1C - 1D - 1H - 1S???

The following question pertains to the auction:

S	W	N	E
1♣	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	1♠???

Question 1

You mentioned the use of 1♠ to force partner to bid another round even when one does not have ♠. What are some scenarios that one would choose to do that? Is it usually when one has a big hand? How would one follow-on from there?

Answer to Question 1

In this auction if Responder (North in this auction) bids 1♠ and they do not have four ♠ they would have a nicer hand, yes. They would not make this bid without at least 11 HCP or more. But keep in mind that they also could have a weak hand with four ♠. They generally want support OR they want Opener (South in this auction) to bid the NT if they have a ♠ stopper. (Note that they need a ♠ stopper because this is the unbid suit.) Remember Opener could have a void in ♠ for all Responder knows and if Responder has no ♠ stopper they could be in big trouble in NT!

So IF Responder does not have four ♠ they are looking for a ♠ stopper for NT and should have 11 or more HCP. With no stopper and a weaker hand Responder just bids the 1NT anyhow.

Some Hands

Let's look at some hands.

Hand 1:
♠862
♥AQ7
♦AQ654
♣K3

Here I have an opening hand. I want to be in a game. We don't have a ♥ fit. I'd like to jump to 3NT but Partner could have two small ♠. Or even a void. 3NT won't do so well now! I bid 1♠ and hope Partner bids 1NT. Now I can safely bid 3NT.

---

Hand 2:
♠J85
♥T8
♦KQ852
♣KQ5

On this hand I want to bid 2NT to show my 11 or 12 HCP. But again I have no ♠ stopper. If I bid 1♠ and Partner bids 1NT I will raise to 2NT.

---

Hand 3:
♠982
♥63
♦QT876
♣AT5

On this hand I will bid 1NT. Note that I do NOT have a ♠ stopper. But I don't need to have a ♠ stopper when I bid only 1NT. I should have a ♠ stopper for bidding 2NT or 3NT since they are higher contracts. But on this hand I am too weak to force Partner to bid with a 1♠ bid.

---

Hand 4:
♠K862
♥83
♦Q9762
♣J3

On this hand I will bid 1♠. Here I am weak but I do have four ♠.

Question 2

I noticed some people make "bidding the fourth suit" game forcing, is this a convention you would subscribe to?

Answer to Question 2

Fourth suit forcing to game is a part of a bidding system called "2 Over 1 Game Forcing". This is a lovely bidding system that I do play and I do like. It puts an artificial game force on auctions so that you can explore slam possibilities without having to worry about getting passed out below game.

HOWEVER this is part of a new and different language. Which means different bids can mean different things. It is a whole new language to learn.

People NEED to know just straight Standard American. Quite a few auctions are just straight Standard American auctions. When the Opponents bid all auctions revert back to basic Standard American. You NEED to know Standard American.

You don't need to know 2 Over 1 Game Forcing.

But it is much easier to describe certain hands if you play 2 Over 1 GF.

If you have no memory issues and can take the time and trouble to memorize a whole new system I do recommend it.

However most people shouldn't be playing it. It's just not worth the effort.

If people look at their game and wonder why they lost matchpoints I can almost guarantee is wasn't because you didn't know 2 Over 1 GF. It is more likely Defence or Declarer Play. If you missed something in the bidding it is more likely someone misbid or evaluated their hand badly. Or perhaps they just didn't know basic Standard American. Very few hands need 2 Over 1 GF to get to the right contract. Not compared to knowing Defence and Declarer Play.

So if you and your Partner can read system notes and commit them to memory quite easily -- yes, learn 2 Over 1 GF.

Otherwise spend your learning time on something more important.

1C - 1D - 1H - ???

The following blog post pertains to the auction:

S	W	N	E
1♣	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	???

The Question

I would like to start with a general question on responding to partner's rebid at 1 level. My understanding it that South's 1♥ bid is not a forcing bid. If my understanding is correct, can North "Pass" with a minimum hand and no fit to either suits partner has bid? Furthermore, what would lead North, who has a minimum hand, to bid "1NT" versus "Pass"?

