Overcall or Not?

Here is your hand:

♠T96
♥AQ2
♦A3
♣K9872

Playing matchpoints you are not vulnerable but the opponents are. Your Partner is Dealer and says "Pass". Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♦.

What is your call?

Show Answer

If you choose to "Pass" the auction will get ugly for the opponents. Believe it or not they will probably end up playing in 2♣. Yes, YOUR five card suit!

If you overcalled 2♣ in this auction YOU are the one that will get in trouble. This is a terrible suit and best not to make a 2 level overcall on.

Another Rebid Dilema

Here is your hand:

♠83
♥AQJT
♦KQ94
♣AK9

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable. You are Dealer and open the bidding 1♦. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. Partner responds 1♠.

What is your call?

Show Answer

2NT.

This should show a balanced hand with 18 or 19 HCP. Which you have.

Do NOT bid 2♥ on this hand. Remember Partner could have bid 1♥ but they didn't. They responded 1♠.

Responding with a Weak Hand

Here is your hand:

♠T52
♥K52
♦63
♣JT865

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable. Partner opens the bidding 2♣. This shows a STRONG hand! The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. You bid 2♦. You play this as a "waiting" bid. This basically asks Partner to tell you just exactly WHY they have such a strong hand. Partner now bids 2NT. This shows 22 to 24 HCP (High Card Points) and a balanced hand.

What is your call?

Show Answer

3NT.

Yes you have a terrible hand. But Partner has at least 22 to 24 HCP! You have 4. Together the two hands should have enough for a game.

Your Partner's hand is from the last post:
♠A3
♥A86
♦AK54
♣AKQ2

Your hand again:
♠T52
♥K52
♦63
♣JT865

You can see that together the hands have at least 10 tricks.

Strong Hand

Here is your hand:

♠A3
♥A86
♦AK54
♣AKQ2

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable. You are Dealer and open the bidding 2♣. This shows a STRONG hand! The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. Your Partner responds 2♦. You play this as a "waiting" bid. Partner is basically not showing anything and asking you to describe your hand.

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have 24 HCP and a balanced hand. How do you show this?

How about 2NT? This should show 22 to 24 HCP and a balanced hand.

What to Open?

Here is your hand:

♠Q94
♥AK62
♦KQ7
♣AK8

Playing matchpoints and you are vulnerable. What do you open?

Show Answer

How about 2NT?

You have a balanced hand with 21 HCP. Show them. 2NT shows a balanced hand with 20 or 21 HCP.

What to Open?

Here is your hand:

♠AJT
♥
♦AT642
♣AJT74

Playing matchpoints and on one is vulnerable. What do you open?

Show Answer

How about 1♦?

With two FIVE card suits always bid the HIGHER RANKING suit first.

Bidding Over 2NT

Here is your hand:

♠96432
♥KT2
♦764
♣K7

Playing matchpoints and on one is vulnerable. Partner opens the bidding 2NT showing 20 or 21 HCP. The Opponents remain silent. You and your Partner have agreed to play Stayman and Jacoby Transfers so you bid 3♥. Partner dutifully bids 3♠. What is your call.

Show Answer

How about 3NT?

You do have enough for a game. Partner has at least 20 HCP and you have two Kings. But you DON'T KNOW if you have a ♠ fit. By transferring you have shown five ♠. Partner can always bid 4♠ if they have a fit.

Partner "Passes". They only have two ♠ and you got to the right contract.

To Overcall or not to Overcall

Here is your hand:

♠J
♥K942
♦Q42
♣KQJ95

Playing matchpoints and everyone is vulnerable. LHO (Left Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♠. Partner says "Pass". RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bids 2♦. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about "Pass"?

Your LHO opened the bidding. They have an opening hand. RHO bid a new suit at the 2 level so they have at least 10 HCP. Your Partner has NOTHING.

If you bid, I would probably choose a "Double" before a 3♣ Overcall. But either bid puts you in 3♣ down two tricks for minus 200. Luckily they didn't "Double" you. If you had simple said "Pass" the Opponents were going to get too high and go down in their contract.

Bids Over 1NT

Here is your hand:

♠AQ54
♥K4
♦Q8
♣J9764

Playing matchpoints and you are not vulnerable. Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The opponents do not bid. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 2♣? Stayman. This asks Partner if they have a four card major.

