Saturday, December 29, 2018

Your call

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠QJ
JT76
AKQ4
♣QJ4

Your RHO opened the bidding 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Rebid by Opener

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AK97
AJ64
J6
♣J74

You are Dealer. You have 14 HCP and open the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Partner responds 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Rebids by Opener

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ94
2
A542
♣AQT2

You are Dealer. Last post we decided you are going to open the bidding 1 (even with the point count to open 1NT) because you have an unbalanced hand. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Partner responds 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

Thursday, December 20, 2018

What to Open?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ94
2
A542
♣AQT2

You are Dealer. How many High Card Points do you have and what is your call?

Show Answer

Monday, December 17, 2018

Responding to Partner

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠QT75
K853
J2
♣T92

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1! RHO says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

Friday, December 14, 2018

Responder Rebids

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ763
KT
KT94
♣Q7

Partner is the Dealer and opens the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Your first response is easy. 1♠. Partner rebids 1NT.

Partner should be showing a balanced hand with less than 15 HCP (a balanced hand with 15 HCP will open the bidding 1NT -- not 1♣) and fewer than four ♠. Partner will raise your ♠ suit with four ♠. What is your bid now?

Show Answer

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

What does Opener show?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ763
KT
KT94
♣Q7

Partner is the Dealer and opens the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the bidding. Your first response is easy. 1♠. Partner rebids 1NT. Tell me what partner is showing.

Show Answer

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Rebids by Responder

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J974
Q974
K74
♣A4

Your Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents are silent during the auction. We decided last post to respond 2♣. Stayman. You are asking Partner if they have a four card major. Partner bids 2. What is your call?

Show Answer

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

What to bid over 1NT

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J974
Q974
K74
♣A4

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

Show Answer

Sunday, December 2, 2018

To Open or not to Open?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T9742
AKQ
65
♣K32

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Overcalling

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

Here is your hand:
♠K852
AQ3
KJ97
♣KT

RHO (Right Hand Opponent) is Dealer and opens the bidding 2♠. You ask and are told that this is a WEAK 2 bid. Your RHO has six ♠ but not very many points. What is your call?

Show Answer

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Responding when the Opponents Pre-empt

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

Here is your hand:
♠AQT8
4
Q542
♣KQ94

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says 3. (Oh yeah, they are making it tough for you!) What is your call?

Show Answer

Monday, November 26, 2018

What to respond

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠75
J973
AKJ6
♣KQ5

Your Partner opens the bidding 1. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

Saturday, November 24, 2018

What will you Rebid?

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

Here is your hand:
♠7
KQ7
AKQ42
♣KJ43

You are Dealer and open the bidding 1. The Opponents are silent during the auction. Partner bids 1♠. What is your call? (Better count your High Card Points twice before you decide!)

Show Answer

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Responding

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J7
J6
T976
♣AQ763

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

Show Answer

Monday, November 19, 2018

What to Respond?

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

Here is your hand:
♠J42
A3
J75
♣JT732

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♠. The Opponents are silent through the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

Friday, November 16, 2018

What to Open?

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

Here is your hand:
♠AKQJT93
85
542
♣A

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Rebidding after Partner makes a Negative Double showing both Majors and RHO Raises 1 Level

This post builds on the knowledge learned in previous posts. Please read them first:
Introducing the Negative Double - Auctions showing Spades
Responding to a 1 Level Negative Double when RHO passes
Responding to a Negative Double when RHO raises 1 level
Negative Doubles to show Hearts
Responding to a Negative Double with Hearts RHO Passes
Responding to a Negative Double which shows Hearts when RHO raises 1 level

and most importantly:
Negative Doubling to show BOTH Majors
Rebidding after Partner makes a Negative Double showing both Majors

After your Partner makes a Negative Double, sometimes your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) raises their partner's overcall and you are no longer forced to bid. In an auction where Partner has shown four of both majors and you have four of at least one major you still want to tell Partner. But now the level you respond at will change since your RHO took up a level.

