Counting Declarer’s Hand Answers
1.
Five spades and
six hearts. If South were to ruff the
opening diamond lead, you would play South for two
clubs.
2.
Two spades and
three hearts. North has shown five
spades and probably four hearts (no transfer).
If South had three spades, the presumption is
that South would have raised. South has
denied four hearts with the 3♦
rebids.
3.
Two hearts and
three or four spades. With a weak 6-4,
opener rebids spades and then bids hearts.
4.
Six spades and
four hearts with a strong hand. With a
weak 6-4, opener rebids spades and then bids hearts.
5.
Six hearts and
four spades. South has already shown
five hearts with the 1♥ opening so the rebid here shows six.
6.
Six spades and
four hearts with a weak opening bid. See
#4.
7.
Five spades and
two hearts. Responder’s 2♥ response has shown a five-card suit and opener tends
to raise with three.
8.
Two spades and
three hearts. With three spades, South
would have bid 3♠; with four hearts, South would have raised.
9.
Four hearts and
one spade. Opener should be 1-4-3-5.
10.
Four spades and
fewer than four hearts. With five spades, South would
have persisted in spades; with four hearts and four spades, South would have
responded 1♥.
Giving Partner Count
1.
(a) the four. Low from three or five
(b) the eight. Top of a doubleton
(c) the seven. Second highest – if you can afford it – from four. If you can’t, third
highest.
(d) the four. Low from three or five
2.
(a) the eight. Higher of two
(b) the three. Low from three
3.
Six. Partner’s queen should be partner’s last
spade
4.
Declarer has the
remaining club, the ♣J. If partner
had ♣QJxx, partner would have won the third clubs with the ♣J. Yes,
declarer should have played the ♣J under the ♣Q, a card he was known to hold.