Responder Shows a Fit for Opener's Spade Response

So Partner opened the bidding 1 of a minor and you bid 1♥. Now Partner decides to bid 1♠. You have a fit. How do you show it?

First of all, what do you know about partner's hand?

You know that partner has at least 13 HCP and at least 4 cards in the ♠ suit. You also know that Partner does NOT have four ♥. They would have supported your ♥ suit first. But Partner could still have a VERY BIG hand. They could have as much as 18 or even a bad 19 HCP.

See the following post for information on what Partner would need to jump in the bidding and force you to bid:
Jump Shifts

If you also have four ♠ tell Partner you have a fit.

Supporting Partner automatically limits your hand.

Since Partner could still have a big hand you want to keep the auction alive if you can. But 1♠ is NOT a forcing bid. A new suit by OPENER is not forcing. (A new suit by Responder is.) So you CAN "Pass" 1♠ but try to only if you have a bad hand.

If you have an opening hand yourself you must bid game. Partner opened. You should have a game.

Raise Partner 1 level only if you are weak and jump a level if you have a invitational hand (about 11 or 12 points).

Here are the responses and what they show. Remember YOU will be Dummy so YOU get to also count Dummy points.

Responder	Opener
	1♦
1♥	1♠
Pass	This says Partner I have a terrible hand and I want out of this auction. I should have ♠ tolerance though. A bad 6 or 7 points is all I have.

Responder	Opener
	1♦
1♥	1♠
2♠	This says partner I have a weak hand -- about 10 points at the most.

Responder	Opener
	1♦
1♥	1♠
3♠	This says partner I have an invitational hand -- about 11 or 12 points.

Responder	Opener
	1♦
1♥	1♠
4♠	This says partner I have an opening hand myself -- at least 13 points.

Responder	Opener
	1♦
1♥	1♠
6♠	This says partner I have a HUGE hand -- at least 20 or more points!

Check out the following post to remind you about Dummy points:
Distribution Points

Let's practice using some real hands. On the following hands Partner has opened 1♦. You responded 1♥. Partner bid 1♠. It is your turn to bid. What will you say?

Some words of warning. Partner opened the bidding 1♦. Be wary counting shortness in the ♦ suit. Partner might be counting values in that suit.

Also be wary about counting shortness with honours. Check out this post for more information:
Distribution - Counting Shortness with Honors

You are now on your own! Remember, Partner opened 1♦. You responded 1♥. Partner now responds 1♠. It is your turn to bid. How many points do you have? What will you bid and what are you telling Partner with that bid?

