How Do I Ask?

Hi Heidi,

South opened with 1♦, North could have responded with 2♥, but decided to bid 1♥ to leave more bidding room. South rebid 1♠, then North didn't know how to rebid to show the big hand and game force. What do you suggest?

NS vulnerable, E is dealer:

	North ♠K3 ♥K9854 ♦KQ63 ♣A7
West ♠97 ♥AT ♦T97 ♣K98654		East ♠JT542 ♥J32 ♦2 ♣QJ32
	South ♠AQ86 ♥Q76 ♦AJ854 ♣T

N	E	S	W
	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
???

Heidi's Answer

I like North's original bid of 1♥. This is good thinking. With a strong hand you can jump but why bother? (Besides the hand is supposed to be a little stronger to bid 2♥ with at least a six card suit! Plus nowadays most players play 2♥ as a WEAK hand. Up to you and your Partner but if you show a WEAK hand you need to ALERT.)

Things are good in the bidding until now. You are right. North doesn't KNOW what to do after South's 1♠ rebid.

North can't rebid ♥ -- that shows six of them.

North also knows the partnership has enough for game -- but what game? North might not want to play in 3NT with only one stopper in the unbid suit (♣) but how to ask Partner for another stopper? Plus Partner could have three ♥ in their hand! North wants to play in a major suit fit if they can. How can they ask Partner if Partner has three ♥? Can you ask BOTH these questions at the same time?

YES! You can!

Let's go back to some basic principals. A new suit by RESPONDER is forcing for at least one round if they are not an original passed hand and 1NT has not been bid in the auction.

PERFECT!

A new suit by North is FORCING at this point in the auction!

So North can bid a new suit. In this case the suit would be ♣. They can bid 2♣.

Note that they do NOT have to have any ♣. (In fact on this hand they don't have much in the ♣ suit.) This is not a NATURAL bid saying "I have ♣" this is a forcing bid saying "Please describe your hand more."

So what does South do? They describe their hand more.

On this hand they will bid 2♥ saying "I have three ♥ for you!"

Now North knows they have a ♥ fit and enough for game so they will bid 4♥.

(If South had a different hand without three card ♥ support other bidding options would be to bid 2NT with a ♣ stopper.)

Is the 2♣ bid alertable?

Depends. If you play this bid as forcing to game it is called "Fourth Suit Forcing" and it IS ALERTABLE and you must get to game.

Playing normal Standard American it is NOT ALERTABLE and you are NOT forced to game.

The Final Auction

	North ♠K3 ♥K9854 ♦KQ63 ♣A7
West ♠97 ♥AT ♦T97 ♣K98654		East ♠JT542 ♥J32 ♦2 ♣QJ32
	South ♠AQ86 ♥Q76 ♦AJ854 ♣T

N	E	S	W
	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♥	Pass
4♥	Pass	Pass	Pass

Hand 15 - 1NT vs 1 Major

This is chapter 15 in the story of my attempt to determine if it is better to open 1♠ or 1NT with 15 to 17 HCP and a five card ♠ suit.

The journey started with this post:
Later On

Here is the fifteenth hand I generated:

	North ♠Q9 ♥T ♦J42 ♣AJ98654
West ♠42 ♥J6532 ♦75 ♣QT32		East ♠AK53 ♥KQ74 ♦QT863 ♣
	South ♠JT876 ♥A98 ♦AK9 ♣K7

Dealer is South and N/S are vulnerable.

Double Dummy:
3♠ can make by N
3♥ can make by E/W
4♣ can make by N/S
1NT can make by N/S
1♠ can make by S
1♦ can make by N/S

Analysis

If South opens up 1NT I think West will "Pass" and North might find a way to show their ♣ suit.

Standard American this would probably be a 3♣ bid showing an invitational hand with at least six ♣.

I think East at these colours (vulnerability) will chance a Double (take out).

South will "Pass" and West will bid 3♥.

Will North bid again? Probably not. Their suit isn't that great.

If South opens 1NT and North is feeling a little feisty they might even bid 3NT hoping their ♣ suit runs. It doesn't and South will go down a few on a ♥ lead. North might feel a little sheepish with that bid but they shouldn't. They took a chance and it just didn't work out. (I would have tried it.)

What if North opens 1♠?

West will "Pass". North will bid 1NT since they do not have the values to bid a suit at the 2 level.

What will East do? Here it is not so clear however given the state of 2 level overcalls these days I feel confident that East will overcall 2♦ with this hand.

South will "Pass" and so will West.

