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Opening bids - Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit

Question 1 (of 10 on this page)
You are West in the hands opposite. Nobody has bid. What would you open with ?

1. 1 Club
2. 1 Diamond
3. 1 Heart
4. 1 Spade
5. 1 NT
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Question 1 (of 10 on this page)
You are West in the hands opposite. Nobody has bid. What would you open with ?
Answer
4 . 1 Spade

You are unbalanced, with a singleton in Clubs. Bid your longest suit first.
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Question 2 (of 10 on this page)
You are again West in the hands opposite. You opened 1 Spade, partner replied 2 Clubs. What would your second bid be ?

1. 1 Club
2. 1 Diamond
3. 1 Heart
4. 1 Spade
5. 1 NT
6. 2 Clubs
7. 2 Diamonds
8. 2 Hearts
9. 2 Spades
10. 2 NT
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Question 2 (of 10 on this page)
You are again West in the hands opposite. You opened 1 Spade, partner replied 2 Clubs. What would your second bid be?
Answer
7 . 2 Diamonds

Your selection of a second suit shows a minimum 5-4 distribution, and an unbalanced hand. Choose 2 diamonds, not 3. You can't show your shape or your 6-loser hand unless you have established a fit. You could also have considered a 2NT reply, since you seem to have all 4 suits stopped, but with your singleton in clubs that might make communication difficult, and you might conceivably only have 5 between you, which could be tricky in NT.
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Question 3 (of 10 on this page)
As west again, does your 2 Diamond rebid indicate to your partner any particular extra information about the strength of your hand, beyond the 12-19 HCP promised in your opening bid ?

1. no
2. yes, 12-15
3. yes, 12-16
4. yes, 15-16,
5. yes, 17-18
6. yes, 19
7. yes, 16-19
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Question 3 (of 10 on this page)
As west again, does your 2 Diamond rebid indicate to your partner any particular extra information about the strength of your hand, beyond the 12-19 HCP promised in your opening bid ?
Answer
2 . yes, 12-15

With 16 or more HCP you would have bid at a higher level
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Question 4 (of 10 on this page)
You are again West in the hands opposite. You opened 1 Spade, partner replied 2 Hearts. What would your second bid be ?

1. 2 Spades
2. 2 NT
3. 3 Clubs
4. 3 Diamonds
5. 3 Hearts
6. 3 Spades
7. 3 NT
8. 4 Clubs
9. 4 Diamonds
10. 4 Hearts
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Question 4 (of 10 on this page)
You are again West in the hands opposite. You opened 1 Spade, partner replied 2 Hearts. What would your second bid be ?
Answer
10 . 4 Hearts

A reply from your partner at the 2-level in a MAJOR suit promises a 5-card suit, and 9/10 points (or an 8-loser hand). You have an 8 card Major fit. Given your fit, your 14 HCP should now be upgraded to include your singleton, that's 17 points altogether. Enough for game in Hearts. Given the 8-card trump fit that you have now discovered, you could alternatively examine the situation from a "losing trick count" perspective. You have a 6-loser hand, giving you the green light to raise to 4 Hearts on the back of partner's presumed 8-loser hand.
Example deal Back to explanation

Question 5 (of 10 on this page)
You are North in the hands opposite. Nobody has bid. What would you open with ?

1. 1 Club
2. 1 Diamond
3. 1 Heart
4. 1 Spade
5. 1 NT
Example deal Back to explanation

Question 5 (of 10 on this page)
You are North in the hands opposite. Nobody has bid. What would you open with ?
Answer
4 . 1 Spade

With two 5-card suits, bid the highest denomination first, planning to bid the other one next.
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Question 6 (of 10 on this page)
You are North in the hands opposite. You opened one Spade. Partner replied 2 Cubs. What should you bid next ?

1. 2 Diamonds
2. 2 Hearts
3. 2 Spades
4. 2 NT
5. 3 Clubs
6. 3 Diamonds
7. 3 Hearts
8. 3 Spades
9. 3 NT
10. 4 Clubs
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Question 6 (of 10 on this page)
You are North in the hands opposite. You opened one Spade. Partner replied 2 Cubs. What should you bid next ?
Answer
7 . 3 Hearts

Bid your hearts next, as the second but lower ranking 5-card suit. But jump to a higher level than the minimum bid of 2-Hearts in order to indicate 16+ points.

Note: If you bid 2-Hearts, you will be misleading your partner by failing to go through your barrier (have a look at page 14, Hand Evaluation: Reversing, or crossing your barrier).
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Question 7 (of 10 on this page)
You are East in the hands opposite. Nobody has bid. What would you open with ?

1. 1 Club
2. 1 Diamond
3. 1 Heart
4. 1 Spade
5. 1 NT
Example deal Back to explanation

Question 7 (of 10 on this page)
You are East in the hands opposite. Nobody has bid. What would you open with ?
Answer
3 . 1 Heart

With an unbalanced hand, open with your longest suit, planning to rebid your shorter 4-card suit when you rebid.
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Question 8 (of 10 on this page)
You are East. After your opening bid of one Heart, your partner replies 2 Clubs, promising 4 Clubs and 10 points. With your 16 HCP, you seem to have enough for Game. But in which contract ? What should you bid next ?

1. 2 Diamonds
2. 2 Hearts
3. 2 Spades
4. 2 NT
5. 3 Clubs
6. 3 Diamonds
7. 3 Hearts
8. 3 Spades
9. 3 NT
10. 4 Clubs
Example deal Back to explanation

Question 8 (of 10 on this page)
You are East. After your opening bid of one Heart, your partner replies 2 Clubs, promising 4 Clubs and 10 points. With your 16 HCP, you seem to have enough for Game. But in which contract ? What should you bid next ?
Answer
6 . 3 Diamonds

Your second suit is diamonds. So bid them. At the same time tell your partner you have 16+ points by bidding three diamonds instead of two. If your partner has 3 cards in hearts, he will now raise you to 4 hearts, knowing that you have an 8-card heart fit and 25+ HCP. Your change of suit told your partner that you have 5 cards in the suit you bid first.
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Question 9 (of 10 on this page)
You are South in the hand opposite. How would you open the bidding ?

1. 1 Club
2. 1 Diamond
3. 1 Heart
4. 1 Spade
5. 1 NT
6. pass
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Question 9 (of 10 on this page)
You are South in the hand opposite. How would you open the bidding ?
Answer
4 . 1 Spade

You only have 11 points, but, under the "Rule of 20" your hand qualifies for opening 1 Spade because of the length of your two longest suits. In order to be able to make this bid, it's important that your high cards are concentrated in your two long suits.
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Question 10 (of 10 on this page)
You are South in the hand opposite. You opened 1 Spade and your partner replied 1 Club. How would you continue with the bidding ?

1. 2 Diamonds
2. 2 Hearts
3. 2 Spades
4. 2 NT
5. 3 Clubs
6. 3 Diamonds
7. 3 Hearts
8. 3 Spades
9. 3 NT
10. 4 Clubs
Example deal Back to explanation

Question 10 (of 10 on this page)
You are South in the hand opposite. You opened 1 Spade and your partner replied 1 Club. How would you continue with the bidding ?
Answer
1 . 2 Diamonds

If you bid 1 NT, which seems tempting, you will mislead your partner regarding your strength and shape, since a 1NT reply implies a balanced hand with 15-16 HCP. You have something quite different, so bid your second suit. Besides which, with only one club, and as few as 5 of them between you, you might find yourselves in deep water in a NT contract if the enemy make off with 4 or 5 quick tricks at the start.
Example deal Back to explanation