What to bid Over a Weak 2?

Here is your hand:

♠KQ5
♥A742
♦A4
♣A763

You have 17 HCP with a balanced hand. You are about to open 1NT but Dealer is to your right. You have to wait your turn. Sadly your RHO opens the bidding 2♥. You ask your LHO what the bid means and the answer is "weak 2". This means that your RHO has six ♥ and a weak hand (about 6 to 10 HCP). Now it is your turn to bid. You can no longer open the bidding 1NT. What is your call?

Show Answer

Bid 2NT.

A 2NT bid opening bid means you have 20 or 21 HCP with a balanced hand. But over a weak 2 bid it is unlikely you will have this many points. A much more common hand to have is a 1NT opening bid. But since the weak 2 made it so you couldn't open 1NT you have to be content overcalling 2NT. This shows the exact same hand as a 1NT overcall. 15 to 18 HCP with a balanced hand and a stopper in the opponent's suit.

A good thing to discuss is whether or not you would play systems on over this overcall. Do you know? Discuss with Partner. Would 3♣ be Stayman? Would Jacoby transfers be on?

What to do?

Here is your hand:

♠5
♥AT
♦87632
♣AKJ93

You are Dealer. What is your bid? You are playing match points and nobody is vulnerable.

Show Answer

I hope everyone opened the bidding at least.

You do only have 12 HCP but you have really nice shape -- TWO five card suits!!! You've got to open this hand or you'll be walked over by the Opponents most days.

The bad part is WHAT you will open.

If you open, unfortunately you have to open the bidding 1♦. With two five card suits bid the HIGHER RANKING suit first. Not the best suit.

If you open 1♦ you have a nice rebid (♣).

If you chose to open 1♣ guess what happens?

Your LHO bids 1♥ and Partner bids 1♠. Now there is no way to show your other suit. If you opened 1♦ you can now rebid 2♣.

Simple Declarer Play - 3NT

This post talks about counting winners in a trump contract. If you want some practice on doing that please read this post first:
Counting Winners

You are playing 3NT after a simple auction of 1NT (by you, the Declarer), 3NT (by Partner, the Responder). The Opponents did not bid at all.

Contract:3NT Opening lead:5♦
Dummy:
♠92
♥KT4
♦T964
♣AKJT

Declarer:
♠AJ
♥QJ97
♦AQ2
♣Q532

First let's count winners.

How many winners does Declarer have in each of the suits?



Hmmmm. Doesn't look like you have enough winners. What is your plan? What card do you play at trick 2?