Let's look at this auction:
YOU! Your Left Hand Opponent Partner Your Right Hand Opponent
1♣ 1 Double 2
???

and here is your hand:
♠KQ92
J2
T84
♣AK84

You want to compete. You have a ♠ fit. If the Opponents did not interfere and Partner had responded 1♠ you would have raised to 2♠. You can still do that. That still shows a minimum opening bid.

What if your hand was stronger? What do you do then?

With a VERY stong hand, say this one:
♠AKJ9
82
AT4
♣AK84

just like before you can just go right to game. Bid 4♠. Partner is supposed to have at least 6 HCP to make the Negative Double. You have 19 HCP! That should be enough to make a game.

With a more medium type hand you can jump one level. Now you need to bid at the 3 level since the Opponents competed with 2.

So with this hand:
♠AKJ9
82
96
♣AKJ84

you would jump to 3♠. That tells Partner that you have more than just a minimum opener, but not quite enough to bid a game.

Remember you can add Dummy points to your hand even though you will be Declarer.

That's quite a bit of information. Let's practice! That might make things a bit more clear.

On the following hands YOU opened the bidding 1♣. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) overcalled 1. Partner doubled. You have agreed to play Negative Doubles and this is one! Partner has at least 6 HCP and at least four cards in both majors. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bids 2. It is your bid. What will you bid and what does that bid show?

So the auction was:
YOU! Your Left Hand Opponent Partner Your Right Hand Opponent
1♣ 1 Double 2
???

With a minimum opening hand (and a fit!) bid just 2 of the major. This should show up to a bad 16 points.
With a medium opening hand (and a fit!) jump to 3 of the major. This should show a really good 16 points to 18 points.
With a maximum opening hand (and a fit!) bid 4 of the major. This should show at least 19 points.

(Remember to count Dummy points!)

Hand 1

♠AK74
A73
T2
♣Q543



Hand 2

♠A876
QJ2
9
♣AQ985



Hand 3

♠A82
K842
J
♣KQ952



Hand 4

♠J842
A5
Q2
♣AK972



Hand 5

♠K5
KJ43
64
♣AK842



Hand 6

♠KQJ8
K83

♣KJT832



Hand 7

♠Q9
KQT5
872
♣AK75



Hand 8

♠J87
KQ52
Q
♣AK643



Hand 9

♠4
AJ96
T9
♣AKQ764



Hand 10

♠Q6
AQT6
J4
♣AJT53



Hand 11

♠A53
KQ72
6
♣AKQT2



Hand 12

♠AQT3
K75

♣AKJ873



Hand 13

♠AK2
KT65
5
♣AQT42



Hand 14

♠8
AQ64
AJ4
♣AJ843



Hand 15

♠AT9
AT82
J4
♣KJT6



Hand 16

♠AJ95
AK4

♣KT9765



Hand 17

♠K42
JT43
Q4
♣AKJ8



Hand 18

♠87
KQT5
JT4
♣AK85



Hand 19

♠AJ97
KQ9
J
♣AQ863



Hand 20

♠KT82
T98
AK
♣K642



Hand 21

♠85
Q752
K76
♣AKQ4



Hand 22

♠73
AKT8
T76
♣AQT5



Hand 23

♠AKT9
86
953
♣AK54



Hand 24

♠A976
A76
6
♣KQJ72



Hand 25

♠K5
AQ52
A54
♣AQ74



Hand 26

♠AK2
AJ52
4
♣QT976



Hand 27

♠AJ85
852

♣AKQ742



Saturday, November 10, 2018

Rebidding after Partner makes a Negative Double showing both Majors

This post builds on the knowledge learned in previous posts. Please read them first:
Introducing the Negative Double - Auctions showing Spades
Responding to a 1 Level Negative Double when RHO passes
Responding to a Negative Double when RHO raises 1 level
Negative Doubles to show Hearts
Responding to a Negative Double with Hearts RHO Passes
Responding to a Negative Double which shows Hearts when RHO raises 1 level

and most importantly:
Negative Doubling to show BOTH Majors

Once Partner makes a Negative Double you (as Opener) are basically forced to bid. It's a little bit like a Take Out Double. If you "Pass" the Negative Double, the Opponents are playing at a low level contract and neither you, nor Partner, has very many trump. So you NEED to respond. Let's look at hands where Partner made a Negative Double at the 1 level to show that they have both major suits.

