Wednesday, December 21, 2005 3:06 AM

Q Bidding Understandings

PITBULLS:

When partner makes a T/O double or a balance of some sort quite often a Q bid is used to show a good hand or request partner to bid a suit or show support. Is this Q bid forcing to game though ? The Bridge World has a rule for such Q bids. They say a Q bid is forcing to game unless a suit is bid twice. This is similar to how we play 2/1 in competition. A 2/1 is forcing to game unless your suit is rebid. Note they do not say a suit is rebid but bid twice. This means a simple raise is not forcing in a Q bidding auction. These sequences are the only outs allowed in these Q bidding auctions . All other bids are forcing until game is reached. This understanding prevents jumping to game because you are afraid your bid is not forcing after a Q bid has been made. Relax , keep the bidding low , as partner is not allowed to pass until a suit has been bid twice or you have reached game.

1♦-P-P-X

P-2♦-P-2♠

P-3♣ 3♣ is absolutely forcing , the doubler can not pass. Now the doubler bids 3♥ and partner bids 4♣. This can be passed below game as a suit has been bid twice.

1♥-X-P-2♥

P-3♣-P-3♦

P-3♠-P-4♦ This can be passed !!

1♦-X-P-2♦

P-2♥-P-3♥ this sequence is not forcing as a suit has been bid twice.

You can not Q bid with weak hands as a Q bid does promise one more bid. Partner does not have to jump over a Q bid with a big hand because the Q bidder must bid again. ♠Qxxxx ♥Qxxxx ♦x ♣xx You can not Q bid 2♦ with this hand and drop partner in 2 of a major. This is horrible bidding. With weak hands just pick a suit.

This Q bidding understanding allows “scrambling “ to find the best contract. You hold

♠Ax ♥xxx ♦AJxx ♣Kxxx and the auction goes 1♥-P-P-X

P-2♥-P-2♠

P-3♣-P-3♦

P-4♦-P

This sequence allows partner to pass with ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦KQxx ♣Axx or carry on to game with ♠Kxxxx ♥x ♦KQxx ♣AQx

Great , we have the scrambling 2NT , scrambling 2♣ and now the scrambling Q bid J.

We see no reason that Q bids should be forcing to game by opener or responder either. Quite often you are groping for a NT game with an implied minor suit fit. If you “strike out” there is no need to be forced to an 11 trick contract. If a suit has been bid twice , you can escape. 1♦-1♠-2♦-P ♠xx ♥QJx ♦AKxxxx ♣AQ You bid 2♠ as a grope for 3NT and partner bids 3♣. You now bid 3♦ so it is not forcing by “the rule”. If you bid anything else , you are on a game force. Partner with ♠xx ♥Kxx ♦Qxxx ♣KJxx passes 3♦ .

When the opponents pre-empt at the 3 level in a major and partner bids a minor at the 4 level , there is a specialized use for a Q bid in their major. It is KCB as 4NT is needed as a place to play the contract. This understanding blends in with “Trump doubles”. If you had a solid minor , you might have chosen a Thrump double. If you bid 4 of a minor , there is an inference of distribution or a huge hand. 4NT is to play so pulling 4NT to your minor should be a slam try.

In a auction where you could have raised partner directly with an invitational jump , of course a Q bid is a game force when you support partner. When you have other invitational bids available , a Q bid is a game force.