise your partner
to three no-trump.
HERE is case where you shouldn't
bother to show even one suit.
Your partner opens with one no
trump. You hold:
Spades, Xxx.
Hearts, X K.
Diamonds, A xxx.
Clubs, xxx.
You simply raise to two no-trump.
You would rather play the hand for
nine tricks at no-trump than for II
tricks at diamonds. At the same time,
your partners opening no-trump has
shown you that, in all probability, he
can take care of every suit. Why fool
around and give useless informa ton?
Here is another and still more i'm
portant instance. Your partner opens
the bidding with one spade. You hold:
Spades, K x.
Hearts, Xxx.
Diamonds, X Qxxx.
Clubs. xxx.
In this case your correct response