North might just "Pass" and let them play there. This would be good for N/S since East will go down a couple of tricks. (This is why you should have a good suit to overcall kids!)

North might bid 3♣ but with three losing ♦ and no assurance South has any ♣ at all they probably won't.

So I think 1♠ will be the best possible opening bid for N/S. They are less likely to get into trouble and it is more likely the Opponent's do.

To see the table where all the hands are listed click HERE!

Bidding Question

Hi Heidi,

What should South who has 12 HCP but only 1 Spade bid??

NS vulnerable, N is dealer:

	North ♠AKJ863 ♥732 ♦7632 ♣9
West ♠Q742 ♥JT4 ♦AJ8 ♣753		East ♠95 ♥K96 ♦K95 ♣AQT42
	South ♠T ♥AQ85 ♦QT74 ♣KJ86

N	E	S	W
2♠	Double	???

Heidi's Answer

South should be quite happy that E/W want to come into the bidding. Double here is TAKE OUT saying "Partner pick your longest suit!"

Perfect since South wants to play ANYWHERE BUT ♠!

So South should "Pass" quietly and hope the Opponents bid too high. In fact they are in trouble already.

If South totally trusts their Partner's vulnerable 2♠ opening bid they can just "Double" the Opponents in whatever contract they will get themselves too. This should be a PENALTY Double since North opened a weak 2.

It will be a bloodbath.

Think about it. North will get two ♠ tricks at least.

South will get two ♥ tricks.

South will also get two ♣ tricks.

I do not know where the Opponents will end up but they will be in big trouble.

But hopefully the Opponents will learn a valuable lesson about coming into your auction!

Bidding Question

Hi Heidi,

In the following hand, without knowing if partner has a ♣ control or not, how would North explore game in NT or ♠?

EW vulnerable, W is dealer:

	North ♠KJT96 ♥974 ♦AJ72 ♣3
West ♠AQ5 ♥K852 ♦53 ♣QJ98		East ♠43 ♥J63 ♦964 ♣96542
	South ♠872 ♥AQT ♦KQT8 ♣AKT

N	E	S	W
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1♦	Double
1♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
???

Heidi's Answer

I wouldn't worry about having the ♣ stopper here -- South is showing a strong hand and they should have the ♣ suit stopped.

But North should want to investigate whether or not they have a 5-3 ♠ fit. South could easily have three ♠ and then the partnership has an eight card fit.

How do they ask?

They bid a suit at the 3 level.

North can bid 3♦ IF they KNOW South will bid again. South SHOULD bid again but sometimes Partner passes these forcing bids.

If North is not sure then they can bid 3♣. This is just a FORCING bid -- does NOT show anything in the ♣ suit.

But it does say "Partner I am unblanced. I don't want to play in NT."

Here North should have five ♠. Why else would they be unbalanced?

So South can bid 3♠. They already denied having four ♠ in the auction by bidding 2NT instead of raising ♠. They already guaranteed two ♠ by bidding NT -- they would not bid NT with a singleton ♠. So thisbidding 3♠ now shows three ♠.

North can raise to game in ♠ knowing they have a fit.

Suggested Auction

	North ♠KJT96 ♥974 ♦AJ72 ♣3
West ♠AQ5 ♥K852 ♦53 ♣QJ98		East ♠43 ♥J63 ♦964 ♣96542
	South ♠872 ♥AQT ♦KQT8 ♣AKT

N	E	S	W
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1♦	Double
1♠	Pass	2NT	Pass
3♣ or 3♦	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Question for Heidi

Hi Heidi,

North has one of your favourite hands, 16 HCP balanced hand with 5-card Spades. There is a twist. The RHO (West) has opened 1♥.

a. Should North overcall with a bid of 1♠ or 1NT?

b. North bid 1♠ in our case, how should South respond in this case with balanced hand and three ♠?

c. Would a bid of 1NT by East change South's bid?

NS vulnerable, E is dealer:

	North ♠AK762 ♥AT7 ♦J8 ♣A54
West ♠JT ♥QJ862 ♦K975 ♣KQ		East ♠954 ♥K5 ♦A632 ♣9862
	South ♠Q83 ♥943 ♦QT4 ♣JT73

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	1♥
???

Heidi's Answer 1a

I think overcalling 1♠ or 1NT depends entirely on your style.

I have Aces rather than slow values (Queen's and Jack's) and I like Aces in suit contracts better. So I would probably overcall 1♠.

Both are correct.

Heidi's Answer 1b

I don't like South's hand at all. They are too balanced and have Queen's and Jack's and not very many points at all.