So the auction would be:
YOU! Your Left Hand Opponent Partner Your Right Hand Opponent
1♣ 1 Double Pass
???

and here is your hand:
♠KQ92
J82
83
♣AK84

If you "Pass" right now your LHO is playing in 1 Doubled and you only have two trump. Partner doesn't have to have any! So you cannot "Pass".

Partner's Double told you that they have at least four ♠ in their hand. Perfect! You have four ♠! You have a ♠ fit!

You need to tell Partner that you have a fit. But you don't want Partner thinking you have much in the way of points. You are minimum for your opening bid. Bid 1♠. That tells Partner that you have a fit, but you only have a minimum hand.

What if your hand was stronger? What do you do then?

With a VERY stong hand, say this one:
♠AKJ9
82
AT4
♣AK84

you can just go right to game. Bid 4♠. Partner is supposed to have at least 6 HCP to make the Negative Double. You have 19 HCP! That should be enough to make a game.

With a more medium type hand you can jump one level.

So with this hand:
♠AKJ9
82
96
♣AKJ84

you would jump to 2♠. That tells Partner that you have more than just a minimum opener, but not quite enough to bid a game.

Can you count extra points somehow?

Say you had this hand:
♠AQ92
AT2
4
♣AJ842

You opened the bidding 1♣. If the Opponents had not interfered Partner would have responded 1♠. You have a fit and you will be Dummy. You can now add Dummy points to your hand. So now rather than 15 HCP in your hand you have 18 points because you get to count three points for your singleton . It seems unfair that when the Opponents interfere with a 1 overcall you no longer get those points.

It is unfair. Give them to yourself!

So add Dummy points to your hand even though you will be Declarer.

So that 15 HCP hand now becomes an 18 point hand. You can now jump a level to 2♠ to show a hand with about 17 or 18 points -- even a really good 16 point hand.

That's quite a bit of information. Let's practice! That might make things a bit more clear.

On the following hands YOU opened the bidding 1♣. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) overcalled 1. Partner doubled. You have agreed to play Negative Doubles and this is one! Partner has at least 6 HCP and at least four cards in BOTH Majors. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". It is your bid. What will you bid and what does that bid show?

So the auction was:
YOU! Your Left Hand Opponent Partner Your Right Hand Opponent
1♣ 1 Double Pass
???

With a minimum opening hand (and a fit!) bid just 1 of your four card major. This should show up to a bad 16 points.
With a medium opening hand (and a fit!) jump to 2 of your four card major. This should show a really good 16 points to 18 points.
With a maximum opening hand (and a fit!) bid 4 of your four card major. This should show at least 19 points.

(Remember to count Dummy points!)

