Rebid by Responder

Here is your hand:
♠A72
♥AKQ4
♦962
♣983

Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) is Dealer and says "Pass". Partner bids 1♣. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your bid?

Your first bid is easy. I hope everyone bid 1♥ on this hand. This shows four or more ♥ and at least 6 HCP. This also forces Partner to bid again. Which Partner does. Partner rebids 2♣. Now it is back to you. What do you bid NOW?

Show Answer

Answer:

This is a tough one to bid properly.

The thing to remember is that Partner opened the bidding. You also have an opening hand. You NEED to either get Partner to a game or FORCE Partner to bid again so that you can figure out what game you want to bid.

The easiest bid to make is 3NT.

AHHHHH! Without a ♦ stopper?!? How can you possible recommend bidding 3NT without a ♦ stopper!?!

First of all -- relax. The opponents are NOT bidding ♦. If they have all the honours in ♦ and five of them they probably would be bidding ♦.

Second of all Partner opened the bidding. They must have values somewhere. Maybe they have a ♦ card? Sure it COULD be all in the black suits but that would be pretty unlucky. Even then the opponents might not lead a ♦ . Or maybe the ♦ split 4-4 since no one is overcalling the suit.

However I don't actually mind if you don't want to bid 3NT on this hand.

If you don't bid 3NT what are you going to bid?

Believe it or not you need to bid 2♦ on this hand.

Why 2♦? Because it is a FORCING bid. Partner MUST bid again. They will bid 2NT and then you can happily bid 3NT to get to your game.

If you bid 3♣ on this hand guess what? Partner PASSES. You just missed a game.