The Answer

Yes. North CAN PASS the 1♥ bid. South's 1♥ bid is NOT forcing. This is a new suit by OPENER, not Responder, so a new suit is NOT forcing.

However, South could have a minimum opening hand but South could also have up to 18 or even a bad 19 HCP (High Card Points) to make this bid so North should make another call unless they are very weak for their response or the hand looks like a misfit.

Can North "Pass" with no fit?

No. South probably only has four ♥. If North has only two ♥ they want to make some other bid.

So North does have to have at least have some tolerance to "Pass" the 1♥ bid. (Tolerance is a three card suit. A fit would be a four card suit.)

When would North "Pass" versus bid 1NT?

If North has a fit and a weak hand they will just "Pass".

If North has some tolerance (three card support) and a hand that does NOT want to be played in NT they can just "Pass" if they are weak.

If North has no tolerance they have to make another call.

If they are balanced(ish) they can bid 1NT.

If they are unbalanced maybe they can support ♣? They might only have four ♣ to do this. Which means they might not have found a fit since South could have opened with only a three card suit. But North could be stuck.

Some Hands

Let's look at some hands.

Hand 1:
♠9532
♥QT5
♦KQ543
♣7

This is a hand I would PASS 1♥. My Partner doesn't like my suit. If I bid 1♠ I am forcing my Partner to bid again and if they don't have four ♠ we are just going to get higher in the bidding. I don't want to play in NT because of my singleton. I am going to stop this auction because I am so weak and we could be in trouble.

---

Hand 2:
♠95
♥52
♦KJ864
♣Q732

On this hand however I will bid 2♣. Partner can "Pass" this bid if they want. I could choose to bid 1NT but I don't have the ♠ suit stopped so I would prefer not to do that. I can't Pass 1♥ because I only have two ♥.

---

Hand 3:
♠K742
♥92
♦Q9863
♣J7

On this hand I will bid 1♠. It is a forcing bid however what are my options? I don't like either of Partner's suits. Maybe Partner can raise me or bid 1NT themselves.

---

Hand 4:
♠K82
♥983
♦Q9762
♣QT

On this hand I will bid 1NT. I have the ♠ stopped and my hand is balanced. We don't have a ♥ fit and Partner will not get to trump anything in my Dummy.

---

Hand 5:
♠86
♥6532
♦KJ652
♣Q3

On this hand I will just "Pass" 1♥. We do have a fit but I have bad trump and a weak hand. If we were going to make a game Partner would have make a JUMP SHIFT. My hand is just not good enough to make game even if Partner has 18 or 19 points.

---

Hand 6:
♠74
♥K972
♦A9762
♣54

On this hand I will bid 2♥. This still shows only 6 to 10 points however if I am very weak I can always "Pass" 1♥ with support so I should have a little something for bidding 2♥. I feel I do. I have two doubletons and an outside Ace. Partner could make a game if they have 18 points so I'd better take one more call to keep the auction open.

---

Hand 7:
♠T4
♥AJ8
♦J7652
♣T76

On this hand I will probably just "Pass" 1♥. I hate this hand. I don't have a fit but I don't want to bid 1NT because I don't have much elsewhere. Maybe Partner can trump a ♠. Sure can't rebid that ♦ suit. Better just drop Partner before we get too high.

---

Hand 8:
♠KJ8
♥65
♦Q7652
♣J65

On this hand I will probably bid 1NT. I've got the ♠ stopped and a balanced hand.

---

Hand 9:
♠Q4
♥K2
♦87653
♣Q762

On this hand I will probably bid 2♣. I don't want to bid 1NT because of my ♠ suit and I certainly can't "Pass" 1♥.

---

Hand 10:
♠T32
♥95
♦KQ863
♣QT5

On this hand I will probably bid 1NT. This is the worst hand I think. I've got no ♠ stopper but I can't "Pass" 1♥ with only a doubleton (Partner probably has four only) and I don't want to bid 2♣ with only a three card suit. Partner might only have a three card suit. I feel my ♦ aren't strong enough to rebid them. So 1NT it is -- even without the ♠ stopper. .

