Tuesday, January 03, 2006 4:23 AM

Hand Evaluation - Q Bids Vrs Suits

PITBULLS:

In the game of bridge sometimes there can be confusion between interpreting a bid as Q bid or a suit. The first rule of Q bidding is establishing a fit early. Once you have found a fit , you do not try and find a 2^nd fit . Therefore all subsequent bids are interpreted as Q bids. When you transfer after a NT opening , establish the fit at the earliest convenience so that Q bids come into play.

1NT-P-2♥-P

2♠-P-3♦-P

3♠-P- 4♣ since we have established a spade fit , 4♣ and all other bids afterwards are Q bids. What if partner in this auction bid 3♥ after 3♦ what would that mean ? Since she did not establish trump as spades , 3♥ sets the suit as diamonds. Very important in these auctions.

Another rule for Q bids is “game before slam” . In other words if a bid can be interpreted as a Q bid towards slam or an attempt to find a game , game takes precedence.

1♥-P-2♦-P

4♣-P-4♥-P 4♣ was a splinter but 4♥ is not a Q bid as game takes precedence.

1♦-P-1♥-3♠

P-4♠-5♣-P 5♣ is game so not a Q bid . Game takes precedence if no fit established prior in the auction.

Sometimes you can tell from the auction whether a bid is a Q bid or a suit. If you circumvent a basic Q bidding rule of Q bidding your lowest ranking suit first , the bid should be interpreted as a suit rather than a Q bid.

2♣-P-2♦-P

2♠-P-3♠-P

4♥-P-? Surely a 2♣ opener has a lower ranking control to bid . The 4♥ bid must be a suit and partner is asking how you fit the heart suit for slam purposes.

The 4 level should be reserved for Q bids when partner has jumped the bidding in her suit or made a strong jump shift.

1♦-P-1♠-P

3♦-P-? ♠Jxxxx ♥Kx ♦x ♣AQ10xx bid 3NT instead of 4♣. Partner is going to misinterpret 4♣ as a Q bid in support of diamonds.

1♠-P-1NT-P

3♥-P-? ♠xx ♥AKxx ♦KJ10x ♣xxx Q bid 4♦ as you are too strong to bid 4♥ but not strong enough to take control with KCB. The 4 level rule makes 4♦ a Q bid rather than a suit.

Beware of “implied Q bids” . The auction goes 4♦-X-P-4♠

P-5♣-P-?

Is this a Q bid in support of spades ? Certainly not , as the doubler has shown a two suiter in clubs & hearts. In many pre-emptive auctions , partner is forced to double without support for all suits so equal level “conversion” must take place even at the 5 level. The Bridge World has a cliché for such bids. If it can be natural it is .