Your call

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠QJ
♥JT76
♦AKQ4
♣QJ4

Your RHO opened the bidding 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about Double? Get Partner to pick the suit to play in?

You can't overcall 1NT even though you have a perfect 1NT opening bid. That promises a stopper in the suit the opponents opened.

You also can't overcall 2♦. That promises at least a five card suit.

But you also hate to say "Pass" on the hand. You'll never play in a contract if you "Pass" with these hands.

If you "Double" Partner will compete and maybe you will scare the Opponents away from their ♠ contract. Maybe not, but at least you gave it a shot.

Rebid by Opener

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AK97
♥AJ64
♦J6
♣J74

You are Dealer. You have 14 HCP and open the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Partner responds 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

2♠

You have 14 HCP and since you found the ♠ fit and you will be Dummy you get to count Dummy points. But you really don't have anything extra for Dummy points.

Bidding 2♠ shows a minimum opening hand. Which is what you have. I know those ♠ are FABULOUS but if you jump to 3♠ Partner will think you have 17 or 18 points. If you bid 2♠ you keep the partnership safe and happy at a low level.

Rebids by Opener

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ94
♥2
♦A542
♣AQT2

You are Dealer. Last post we decided you are going to open the bidding 1♦ (even with the point count to open 1NT) because you have an unbalanced hand. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Partner responds 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

3♠

You have 15 HCP and since you found the ♠ fit and you will be Dummy you get to count Dummy points. You have that singleton ♥ in your hand! That's worth three points.

You now have 18 points in your hand and can jump to show Partner you have a fit. Jumping to 3♠ shows 17 or 18 points (or a really good 16!) in support of Partner.

What to Open?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ94
♥2
♦A542
♣AQT2

You are Dealer. How many High Card Points do you have and what is your call?

Show Answer

You have 15 HCP and you need to open the bidding 1♦.

You have the values for a 1NT opener but you do not have a balanced hand. You have that singleton ♥ in your hand!

With four four in the minors people tend to open 1♦. With an unbalanced hand such as this you NEED to open 1♦.

Over your 1♦ opening bid Partner responds 1♠. What will you rebid? That's the next post!

Responding to Partner

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠QT75
♥K853
♦J2
♣T92

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♦! RHO says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

1♥

Bid your four card suits UP THE LINE. That means bid the four card suit that comes next in the bidding ladder.

Responder Rebids

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ763
♥KT
♦KT94
♣Q7

Partner is the Dealer and opens the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Your first response is easy. 1♠. Partner rebids 1NT.

Partner should be showing a balanced hand with less than 15 HCP (a balanced hand with 15 HCP will open the bidding 1NT -- not 1♣) and fewer than four ♠. Partner will raise your ♠ suit with four ♠. What is your bid now?

Show Answer

This is tough. You have enough for a game so you have to make sure you either A) bid game or B) make a bid Partner cannot "Pass"

You are unbalanced and you still could have a nice little ♠ fit. Partner does not have four but they could have three.

If you want to give up on the ♠ fit just bid 3NT. That gets you to game.

If you want to try to find a five three ♠ fit you need to JUMP in the bidding and bid a new suit. In this case 3♦. This shows you are unbalanced (you are taking Partner out of the NT they bid so you must be unbalanced) and strong enough to go to game since you jumped.

Partner will show you if they have three ♠ by bidding 3♠. You can now bid 4♠.

Note that in order to force Partner to bid you need to JUMP in the bidding. Partner is allowed to "Pass" 2♦.

For more information on how does Responder force over 1NT check out this post:
How Does Responder Force Over 1NT?

What does Opener show?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ763
♥KT
♦KT94
♣Q7

Partner is the Dealer and opens the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Your first response is easy. 1♠. Partner rebids 1NT. Tell me what partner is showing.

Show Answer

Partner should be showing a balanced hand with less than 15 HCP (a balanced hand with 15 HCP will open the bidding 1NT -- not 1♣) and fewer than four ♠. Partner will raise your ♠ suit with four ♠.

The next post will be -- what will you rebid?

Rebids by Responder

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J974
♥Q974
♦K74
♣A4

Your Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents are silent during the auction. We decided last post to respond 2♣. Stayman. You are asking Partner if they have a four card major. Partner bids 2♥. What is your call?

Show Answer

4♥. You found your fit. You have enough for a game. Bid it.

What to bid over 1NT

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J974
♥Q974
♦K74
♣A4

Your Partner opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

2♣. Stayman. Ask Partner if they have a four card major.

For more information on Stayman check out the following link:
Introducing Stayman

To Open or not to Open?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T9742
♥AKQ
♦65
♣K32

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 1♠?

You don't promise a good ♠ suit when you open 1♠. Just an opening hand with five ♠. They don't have to be good ones.

If you said "Pass" because you really didn't like that ♠ suit I sympathize with you. It truly is a pathetic suit. But it is matchpoints and you've got to open these hands. If you "Pass" you will never get a chance to bid again (no way you are going to overcall at the 2 level with this suit!) and the Opponents will play in some minor suit contract.

However if you open the bidding Partner will see that you get to 3♠. You will make that contract.