Hand 1

♠KT92
♥KQ63
♦86
♣972



Hand 2

♠AKQ9
♥QJT97
♦87
♣T9



Hand 3

♠AKJ2
♥9763
♦Q93
♣J5



Hand 4

♠KJ43
♥T983
♦Q63
♣Q3



Hand 5

♠K987
♥AQT8
♦Q985
♣7



Hand 6

♠JT62
♥QJT9
♦Q72
♣87



Hand 7

♠K875
♥AK98
♦QT7
♣98



Hand 8

♠KT76
♥T642
♦AK
♣863



Hand 9

♠Q987
♥AKJT4
♦Q3
♣T9



Hand 10

♠QJ83
♥AQ32
♦62
♣AT5



Hand 11

♠A976
♥JT75
♦KQT82
♣



Hand 12

♠AK84
♥AT93
♦QT3
♣J3



Hand 13

♠A873
♥K985
♦J872
♣5



Hand 14

♠A987
♥KJ74
♦T86
♣K3



Hand 15

♠J765
♥KQJ62
♦Q5
♣T7



Hand 16

♠J862
♥Q986
♦T6
♣AK6



Hand 17

♠J973
♥AT83
♦KQ63
♣Q



Hand 18

♠JT85
♥A987
♦T
♣Q764



Hand 19

♠K985
♥AQ63
♦QJ7
♣86



Hand 20

♠KQ93
♥Q853
♦Q4
♣643



Hand 21

♠KQT2
♥8642
♦542
♣KQ



Hand 22

♠JT42
♥Q742
♦J4
♣Q93



Hand 23

♠QJ72
♥QJT54
♦74
♣Q4



Hand 24

♠QJ73
♥KQT95
♦42
♣A2



Hand 25

♠AK87
♥AJT87
♦T5
♣53



Hand 26

♠AT85
♥KQ87
♦Q98
♣83



Hand 27

♠AQT9
♥KQ75
♦85
♣K95



Hand 28

♠AK42
♥AT75
♦AK5
♣K5



Hand 29

♠K632
♥AJ84
♦Q94
♣Q2



Hand 30

♠KT85
♥A832
♦962
♣T5



Hand 31

♠KQJ8
♥T942
♦AT96
♣5



Hand 32

♠JT74
♥AQ972
♦K84
♣5



Hand 33

♠9652
♥AJ76
♦876
♣K9



Hand 34

♠AQ73
♥T984
♦QJ5
♣QJ



Hand 35

♠AJ52
♥9543
♦K5
♣543



Hand 36

♠KQ87
♥AQ97
♦K9
♣AK6



Hand 37

♠9653
♥7432
♦K9
♣A95



Hand 38

♠5432
♥K753
♦AJT7
♣T



Hand 39

♠KT87
♥A652
♦Q742
♣5



Hand 40

♠Q976
♥AK72
♦Q65
♣Q3



Hand 41

♠T987
♥A942
♦KQ8
♣J3



Hand 42

♠KT83
♥J542
♦84
♣KJT



Hand 43

♠AK52
♥K983
♦73
♣KJ5



Hand 44

♠JT84
♥K653
♦K93
♣J4



Hand 45

♠A972
♥QT42
♦Q872
♣8



Hand 46

♠7542
♥KQJ62
♦43
♣A6



Hand 47

♠K986
♥JT762
♦K9
♣T3



Hand 48

♠T972
♥K974
♦Q2
♣J83



Hand 49

♠K543
♥KQ93
♦KQT4
♣9



Hand 50

♠T952
♥K9862
♦83
♣AJ

After the Overcall

Here is your hand:

♠AQ4
♥K5
♦KT763
♣Q53

Playing matchpoints and no one if vulnerable. You open the bidding 1♦. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) bids 1♠. Partner bids 2♣. Your RHO bids 2♠. It is your bid.

Question 1: What is Partner showing?

Question 2: Are you forced to bid?

Question 3: If yes, what is your bid? If no, will you bid and what will you bid if you are going to bid?

Show Answer

Answer 1: Partner is showing at least 10 HCP and a ♣ suit. This is a forcing bid.

Answer 2: Initially you ARE forced to bid. BUT your RHO bid. You are no longer forced to bid because Partner has another call over the 2♠ bid.

Answer 3: Even though you do not have to bid, bidding 2NT to show a minimum hand with a ♠ stopper will REALLY help Partner out. Now they can easily bid 3NT. If you "Pass" they might not know what to bid.

Responder must bid AGAIN!

Remember that hand from yesterday?

Here is your hand:

♠T854
♥A98
♦43
♣AJ93

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable and the opponent are not. Your Partner opens the bidding 1♦. The Opponents Pass throughout the bidding. We responded 1♠ yesterday. Now Partner bids 3♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

4♠

Partner is showing about 17 or 18 points in support of our suit. We have a nice 9. Yes, it is still a lousy four card major but we do have a fit and now we know we have the values for a game. Bid the game!

Partner's hand is from a previous post. They held:
♠AK62
♥T4
♦AKQT6
♣72

Good thing you bid 1♠. If you had responded 1NT Partner would have had a tough call and might have "Passed". You can take 11 tricks if ♠ are trump and only 10 tricks in NT.

Responding to Partner

Here is your hand:

♠T854
♥A98
♦43
♣AJ93

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable and the opponent are not. Your Partner opens the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

1♠

You have a four card major. Bid it. Yes, it is a lousy four card major but it is still a four card major. Bid it!

Another Opener Rebid

Here is your hand:

♠AK62
♥T4
♦AKQT6
♣72

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable and the opponent are not. You are Dealer and open the bidding 1♦. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. Your Partner responds 1♠.

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have a fit for Parnter's major, 16 HCP and 2 Dummy points -- one for each doubleton. How do you show this?

3♠ -- this shows about 17 or 18 points in support of your Partner's major.

