Bidding Question

Hi Heidi,

How should NS bid this hand below:

No one vulnerable, W is dealer:

a. Should North be opening with 1♣ and rebidding 3♣ with 7 Clubs but only 14 HCPs?
b. What do you recommend South bid over 3♣?
c. Is 4♣ an option for South to rebid? In general, under what condition would Responder rebid 4♣ in similar auction (Opener bid 1♣ then rebid 3♣)? Would that be a limit bid inviting Opener to go to 5♣ if Opener has a maximum hand? which is how much?

	North ♠84 ♥AK ♦86 ♣AKT9853
West ♠A953 ♥J3 ♦KJ743 ♣42		East ♠KQT7 ♥9875 ♦QT2 ♣J6
	South ♠J62 ♥QT642 ♦A95 ♣Q7

N	E	S	W
1♣	Pass	1♥	Pass
3♣	Pass	???

Heidi's Answer 1a

Should North be opening with 1♣ and rebidding 3♣ with 7 Clubs but only 14 HCPs?

This is an aggressive call by North but they have such a nice hand that I would probably have made the same bid myself.

Rebidding 2♣ can just be such an underbid considering you have all those lovely ♣!

However 3♣ will get you in trouble sometimes for sure. But life is not without risk...

Heidi's Answer 1b

What do you recommend South bid over 3♣?

South has some choices. I think all their bids work out which is nice.

South can bid 3NT. The Opponents can lead a ♠ but since ♠ are splitting nicely they can only take four tricks. N/S can easily take the other nine.

If South was worried about the ♠ suit they could bid 3♦.

Over 3♦ North might bid 3♥ and South will raised to 4♥. You'll only have a 5-2 trump fit but you should be able to take 10 tricks fairly easily.

Even if South rebid 3♥ North will raise to 4♥ which will easily make.

Note that on this hand North bidding 3♣ works out quite well for N/S. If North rebid 2♣ South would probably just "Pass" thinking Partner is just minimum.

Heidi's Answer 1c

Is 4♣ an option for South to rebid? In general, under what condition would Responder respond 4♣ in similar auction (Opener bid 1♣ then rebid 3♣)? Would that be a limit bid inviting Opener to go to 5♣ if Opener has a maximum hand? which is how much?


Playing matchpoints a 4♣ bid is NOT an option on the South hand. This goes by the ever wonderful 3NT that we always always always try to go for.