Question 3

Hi Heidi,

We encountered a number of challenging hands (to us) in bidding lately. Please provide us some insight:

With a bad 4-card major, do you still bid it? Like the following hand, should N respond with 1♠ or 1NT? At the end, would this hand better playing in 3NT or 4♠?

EW vulnerable, E is dealer:

N	E	S	W
	Pass	1♣	Pass
???

	North ♠8732 ♥A73 ♦KQ87 ♣74
West ♠JT ♥J96 ♦432 ♣T9862		East ♠Q64 ♥Q82 ♦J985 ♣AQ3
	South ♠AK95 ♥KT54 ♦AT ♣KJ5

Heidi's Answer

If Partner opens 1♣ and you have 6 to 10 HCP you are supposed to bid a bad four card major before you bid 1NT.

So on this hand North should respond 1♠ before they would bid 1NT.

There are other options though. North can always respond 1♦. This also only shows a four card suit. Normally we ignore a four card minor to bid a four card major however if your major suit is really bad and your minor suit is pretty good you can think about bidding the minor instead -- four card suits up the line and all.

In the end it won't matter.

If North bids 1♠ over 1♣, South will now have to jump to show their big hand. They will bid 3♠.

If instead North bids 1♦ over 1♣, South will bid 1♥. North will bid 1♠ (just a forcing bid -- they don't even need to have ♠ to bid this!).

South will now have to jump to show their big hand. They will bid 3♠.

North will raise to 4♠.

So all roads lead to 4♠ by North.

Which does better? 4♠ or 3NT?

Double Dummy you can take 11 tricks with ♠ as trump.
Since they are not vulnerable they will score 450 points for bidding and making an overtrick in 4♠.

Double Dummy you can take 10 tricks in 3NT.
Since they are not vulnerable they will score 430 points for bidding and making an overtrick in 3NT.

The major suit fit tends to be a safer place to play and does tend to score better most of the time. Try to find major suit fits if you can.

Question 2

Hi Heidi,

We encountered a number of challenging hands (to us) in bidding lately. Please provide us some insight:

I'm not certain how to ask for Aces, use Blackwood or Gerber, when the Club suit was the last bid suit before a NT was bid afterwards. For example:

What should S bid to ask for Aces?

What does bidding of 4C vs 4NT means to N?

How to best bid the following hand? Is the above a good start?

NS vulnerable, N is dealer:

W	N	E	S
	1♦	Pass	2♣
Pass	2NT	Pass	???

	North ♠A84 ♥KQT7 ♦KQ32 ♣92
West ♠K632 ♥52 ♦984 ♣JT87		East ♠JT95 ♥J964 ♦J5 ♣543
	South ♠Q7 ♥A83 ♦AT76 ♣AKQ6

Heidi's Answer

I like the auction so far. North cannot show their four card ♥ suit in the auction because that would create a game force so therefore they must rebid 2NT. But they do have the rest of the suits stopped so 2NT is a fine bid over 2♣. This 2NT bid show a MINIMUM opening hand and South is allowed to "Pass". North has a balanced hand with less than 15 HCP. Perfect.

So what does South do over 2NT?

They have choices:

1) Make a QUANTITATIVE 4NT bid

4NT is this auction says "Partner are you MINIMUM or MAXIMUM for your 2NT bid? With a minimum, "Pass". With a maximum bid 6NT.

The reason why this is quantitative is because the last bid in the auction (2NT) was a natural NT bid with a point count associated with it. In this auction the 2NT bid showed about 12 to 14 HCP. A minimum opening hand for North.

2) Gerber

Since the last bid in the auction (2NT) was a natural NT bid, a jump to 4♣ would be Gerber. Gerber asks "Just how many Aces do you have over there Partner?"

3) Bid 6NT

Partner has an opening bid, South has 19 HCP. There must be a slam!

What do I think of all the different bids South could make?

