What would YOU respond?

Here is your hand:
♠AT852
♥T7
♦KQT
♣K65

You are Dealer and decide to open the bidding 1♠. The opponents Pass throughout the auction. Partner bids 2♣. It is now your turn. Rate the following bids you could make and decide which one is the winner:

Bids you can now make:
Pass
2♦
2♥
2♠
2NT
3♣

What do you think of each of those bids?

Show Answer

Pass
Pass should NOT be an option here. A new suit by Responder is forcing for one round unless 1NT has been bid in the auction or Responder could have opened the bidding and did not. Neither of those situations applies here. Partner is unlimited and could have enough for a game or even a slam. This bid is FORCING and you must bid.

2♦
This bid tends to show a four card ♦ in this auction. Sometimes we have to lie but this is not a hand we need to lie. So this isn't a very good bid.

2♥
This bid should show a four card ♥ in this auction. Sometimes we have to lie but we don't want to lie about the majors. So this isn't a very good bid.

2♠
Not the worst bid you can make with this hand but the problem with this bid is Responder must bid again. There are only two bids you can make that Responder is allowed to Pass. Bidding 2NT and raising Responder's suit one level.

2NT
I like this bid because Responder is allowed to Pass and this hand is pretty weak. But I don't like the lousy doubleton ♥ suit. Not the worst bid possible but not the best.

3♣
I like this bid because:
A) Responder is allowed to PASS -- this hand is very weak and does not want to encourage Responder to bid again
B) the other bids this hand can make are even worse

You are allowed to raise Responder's 2 level bid suit with three card support only.