What would YOU bid?

Hand
♠8
♥A85
♦KT872
♣AJT5

So this hand was Dealer and opened the bidding 1♦. Not quite the full 13 HCP but not a bad opening bid. Partner responded 1♠. Now what should this hand bid?

The correct response to this bid is 2♣. That should show a hand with 5♦ and 4♣. It does not show any more values than the original opening bid did. However it also does not limit their hand that much either. This hand could still have as much as 18 points in it.

However at the table this hand responded 1NT. This DOES limit the hand to about 12 to 14 HCP (which the hand has) but also shows a BALANCED hand. This hand is not balanced. This hand has a singleton in their Partner's suit. Some people don't mind responding 1NT with a singleton as long as Partner has bid the suit but if I have a choice, I don't. Partner is counting on you for at least 2 in their suit when you choose to rebid NT. On some hands I could be stuck but with this one I don't think the player is. They have a fine 2♣ bid.

In any case now their Partner rebids 2♣ on their hand. This should show 5♠ and 4♣. It is not a forcing bid.

Here this hand has a perfect Pass! Partner has saved the day by bidding 2♣. No trump is NOT the place to be.

However this hand rebid 2NT. Not so good. 2NT ended the auction and they were down FOUR. A well deserved bad board for that bidding. Partner had a singleton ♥ and the Opponents got into those. It was ugly. Of course the Opponents felt badly about it and kept apologizing for taking all the tricks (Anne is too nice) but Opener got what they deserved on that one.