Responding

Playing matchpoints. Both sides are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T
♥KQJ5
♦986
♣AT652

Partner opens the bidding with 1♥. The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

This answer might be different for everyone depending on what system you play.

As long as you get Partner to game in ♥ I'm happy. For some people that might be starting with 2♣ and then bidding game later on, for others it might involve bidding Jacoby 2NT. Some might just leap there right away if that shows a stong hand.

The bid I don't like is 2♥. This shows a hand with 6 to 10 points and three ♥. You need to count your Dummy points here since you have a fit for Partner's suit. You have three points for your singleton. That makes 13 points altogether. Get the partnership to game in whatever way you can to tell Partner you have a strong hand.