1) 4NT

I like this bid. Partner could have 12 HCP. I'm too balanced to want to be in a slam with that hand. I want Partner to have either 14 HCP or a really good 13 HCP. This is how I ask.

2) 4♣

I don't really care if Partner has the one Ace I am missing or not. That won't help me at all.

Why does this not help you Heidi? Don't you need to know about a ♠ control before you bid the slam?

If Partner opened with 12 HCP and has the one Ace I am missing I have all four Aces but together we have only 31 HCP between us. We simply won't have enough tricks. Sure we will get four Aces. But that's four tricks only. I need more. I need fillers. With 31 HCP I could be missing two Kings and a Queen. That's not good. There is too much potential to lose two tricks that way.

But if Partner opened with 14 HCP and no Aces we will have 33 HCP and should have enough tricks to make the small slam. Sure the opponents will take their Ace but I should have enough values to take 12 tricks after that. There will be only three points missing. If I am lucky I will be missing three Jacks. Those should drop. If I am unlucky I will be missing a King. Maybe I can finesse it.

As for the Spade control -- assuming Partner will accept with 14 HCP and I have 19 HCP. That means together we have 33 HCP. Partner rates to have a ♠ control. Sure technically we could be off SPECIFICALLY the AK♠ and the Opponents can take two tricks right off the top. But then they have to lead a ♠. They might not know to lead a ♠ if I am so unlucky to be missing those exact specific cards.

It is a bit of a risk but life is not without risk.

3) 6NT

I feel I am just hanging Partner out to dry for opening the bidding if I do this. If Partner opened on 12 HCP we just don't have enough points to make a small slam.

What will North do over 4NT?

North is MAXIMUM for their bid. They have 14 HCP. They will raise 4NT to 6NT. The final contract will be 6NT.

Will 6NT make?

Sadly I don't think North will be able to take 12 tricks in NT. They have 11 easy tricks but no way to get a 12th trick. If East leads a low ♥ then North can duck it around to their Ten of ♥ and get an easy trick that way to make their slam. But East has a nice TOP of SEQUENCE lead -- the J♠. They will probably lead that.

Any lead but a ♥ and North should go down in the slam.

Later On

You may have wondered about the last few posts. Just WHY were you voting?

As a bridge teacher I am continually asked the question "If I have a five card major and 15 to 17 High Card Points should I open the bidding 1 of the major or should I open the bidding 1NT?"

Very good question.

No great answer.

It is certainly easier to show your point count by opening 1NT. But that ignores your five card major and most systems people play cannot find that all important 5-3 major suit fit later on in the bidding.

If you open your five card major most systems people play cannot show 15 to 17 points with a balanced hand later on in the bidding.

I did google the answer as to whether or not "experts" say to open the major or 1NT and most of the websites from bridge players I respect do say to open 1NT.

But I'm not so sure of that answer.

I asked some players I know to see what they thought.

Comments I got were:
"Open 1NT if you also have the other major stopped with three cards in it otherwise open the major"
"Open the major if your suit quality is poor and open 1NT with a good major suit" (the idea here is that low trumps can score tricks as trump but might not get set up in NT)
"If you have Aces open 1 of the major" (Aces are controls here and Aces work best in a trump contract)
"If you have slow values open 1NT" (Queens and Jacks are slow values. They work well to set up length in suits but are not good when you want to win tricks quickly!)

Lots of opinions here. I want a good, solid, easy answer to give to my students.

So I started looking at some hands. I just generated a bunch of random hands and looked at them.

Those hands seemed to indicate that it is actually better to open the bidding 1 of a major because you can find the major suit fit much easier and that tends to play better.

Hmmmm. Interesting. This clearly needs some in depth study.

So I decided to randomly generate 64 hands with a five card Spade suit and 15 to 17 HCP. Just how many of them are you better to open the bidding 1NT?

A few results depend really on what the people at the table do. Which is why I conducted the survey.

Here is the very first hand I generated:

	North ♠AQ754 ♥J76 ♦AQ ♣K42
West ♠KJ983 ♥52 ♦T82 ♣J86		East ♠T ♥AKQT83 ♦J653 ♣T3
	South ♠62 ♥94 ♦K974 ♣AQ975

As you can see N/S can only take 7 tricks in NT. E/W can take the first six tricks.