If I had the South hand I would "Pass" my Partner's 1♠ overcall. If Partner was VERY STRONG they would have started with a "Double" to show a hand too good to overcall. So there is NO WAY we have a game with this hand.

I will support Partner later on if the Opponents bid. But I don't need to right now.

Heidi's Answer 1c

Over the 1♠ overcall a bid of 1NT by East would show 6 to 10 HCP PLUS a stopper in the suit the Opponents overcalled. So a guaranteed winner in the ♠ suit. East has the values but no stopper in the ♠ suit so they would have to "Pass" 1♠.

Suggested Auction

	North ♠AK762 ♥AT7 ♦J8 ♣A54
West ♠JT ♥QJ862 ♦K975 ♣KQ		East ♠954 ♥K5 ♦A632 ♣9862
	South ♠Q83 ♥943 ♦QT4 ♣JT73

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	1♥
1♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Here N/S can make 1NT but they also make 2♠. 2♠ will score better than 1NT.

Hand 14 - 1NT vs 1 Major

This is chapter 14 in the story of my attempt to determine if it is better to open 1♠ or 1NT with 15 to 17 HCP and a five card ♠ suit.

The journey started with this post:
Later On

Here is the Fourteenth hand I generated:

	North ♠QJ4 ♥T876 ♦T43 ♣J86
West ♠7 ♥42 ♦AQ865 ♣AT952		East ♠T9832 ♥AKQ ♦KJ ♣Q43
	South ♠AK65 ♥J953 ♦972 ♣K7

Dealer is East and no one is vulnerable.

Double Dummy:
3NT can make by E/W
5♦ can make by E/W
5♣ can make by E/W
3♠ can make by E/W
2♥ can make by E/W

Analysis

If East opens up 1NT I think West will either bid 3NT or if they have ways to show 5-5 in the minors they will do that.

East will bid 3NT because they don't care about the minors.

So they will end up in 3NT.

If East opens up 1♠ it now depends on what system the partnership plays.

Playing Standard American West will bid 2♦. East can now bid 3NT since they know they have the values for game. West will "Pass".

Playing 2/1 Game Forcing over 1♠ West will be forced to bid 1NT. Which would be forcing.

East would rebid 2♣.

West would do something -- maybe 3♣ or even something stronger.

Either way East will bid 3NT.

So I think all roads lead to 3NT.

Which will make easily.

I don't even think the lead will matter. You won't get a ♠ lead if East opens 1♠ but East has 9 tricks. Should they try for a tenth if it means risking the contract? If they lose a ♣ at some point the Opponents can get into ♠ and East will go down. I don't think they will take the chance.

So on this hand it really doesn't matter what East opens. They will get to 3NT and take their 9 tricks.

To see the table where all the hands are listed click HERE!

Bidding Question

Hi Heidi,

How should South, with 9 winning tricks and two singletons, open the bidding? What should North, who has the A♣, respond?

All vulnerable, W is dealer:

	North ♠KJT8 ♥874 ♦7652 ♣A2
West ♠9765432 ♥932 ♦ ♣T73		East ♠A ♥KQJT65 ♦9 ♣KQ864
	South ♠Q ♥A ♦AKQJT843 ♣J95

N	E	S	W
			Pass
Pass	1♥	???

Heidi's Answer

So I take it this is matchpoints. This would make a big difference to me. So I will assume matchpoints when answering the question.

First of all South will NOT be able to open the bidding. East already did that. So now South is overcalling.

What should South overcall?

Here is where it makes the difference. At matchpoints I would try just bidding 3NT.

Crazy with two singletons I know.

But how many tricks will I take when my LHO leads a ♥?

9 at least even if Partner has NOTHING.

That's all I need.

If this were a team game and I wanted to be a little safer I would just bid 5♦ and hope Partner can cover off a couple of losers. Here they do so it all works out.

I think regardless of what South bids -- 3NT or 5♦ -- North will just "Pass". You can make 12 tricks in ♦ on any lead but a ♣ but that's a little lucky.

Do I think East will allow South to play in 3NT? Probably not. Probably East will bid 4♣. Now, as South, I will just bid 5♦.

Hand 13 - 1NT vs 1 Major

This is chapter 13 in the story of my attempt to determine if it is better to open 1♠ or 1NT with 15 to 17 HCP and a five card ♠ suit.

The journey started with this post:
Later On

Here is the thirteenth hand I generated:

	North ♠AQJ85 ♥AJ3 ♦QJT ♣52
West ♠KT73 ♥8742 ♦963 ♣84		East ♠92 ♥K9 ♦K2 ♣KQT9763
	South ♠64 ♥QT65 ♦A8754 ♣AJ

Dealer is North and everyone vulnerable.