Responder must make a tough call

Here is your hand:

♠AQT863
♥AQ
♦T
♣Q987

Playing matchpoints you are not vulnerable. Your Partner is Dealer and open the bidding 1♣. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. You respond 1♠. Now your Partner bids 2♣.

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have 14 HCP and a six card ♠ suit. How do you show this?

Let's go over the bids you should not make and why.

2♠
2♠ shows a WEAK hand with six ♠. You are too strong.

3♠
3♠ shows an invitational hand with six ♠. You are too strong. Besides, Partner might not have any ♠ AT ALL. You KNOW you have a nice ♣. Maybe you are better off in ♣?

4♠
4♠ has the same problem that 3♠ does. Partner might not have any ♠ AT ALL. You KNOW you have a nice ♣. Maybe you are better off in ♣? But at least this bid gets you to game.

How about 3♣?
3♣ is a NON-FORCING bid. Partner can "Pass" that bid.

4♣
Is this a forcing bid? Do you know? Are you sure? Does Partner know? Probably not. Even if you both know it is forcing does Partner know to show three card support for your ♠? You still could have a nice fit there.

2NT
You have too many values for this bid plus you are too distributional and you do not have a ♦ card.

3NT
You are too distributional and you do not have a ♦ card. Plus you could still have a ♠ fit. But at least you bid game.

Hmmmm. Any ideas?

We need to make a FORCING bid. What are bids that FORCE Partner to bid?

How about 2♥?
2♥ is a forcing bid (new suit by responder) but the problem is that Partner might think you have four ♥. They might not quite get the joke and keep bidding ♥.

2♦
This is a FORCING bid (new suit by responder) and is unlikely to get Partner too excited. After this bid they are likely to support your ♠ if they have three card support.

I think we have a WINNER! 2♦!

This is not really a lie. It is just a forcing bid.

After 2♦ Partner will bid 3♣. Now you can decide whether or not to bid 5♣ or 6♣.

The slam does make in case you are wondering.

Responder must bid

Here is your hand:

♠J
♥JT976
♦Q7
♣AKT65

Playing matchpoints and no one is vulnerable. Your Partner is Dealer and open the bidding 1♥. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass'.

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have 10 HCP and 3 points for your singleton. You have an opening hand with support for Partner's opening major. That means you have a forcing raise in ♥.

If you have a forcing raise in ♥ I hope you made that!

If you do NOT have a forcing raise in ♥ you need to bid 2♣. That says NOTHING about having ♥ support (you'll show that later) but does show your Partner you have VALUES. Partner is forced to bid again. Then you can bid game in ♥.

If you jumped to 4♥ you have shown a very weak hand. You have the number of trumps you need and the shortness you need but you have TOO MANY VALUES. Partner will think you are weak. You are strong.

On this hand if you jumped to 4♥ you will have missed your slam.

Opener Rebid

Here is your hand:

♠AQ932
♥J6
♦A87
♣K82

Playing matchpoints and no one is vulnerable. You are Dealer and open the bidding 1♠. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) bids 2♣. Partner bids 2♥.

Two questions:

1) What is Partner showing for their 2♥ bid?

2) What is your call and can Partner "Pass" this bid?

Show Answer

Your Partner has at least FIVE ♥ and at least 10 HCP.

See the following post for more information:
Responder Promises a FIVE Card Suit

Bid 2NT. This should show a minimum hand (Good 12 to 14 HCP) along with a ♣ stopper. Partner can "Pass" this bid if they are minimum.

Rebid

Here is your hand:

♠KQ43
♥AK83
♦T8
♣QT7

Playing matchpoints and no one is vulnerable. Your Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♦. The Opponents "Pass" throughout. You decide to respond 1♥. (Four card suits up the line -- perfect!) Your Partner rebids 2♦.

What is your call?

Show Answer

I hope everyone bid 3NT on this board.

Your Partner opened the bidding and you have an opening hand. You belong in a game. NT is probably the best place to play.

Partner does NOT have four ♠ or they would have rebid 1♠. You do not have a fit there. Partner would have supported your ♥ if they had four. You do not have a fit there.

If you bid 2NT only you made a bid that Partner can "Pass". You need to bid the game to let Partner know you have an opening hand yourself!