Responding

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

Here is your hand:
♠8643
♥AJ4
♦K32
♣Q93

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♣. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

1♠.

This tells Partner you have at least 6 points and at least four ♠. This does NOT say you have good ♠. (You don't.)

Bidding 1NT would show 6 to 10 points and a balanced hand (on this auction only) but NO FOUR CARD MAJOR.

You do have a ♠ fit but if you bid 1NT instead of 1♠ you will NEVER find your ♠ fit.

You take 8 tricks in 1NT (which scores 120 points) but you can take 10 tricks if ♠ are trump (which score 170 points since you won't bid the game).

Responding to 1NT

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

Here is your hand:
♠JT842
♥82
♦T8654
♣6

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

Do you play Jacoby Transfers?

If you do bid 2♥. This FORCES Partner to bid 2♠. Then you can "Pass".

If you don't play Jacoby Transfers you are better off playing in 2♠ rather than in 1NT. So bid 2♠. Your Partner is supposed to "Pass" that bid.

BOTH those bids you are allowed to make with ZERO points. So don't worry you don't have enough points to bid. With such a distributional hand you want to play in a trump suit.

Check out the following to learn about Jacoby Transfers. They are a nice bid to know!
Introducing Jacoby Transfers

Rebidding when the Oppoents get involved

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ3
♥KJ5
♦JT73
♣QJ7

You are Dealer. You decide to open the bidding 1♦. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass". Partner responds 1♥. Now your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bid 2♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

Pass.

I can hear you shrieking: "But I HAVE to tell Partner I have the ♠ stopped!!! I must bid 2NT!"

Do you? Does Partner (who only has 6 points) REALLY care if you have the ♠ stopped?

No. They do not. They want you to "Pass" and try to defeat the Opponents.

Think about it. If you RHO had Passed would you have rebid 2NT?

No. That shows about 18 or 19 points.

Bidding 2NT in this auction shows much the same point count as if you had jumped to rebid 2NT. Which in a way you did. You just didn't have to jump because your RHO did it for you.

"But what if my Partner has a nice hand? Shouldn't I bid then?"

No. PARTNER with a nice hand can bid. Once they bid to show a nice hand THEN you can show your ♠ stoppers if you want.

Don't let your Opponents force you into making bid you don't want to bid.