But they can take 8 tricks in ♠. (Even with that bad break!)

However they do have 25 HCP between them. They will no doubt get too high in any case.

Enter the Opponents!
If E/W come into the bidding they will play in ♥ and they will go down.

So my analysis on this hand was that it was clearly better for North to open this hand 1♠. I thought that over a 1♠ bid East would definitely bid some number of ♥. 2 or 3 ♥. (I personally would bid 3♥ to show a weak hand. Sure I'm supposed to have seven of them but I want to overcall and show length in my suit but no strength otherwise. So I have to pre-empt.)

So East just might get to play the contract if they overcall 3♥. I don't think South is strong enough even to make a Negative Double. East will go down at least two and probably three tricks with the right defence. Good for N/S.

If East bids 2♥ then South will probably make a negative double to show both minors. The bidding is lower so they have enough points now. North will be stuck bidding 3♣ (they can't do much else since they don't have a ♥ stopper!) but N/S do find a fit and can take 10 tricks with ♣ as trump. So this works out well in either case.

What happens if North opens 1NT?

Well a sneaky East might just PASS! AHHHHH!

Watch what happens then. South will bid 2NT to invite a game and North with 16 HCP and a five card suit will bid 3NT.

Ooooops. Do you think East will find the ♥ lead?

I bet they will. E/W can take the first six tricks.

Not so good for N/S.

However if East overcalls 2♥ or 3♥ N/S will be "rescued" from their bad 3NT contract and they will defeat East and get a positive score.

So really this hand depends on just how many East's will bid over 1♠ and 1NT.

Drumroll please:
% of voters bidding over 1♠: 92.3% with 39 votes
% of voters bidding over 1NT: 90.7% with 43 votes

Which is very close to the same.

So on this hand it turns out it really didn't matter much whether or not North opened the bidding 1♠ or 1NT. Both results ended with East coming into the bidding and rescuing N/S from getting too high.

Please VOTE NOW!!! Last Chance!!!

Apparently I have exceeded my maximum number of views for the month (who knew there was a maximum? Not me!) And so my polls are closed for the month because I am too cheap to upgrade.

Sorry to those who didn't get a chance to vote but next time I will warn you.

So the last couple of posts we took a vote. If you have not voted yet please do so TODAY!

Tomorrow I will be posting just WHY we voted and what all the hands were.

If you are not voting because you feel you do not know the answer or feel you are not good enough to answer GET OVER YOURSELVES. I want YOUR answer. If you were at the table and absolutely had to do something just what would it be?

Vote here:
Click to vote

and here:
Click to vote

Please Vote! What about this hand?

Voting worked well! So we shall do another vote. Again there is no "right" or "wrong" answer but the results will be used in a little study I am doing so please be honest. You will learn why you are voting later on.

No one is vulnerable. Playing matchpoints. Here is your hand:
♠T
♥AKQT83
♦J653
♣T3

The question is IF your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opened the bidding 1♠ would you now show your ♥ suit?

Bidding 2♥ or 3♥ or even some other bid to show a single (or even two) suited hand counts as a "Yes".

Please decide first and then click on the button to vote. Please don't change your answer when you see what other people did. There is no "right" or "wrong" answer here.

Let's VOTE on the answer!

So here's a new thing I would like to try. I want to take a poll from readers to see what they would bid on certain hands. There is no "right" or "wrong" answer but the results will be used in a little study I am doing so please be honest. You will learn why you are voting later on.

No one is vulnerable. Playing matchpoints. Here is your hand:
♠T
♥AKQT83
♦J653
♣T3

The question is IF your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opened the bidding 1NT would you now show your ♥ suit?

Bidding 2♥ or 3♥ or even some other bid to show a single suited hand counts as a "Yes".

Please decide first and then click on the button to vote. Please don't change your answer when you see what other people did. There is no "right" or "wrong" answer here.