Double Dummy:
6♦ can make by N/S
5♥ can make by N/S
4♠ can make by N/S
3NT can make by N/S

Analysis

If North opens up 1NT I think East will probably show their ♣ suit by bidding 2♣. Some might have to "Double" to show a single suited hand. Whatever they need to do to show a single suited hand they will do.

South will bid Stayman in however way the partnership has agreed to do that.

Some play stolen bids so "Double" of 2♣ is now Stayman.

Some play cuebids so 3♣ by South now asks North if they have a four card major.

Of course if they are able to South can always bid 2♣ (Stayman) -- this really depends on what East has bid.

In any case the partnership will probably land in 3NT.

What happens if North opens 1♠?

If North opens up 1♠ I think East will show their ♣ suit by bidding 2♣.

South can make a Negative Double to show the other two suits.

North is kinda stuck over the Double. They can't bid NT because they don't have the ♣ stopper. But they will have to bid. So they will bid either 2♦ or 2♥. I'm quite confident that the better players would bid 2♥ because they are not worried about a possible 4-3 fit. They know they are trumping in the short side. Plus Partner could have a five card suit.

If North bids 2♥ South will bid 4♥. Which actually does better than 3NT even though they do not have an eight card fit! Even if South (with only 11 HCP) just invites with 3♥, North should bid the game. They are more than their minimum for sure.

If North bids 2♦ South will bid 3NT since they have the ♣ stopped.

Will they reasonably make the contract? Is the Double Dummy accurate?

In 3NT North just has to hold up once on the ♣ lead. Then they have to do the obvious ♦ finesse. That will get them eight tricks. For their ninth trick they have to choose to finesse the ♠ rather than the ♥. This one is not so obvious because both will allow East to win the trick.

In 4♥ things are a little safer. Declarer MUST finesse the ♥ (which loses and will take you down if you are in 3NT) but the good thing here is that East cannot run their ♣ suit. North can trump!

So in the end I think most roads lead to 3NT (which does depend on a good guess to make) however the one road that leads to a better contract (4♥) is the road that starts with 1♠.

Plus by some fluky "All My Finesses Win" thing N/S do happen to make 6♦. They probably have a better shot of getting there over 1♠. I don't think they will but they have a better shot.

So I am giving 1♠ the win.

To see the table where all the hands are listed click HERE!

Hand 12 - 1 of a Major

This is chapter 12 in the story of my attempt to determine if it is better to open 1♠ or 1NT with 15 to 17 HCP and a five card ♠ suit.

The journey started with this post:
Later On

Here is the twelfth hand I generated:

	North ♠2 ♥Q42 ♦AQ9 ♣AKT743
West ♠AQ876 ♥AKT ♦J72 ♣Q5		East ♠J93 ♥J97 ♦KT8654 ♣2
	South ♠KT54 ♥8653 ♦3 ♣J986

Dealer is West and N/S are vulnerable.

Double Dummy:
5♦ can make by E/W
4♣ can make by N/S
2♠ can make by E/W
1NT can make by N/S
1♥ can make by N/S

Analysis

If West opens up 1NT I think North would somehow show their ♣ suit -- either by bidding 2♣ or some play Double as showing a single suit.

I think East will now "Pass". Most partnerships would play a 2♦ bid as a transfer rather than a natural bid here. Though IF you play 2♦ as natural that works well on this hand.

East also might bid 2♠ as a RELAY to 3♣. This shows either a WEAK hand with ♣ or a weak hand with ♦.

South might raise Partner's ♣ suit. They have four trump and a singleton. But they also might "Pass" since they are weak in High Card Values. If East does bid (something) then South should definately raise.

As long as East decides to show their ♦ suit E/W should be fine. They have the higher ranking suit and even manage to make a game if they play it right!

What happens if West opens 1♠?

North will bid 2♣.

East will raise to 2♠.

South will bid 3♣.

West might make a game try showing ♦ but now the partnership will want to play in ♠ since they have that major suit fit. ♠ does not play nearly as well as ♦.

Definately it depends on who decides to bid and how high but I think it is easier for E/W to find their ♦ fit if West opens 1NT. Either way I think North will come in. Now it just depends on how much N/S want to bid. This hand would go quite a few different ways when played in real life!

So I am going to say bidding 1NT gives the best result here. It allows the partnership to find their best fit more easily.

To see the table where all the hands are listed click HERE!