Opening Bid Puzzles

You are south, dealer, and you hold the hand listed. What bid would you make?
  1. : K, Q, 9, : 10, 9, 8, 7, : K, Q, J, 10, 3, 2, : --
  2. : A, K, 9, 7, : A, Q, J, 10, 6, 2, : Q, 3, : 3
  3. : 9, 7, 2, : Q, J, 6, : A, 6, 5, : K, Q, 10, 6
  4. : A, Q, J, 9, 8, 6, : 8, : K, 7, 6, : 5, 4, 3
  5. : Q, 10, 5, : A, J, 6, 2, : Q, 6, : A, K, 8, 2
  6. : A, Q, 10, 7, 3, : 9, 2, : A, 10, 5, 3, : A, K
  7. : A, K, 5, : A, Q, 9, : K, Q, 4, 2, : A, Q, 3
  8. : K, Q, : A, Q, 9, 8, 5, : K, 5, : J, 10, 9, 2
  9. : A, K, J, 9, 5, : A, J, 10, 7, 6, : A, 7, 6, : --
  10. : A, Q, 8, : 10, 2, : A, Q, 9, 7, 6, : 9, 8, 5
  11. : 9, 7, : 8, 3, 2, : 6, : A, K, J, 10, 9, 8, 6
  12. : K, Q, J, : K, Q, 10, 6, : A, J, 9, 8, : 10, 9
solutions
  1. : K, Q, 9, : 10, 9, 8, 7, : K, Q, J, 10, 3, 2, : --

    Open 1 You have 11 high card points plus 2 long suit points. Though this is minimal, your diamond suit is excellent and your hand is worth 3 tricks. A 2 opening bid would be too weak for this hand.

  2. : A, K, 9, 7, : A, Q, J, 10, 6, 2, : Q, 3, : 3

    There is nothing borderline about this hand. It is worth 18 points. Bid 1

  3. : 9, 7, 2, : Q, J, 6, : A, 6, 5, : K, Q, 10, 6

    Pass. You have only 12 points, and no strong suit to bid. Clubs is your best suit but even so it is only 4 cards and is a minor suit.

  4. : A, Q, J, 9, 8, 6, : 8, : K, 7, 6, : 5, 4, 3

    Open 2. This is a classic weak 2 opening bid.

  5. : Q, 10, 5, : A, J, 6, 2, : Q, 6, : A, K, 8, 2

    Open 1NT. You have 16 high card points. Furthermore, your hand has only one doubleton, and that one with an honor in it, and you have no 5-card major to bid instead.

  6. : A, Q, 10, 7, 3, : 9, 2, : A, 10, 5, 3, : A, K

    Open 1. You have 17 high card points, but you have two doubletons, one of which has no high card, and you have a 5-card major to bid.

  7. : A, K, 5, : A, Q, 9, : K, Q, 4, 2, : A, Q, 3

    Open 2. In some systems, this 23-point hand would be ideal for a 2NT opening bid, but in SAYC, a 2NT opening promises 20-21 points, so this hand is too strong. Open 2C, and rebid 2NT after partner's (probable) 2D response. This promises 22-24 points and flat distribution.

  8. : K, Q, : A, Q, 9, 8, 5, : K, 5, : J, 10, 9, 2

    Open 1. You have two doubletons so a 1NT opening bid would be inaccurate.

  9. : A, K, J, 9, 5, : A, J, 10, 7, 6, : A, 7, 6, : --

    Open 1. Though your spades are stronger than your hearts, you should think to your second bid. You have 19 points, which is strong enough to reverse, so you should plan to. If you bid 1 you can bid 2 over your partner's bid to show your strength. If you bid 1, you may have to go to 3 to show your strength, which is a waste of bidding space.

  10. : A, Q, 8, : 10, 2, : A, Q, 9, 7, 6, : 9, 8, 5

    Open 1. You have 13 points but you should debate whether to pass or open with this hand. Your 5-card suit, unfortunately, is in a minor suit. However, your honors are combined which makes them stronger, and your 5-card suit is not only long but strong.

  11. : 9, 7, : 8, 3, 2, : 6, : A, K, J, 10, 9, 8, 6

    Open 3. Your hand fits the profile for a 3 opening. If your clubs were spades instead, you might have a harder decision to make: do you bid 3 or 2? You have 7 cards, which suggests a 3-level opening, but you have 8 points, so you might wish to show your strength with a 2-level opening. In my opinion I would open 3 because you aren't really borderline. If you had an outside queen, I might bid 2 instead.

  12. : K, Q, J, : K, Q, 10, 6, : A, J, 9, 8, : 10, 9

    Open 1. You have almost a perfect hand for a 1NT opening, but your doubleton is so weak you could end up going down in 3NT even with a good partner because the opponents run their long, strong clubs.

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