By Peter Rhead
Examples of unusual over unusual
This week we look at examples of how you might respond to your opening partner’s major when your nuisance opponent has butted in. Your opponent has overcalled with the Unusual 2NT bid showing 5-5 in the minors.
Remember, from last week, you might have the following agreement with your opening partner for Unusual over Unusual. Your opponent has given you two free cuebids of Clubs and Diamonds. Your partnership agreement is that Club and Heart bids are both Heart support. Diamond and Spade bids are both Spade support. The cuebid is always the stronger hand (10-12 points).
What is your response holding each of the following hands when partner has opened One Heart and your right hand opponent bids the Unusual 2NT?
Spades 96532
Hearts 7
Diamonds QJ987
Clubs AK
You cuebid Three Diamonds showing five Spades and 10-12 points with no Heart support. Opening partner now can decide where to take the contract.
Spades 96532
Hearts 789
Diamonds J98
Clubs AK
You bid Three Hearts. This time you are a weaker hand but you can support Hearts. Partner will know that your bid is equivalent to a bid of Two Hearts if you had been able to bid at the two level. You are showing three Hearts and 6-9 points. Opening partner now can decide where to take the contract.
Spades AK9632
Hearts 97
Diamonds 987
Clubs 93
You bid Three Spades. You do not have Heart support, but you have a good six-card Spade suit, and want to let partner know about it. You are bidding at the three-level because you are forced by the 2NT interference. Opening partner knows your bid is equivalent to a Weak Two-Spade bid with 6-9 points. He now knows your hand and will decide where to go. If nothing else, you have made it more difficult for your opponents to continue bidding.
Spades 962
Hearts AK76
Diamonds QJ98
Clubs 93
You bid Three Clubs. This is the strongest Heart bid you can make in Unusual over Unusual. It is equivalent to a limit raise of Three Hearts without interference. The cuebid of Three Clubs shows 10-12 points and four-card support for Hearts. Opening partner now knows your hand and will decide where to go for a Heart contract.
If partner opens One Spade, your responses are the same except that the cuebid Three Diamonds is the strongest Spade support response and the cuebid of Three Clubs is the response for a five-card Heart Suit with 10-12 points.
For more information, read “Unusual Over Unusual” in Barbara Seagram’s 25 Bridge More Conventions You Should Know, page 173
Next Week: SOS “Save Our Souls”
Remember, as we all fight COVID-19 with social isolation, if you want your Bridge fix, online competition is available for all skill levels. From the ACBL Bridge website, you can hook up either to play live people or to play robots. Either way you test or consolidate various Bridge skills. At ACBL.org just click on “Play Bridge” and follow the prompts for various choices.
If you wish to promote an activity in your Bridge group or ask a Bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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