Hand 1

♠85
Q752
K76
♣AKQ4



Hand 2

♠J842
A5
Q2
♣AK972



Hand 3

♠AJ97
KQ9
J
♣AQ863



Hand 4

♠AK2
KT65
5
♣AQ842



Hand 5

♠K5
AQ52
A54
♣AQ74



Hand 6

♠Q9
KQT5
872
♣AK75



Hand 7

♠A976
A76
6
♣KQJ72



Hand 8

♠J87
KQ52
Q
♣AK643



Hand 9

♠AK74
A73
T2
♣Q543



Hand 10

♠73
AKT8
T76
♣AQT5



Hand 11

♠Q6
AQT6
J4
♣AJT53



Hand 12

♠AT9
AT82
J4
♣KJT6



Hand 13

♠AKT9
86
953
♣AK54



Hand 14

♠4
AJ96
T9
♣AKQ764



Hand 15

♠KT82
T98
AK
♣K642



Hand 16

♠A82
K842
J
♣KQ952



Hand 17

♠AQT3
K74
8
♣AKJ83



Hand 18

♠K42
JT43
Q4
♣AKJ8



Hand 19

♠AK2
AJ52
4
♣QT976



Hand 20

♠AJ85
852

♣AKQ432



Hand 21

♠K5
KJ43
64
♣AK842



Hand 22

♠8
AQ64
AJ4
♣AJ843



Hand 23

♠A53
KQ72
6
♣AKQT2



Hand 24

♠A876
QJ2
9
♣AQ985



Hand 25

♠87
KQT5
JT4
♣AK85



Hand 26

♠KQJ8
K83

♣KJT832



Hand 27

♠AJ95
AK4
9
♣KT976



Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Negative Doubling to show BOTH Majors

This post builds on the knowledge learned in previous posts. Please read them first:
Introducing the Negative Double - Auctions showing Spades
Responding to a 1 Level Negative Double when RHO passes
Responding to a Negative Double when RHO raises 1 level
Negative Doubles to show Hearts
Responding to a Negative Double with Hearts RHO Passes
Responding to a Negative Double which shows Hearts when RHO raises 1 level

Doubling at the 1 level to show both majors is a slightly different auction than doubling to show either ♠ or .

This is the VERY SPECIFIC auction we are looking at:
Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 Double

For this Double you MUST have BOTH suits. After all, both are majors and both are very important. You only need six (or more) HCP (High Card Points) because Partner is only required to bid at the 1 level.

BIDDING the suit (rather than Doubling) at the 1 level NO LONGER shows a FIFTH card in the suit and still shows only six (or more) HCP. The reason bidding only shows a four card suit is that in order to Double you would NEED to have four cards in BOTH majors. If you have only one four card major you would still need to tell Partner about that four card major so therefore bidding the suit needs to be only a four card suit, but you could have more of course.

So this auction:
Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 1

Bidding 1 only shows a FOUR card suit (you could have more) and six or more HCP (you could have more) and is still a forcing bid.

and of course this auction:
Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 1♠

Bidding 1♠ only shows a FOUR card suit (you could have more) and six or more HCP (you could have more) and is still a forcing bid.

Does the "Double" show any particular length in each suit?

Good question! It does!

With two FOUR card majors ALWAYS make a Negative Double.

Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 ???

Hand A Hand B Hand C
♠K952
QJ82
T4
♣864
♠KQ92
AJ82
T4
♣J64
♠KQ92
AJ82
T4
♣A64

On Hand A, Hand B and Hand C you would start with a "Double" to tell Partner you have both majors.

With two FIVE card majors ALWAYS bid the higher ranking suit first -- 1♠ in this case.

Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 ???

Hand D Hand E Hand F
♠K9542
QJ842
4
♣64
♠KQ942
AJ842
4
♣J4
♠KQ942
AJ842
4
♣A6

On Hand D, Hand E and Hand F you would start with a 1♠ bid. This just tells Partner you have FOUR of them. You will show this distributional hand with your next bid.

With both a FOUR card major and a FIVE card major make a Negative Double with a weak hand -- less than 10 HCP.

Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 ???

Hand G Hand H Hand I
♠K952
QJ842
T4
♣64
♠KQ932
J842
T4
♣64
♠K942
AJ842
T4
♣64

On Hand G, Hand H and Hand I you would start with a "Double" to tell Partner you have both majors.

With both a FOUR card major and a FIVE card major bid your FIVE card major with a strong hand -- a good 10 HCP or more.

Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 ???

Hand J Hand K Hand L
♠AK985
KJ42
T4
♣64
♠KQ932
AJ84
T4
♣64
♠KQ42
AJ842
T4
♣A4

On Hand J and Hand K you would start with a 1♠ bid to tell Partner you have at least four ♠. You can always bid later on.

On Hand L you would start with a 1 bid to tell Partner you have at least four . You can always bid ♠ later on.

That's quite a bit of information. Let's practice! That might make things a bit more clear.

On the following hands Partner opened the bidding 1♣. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalled 1. It is your bid. What will you do?

Keep in mind that you do need values to bid.

Double if you have at exactly four and four ♠.

