What to Open?

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ862
♥AKQT8
♦54
♣8

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

1♠.

With two five card suits bid the HIGHER RANKING suit first.

Rebids after a Double

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are NOT vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ6
♥KQ52
♦J7
♣AK87

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♦. We decided last post to make a Take Out Double. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass" and Partner responds 2♣.

What is Partner showing for their bid? What is your call?

Show Answer

Partner is showing a WEAK hand (0-8 points) and is saying their longest suit is ♣.

If you are going to bid again you should bid 3♣. This bid shows a VERY strong hand (which you have) but is also non-forcing. Partner can "Pass" this bid -- and will! They are very weak and don't want to be any higher.

3♣ will make but game won't -- Partner is too weak.

What to Overcall?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are NOT vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ6
♥KQ52
♦J7
♣AK87

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♦. What is your call?

Show Answer

Double.

You have a tolerance for all the other suits. Let Partner tell you where their length is.

The Opponents have bid

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A
♥K8543
♦KT2
♣KJ82

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

I think you have two options on this hand.

One option would be to overcall 2♥.

I don't really like overcalling 2♥ on this hand. Your suit is pretty bad and you don't even have a six card suit.

The other option would be to make a Take Out Double. Let Partner choose what suit to play in!

To me that is BY FAR the best option.

If you Double Partner might even "Pass"! Your side can take 9 tricks if you defend right. That's 800 points for your side which is a top board.

If you bid 2♥, Partner will probably bid 2NT. Then you can bid 3♣ and play there. You'll take 9 tricks in 3♣ for 110 points. That would be an average board.

What do Open

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

Here is your hand:
♠A987
♥K5
♦AKJ7
♣642

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

1NT.

You have a balanced hand with 15 HCP (High Card Points). This is the only way to tell Partner that.

Partner has 10 HCP. If you don't open 1NT they don't force you to game because they don't think you have that many points. If you open 1NT they will force to a game with their 10 points.

What to rebid?

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A
♥AKQ97
♦A6
♣AQ872

You are Dealer. You decide to open the bidding 2♣. You do have 23 HCP (High Card Points) and a very unbalanced hand. The Opponents are silent during the auction.

Over 2♣ your Partner responds 2♦. You play this as just a waiting bid. Partner could have no points but they also could have a little bit of something.

Over 2♦ you decide to bid 2♥. You do have a five card suit. No need to jump because 2♥ is a forcing bid. Partner MUST bid again.

Over 2♥ Partner bids 2♠.

What is your call?

Show Answer

3♣.

Show your other suit.

No need to jump. Partner will bid again.

You also don't want to do anything crazy like bidding 4NT. Partner has NOT shown any values at all. Show your other suit and see what Partner does.

If you do bid 3♣ Partner will get very excited. They also have five ♣! You might even bid the slam!

Partner DOUBLES

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

Here is your hand:
♠J7
♥T732
♦J9
♣T8764

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

Show Answer

2♣.

Yeah. You have a TERRIBLE hand. But you MUST bid. Partner is FORCING you to bid with their TAKE OUT DOUBLE.

You must bid your LONGEST suit that is not the Opponent's suit!

You can jump to show values but you do not have any values.

Bidding 2♣ says "♣ is my longest suit (not including ♥) and I do not have a very good hand at all. In fact I could have zero points!"

Can you ever "Pass" a Take Out Double? Yes you can but you need both LENGTH and STRENGTH in the suit being Doubled. Here you have neither!

P.S. If you "Pass" because you do not have any points the Opponents play in 1♥ Doubled. They take 11 tricks. Not good for you at all!

Opening in Fourth position

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T9432
♥AK65
♦T2
♣K8

Three "Pass"es to you. You are in fourth position. Do you open the bidding? What is your call?

Show Answer

In fourth position you are supposed to use the "Rule of 15" to decide whether or not you will open the bidding.

When you are in fourth position you must make sure that IF you open the bidding you get a positive score. If you get a negative score you were just better off "Pass"ing and not getting any score!

The "Rule of 15" says: Count the number of HCP (High Card Points) you have. Add that to the number of ♠ (SPADES) you have. If that number equals 15 then open the bidding. If the number is not quite 15 then just "Pass".

(The "Rule of 15" uses ♠ because ♠ is the highest ranked suit. Maybe you can make 2♥ but if the Opponents make 2♠ they'll just push you around. So if you don't have ♠ you need more high card values.)

On this hand you have 10 HCP and five ♠. The "Rule of 15" says to open the bidding.

If you are going to open the bidding you must open 1♠. Yes, it is a terrible suit.

But you could also ignore the "Rule of 15" and simply "Pass". Hmmm. What to do?

If you open 1♠ you find a ♠ fit. You can take 10 tricks but it is difficult to play and most only took 9 tricks. You won't bid game so you get a positive score.

If you "Pass"ed because your suit is so lousy or because you only have 10 HCP remember the "Rule of 15" for the next time -- it works!