Responding

Playing matchpoints. You are not vulnerable and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠8643
♥AJ4
♦K32
♣Q93

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

Show Answer

1♠.

This tells Partner you have at least 6 points and at least four ♠. This does NOT say you have good ♠. (You don't.)

Bidding 1NT would show 6 to 10 points and a balanced hand (on this auction only) but NO FOUR CARD MAJOR.

You do have a ♠ fit but if you bid 1NT instead of 1♠ you will NEVER find your ♠ fit.

You take 8 tricks in 1NT (which scores 120 points) but you can take 10 tricks if ♠ are trump (which score 170 points since you won't bid the game).

Responding to 1NT

Playing matchpoints. You are not vulnerable and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠JT842
♥82
♦T8654
♣6

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

Show Answer

Do you play Jacoby Transfers?

If you do bid 2♥. This FORCES Partner to bid 2♠. Then you can "Pass".

If you don't play Jacoby Transfers you are better off playing in 2♠ rather than in 1NT. So bid 2♠. Your Partner is supposed to "Pass" that bid.

BOTH those bids you are allowed to make with ZERO points. So don't worry you don't have enough points to bid. With such a distributional hand you want to play in a trump suit.

Check out the following to learn about Jacoby Transfers. They are a nice bid to know!
Introducing Jacoby Transfers

Rebidding when the Oppoents get involved

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ3
♥KJ5
♦JT73
♣QJ7

You are Dealer. You decide to open the bidding 1♦. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass". Partner responds 1♥. Now your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bid 2♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

Pass.

I can hear you shrieking: "But I HAVE to tell Partner I have the ♠ stopped!!! I must bid 2NT!"

Do you? Does Partner (who only has 6 points) REALLY care if you have the ♠ stopped?

No. They do not. They want you to "Pass" and try to defeat the Opponents.

Think about it. If you RHO had Passed would you have rebid 2NT?

No. That shows about 18 or 19 points.

Bidding 2NT in this auction shows much the same point count as if you had jumped to rebid 2NT. Which in a way you did. You just didn't have to jump because your RHO did it for you.

"But what if my Partner has a nice hand? Shouldn't I bid then?"

No. PARTNER with a nice hand can bid. Once they bid to show a nice hand THEN you can show your ♠ stoppers if you want.

Don't let your Opponents force you into making bid you don't want to bid.

What to Open?

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AKJ5
♥A73
♦Q9
♣AQ63

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

2NT.

This shows a BALANCED hand with 20 or 21 High Card Points. Perfect!

The problem with opening 1♣ is that it is impossible later on to tell Partner you have a balanced hand with 20 points. You can't. If you did have that hand you would have opened the bidding 2NT!

Responding

Playing matchpoints. You are not vulnerable and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠432
♥AJ2
♦AJ632
♣63

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

Show Answer

3NT.

This tells Partner you have 10 to 15 HCP with no major.

You do have a nice ♦ suit. This is true. But this nice ♦ suit will take tricks in NT as well as in ♦.

You take 11 tricks on this hand.

Which means you WILL make 5♦ and score 400 points.

But you will also make 3NT with TWO overtricks. This will score you 460 points.

If you play matchpoints the overtricks are HUGH. If you bid 5♦ you only beat one pair. (One pair couldn't get to game.) EVERYONE else bid to 3NT.

Responding

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A52
♥K874
♦AT43
♣T8

Partner opens the bidding 1♦. Your RHO bid 3♥. (Ouch! That makes it tough!)

What is your call?

Show Answer

This is a tough one but I'd suck it up and bid 3NT.

You HATE to "Pass" and really have nothing else to bid. I'd be a little worried about taking 11 tricks in 5♦.

Rebids!

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable and the Opponents are not.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ876
♥A7
♦AQJ2
♣K6

You are Dealer. You decide to open the bidding 1♠. The Opponents "Pass" throughout. Partner responds 1NT. What is your call?

Show Answer

3♦

This is a JUMP SHIFT. Shows five (or more) ♠ and four (or more) ♦ and is FORCING to GAME. So you need at least 19 points to make this bid.

Perfectly describes your hand!