Double if you have at EITHER five and four ♠ with a weak hand OR five ♠ and four with a weak hand.

Bid a four+ card major.

Bid 1NT to show stoppers in the Opponent's suit with 6 to 10 HCP.

Bid 2NT to show stoppers in the Opponent's suit with 11 or 12 HCP.

Bid 3NT to show stoppers in the Opponent's suit with 13 to 15 HCP.

and last (but not least!) just "Pass" if you have nothing to say.

Here goes. Remember the auction was:
Partner Your Right Hand Opponent You!
1♣ 1 ???

How many High Card Points (HCP) do you have? What will you bid and what does that tell Partner?

Hand 1

♠K6
QJT82
AJ87
♣87



Hand 2

♠Q9742
A863
86
♣84



Hand 3

♠K84
K53
QT86
♣K75



Hand 4

♠KT86
AQJ5
A97
♣73



Hand 5

♠AT2
AJ987
542
♣Q5



Hand 6

♠AKQT5
AJ43
8
♣J82



Hand 7

♠T983
A6
KT6
♣AJ86



Hand 8

♠Q653
J75
83
♣KT85



Hand 9

♠843
AT8
KQ8
♣T862



Hand 10

♠KJT8
AKT7
QT8
♣J9



Hand 11

♠J952
QT83
J4
♣KT5



Hand 12

♠987
KJ86
A742
♣T2



Hand 13

♠A6532
AKQ8
T76
♣4



Hand 14

♠A32
AQT94
9765
♣6



Hand 15

♠J95
T75
KQT3
♣Q53



Hand 16

♠T62
QT92
32
♣KQ72



Hand 17

♠9642
AQT74
942
♣J



Hand 18

♠JT8
J96
QJ86
♣A95



Hand 19

♠J982
KJT5
AQ3
♣T4



Hand 20

♠JT2
K74
Q98752
♣3



Hand 21

♠KT87
KQT8
K83
♣32



Hand 22

♠AT6
964
AJ7
♣KT85



Hand 23

♠QT96
KT762
A9
♣A6



Hand 24

♠8743
8642
Q8
♣J87



Hand 25

♠K72
J64
AKJ
♣J753



Hand 26

♠KQ73
K732
7
♣KQ64



Hand 27

♠9754
8765
8
♣KQJ2



Hand 28

♠98653
Q654
Q
♣654



Hand 29

♠K876
AKJ8
Q954
♣J



Hand 30

♠AKT3
JT96
A4
♣AJ7



Hand 31

♠Q8
JT7
KQ54
♣KT54



Hand 32

♠9
QT96
KQ65
♣AJ97



Hand 33

♠T765
AJ75
7
♣A764



Hand 34

♠K842
A7
AT52
♣J94



Hand 35

♠976
J653
Q54
♣964



Hand 36

♠KQ63
952
A94
♣AQJ



Hand 37

♠J64
QJ2
AKJ8
♣J97



Hand 38

♠AT873
KJ85
T
♣AT4



Hand 39

♠Q9
AJ876
AQT
♣A95



Hand 40

♠AJT2
865
75
♣KT86



Hand 41

♠T83
KQ4
KQT
♣J863



Hand 42

♠KT65
A9
K863
♣J95



Hand 43

♠AJT8
9863
85
♣K75



Hand 44

♠Q8754
KQ2
7432
♣8



Hand 45

♠98
86
QT65
♣97652



Hand 46

♠KQJ83
J985
AT5
♣8



Hand 47

♠982
AJ8
KQ76
♣K53



Hand 48

♠T983
Q943
9
♣KQ64



Hand 49

♠QT53
AT62
AQ84
♣6



Hand 50

♠QT84
Q65
82
♣AQ97



Hand 51

♠K43
54
QJ76542
♣7



Hand 52

♠QJT6
KT85
7432
♣A



Hand 53

♠AT7
A543
3
♣AJT62



Hand 54

♠J92
K94
A653
♣643



Hand 55

♠AQJ43
JT42
AK
♣32



Hand 56

♠A64
KJ86
QT96
♣86