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

How about Double? Get Partner to pick the suit to play in?

You can't overcall 1NT even though you have a perfect 1NT opening bid. That promises a stopper in the suit the opponents opened.

You also can't overcall 2♦. That promises at least a five card suit.

But you also hate to say "Pass" on the hand. You'll never play in a contract if you "Pass" with these hands.

If you "Double" Partner will compete and maybe you will scare the Opponents away from their ♠ contract. Maybe not, but at least you gave it a shot.

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

2♠

You have 14 HCP and since you found the ♠ fit and you will be Dummy you get to count Dummy points. But you really don't have anything extra for Dummy points.

Bidding 2♠ shows a minimum opening hand. Which is what you have. I know those ♠ are FABULOUS but if you jump to 3♠ Partner will think you have 17 or 18 points. If you bid 2♠ you keep the partnership safe and happy at a low level.

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

3♠

You have 15 HCP and since you found the ♠ fit and you will be Dummy you get to count Dummy points. You have that singleton ♥ in your hand! That's worth three points.

You now have 18 points in your hand and can jump to show Partner you have a fit. Jumping to 3♠ shows 17 or 18 points (or a really good 16!) in support of Partner.

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

You have 15 HCP and you need to open the bidding 1♦.

You have the values for a 1NT opener but you do not have a balanced hand. You have that singleton ♥ in your hand!

With four four in the minors people tend to open 1♦. With an unbalanced hand such as this you NEED to open 1♦.

Over your 1♦ opening bid Partner responds 1♠. What will you rebid? That's the next post!

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

1♥

Bid your four card suits UP THE LINE. That means bid the four card suit that comes next in the bidding ladder.

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

This is tough. You have enough for a game so you have to make sure you either A) bid game or B) make a bid Partner cannot "Pass"

You are unbalanced and you still could have a nice little ♠ fit. Partner does not have four but they could have three.

If you want to give up on the ♠ fit just bid 3NT. That gets you to game.

If you want to try to find a five three ♠ fit you need to JUMP in the bidding and bid a new suit. In this case 3♦. This shows you are unbalanced (you are taking Partner out of the NT they bid so you must be unbalanced) and strong enough to go to game since you jumped.

Partner will show you if they have three ♠ by bidding 3♠. You can now bid 4♠.

Note that in order to force Partner to bid you need to JUMP in the bidding. Partner is allowed to "Pass" 2♦.

For more information on how does Responder force over 1NT check out this post:
How Does Responder Force Over 1NT?

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

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 ♠.

The next post will be -- what will you rebid?

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

4♥. You found your fit. You have enough for a game. Bid it.

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

2♣. Stayman. Ask Partner if they have a four card major.

For more information on Stayman check out the following link:
Introducing Stayman

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

How about 1♠?

You don't promise a good ♠ suit when you open 1♠. Just an opening hand with five ♠. They don't have to be good ones.

If you said "Pass" because you really didn't like that ♠ suit I sympathize with you. It truly is a pathetic suit. But it is matchpoints and you've got to open these hands. If you "Pass" you will never get a chance to bid again (no way you are going to overcall at the 2 level with this suit!) and the Opponents will play in some minor suit contract.

However if you open the bidding Partner will see that you get to 3♠. You will make that contract.

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

How about 2NT?

You have a balanced hand with 16 HCP (High Card Points). You also have a ♠ stopper. Making a 2NT overcall over an Opponent's weak 2 bid shows the values for a 1NT opener. (Obviously you couldn't overcall 1NT because your RHO bid at the 2 level.)

If you overcalled 2NT Partner will put you into 3NT and you will make -- 10 tricks are available in NT.

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

Do you play Negative Doubles? This is a perfect Negative Double! It tells Partner you have at least four ♠ and some values also.

That would be my first choice -- but I play Negative Doubles.

If you don't play Negative Doubles you've still got to do something. You probably have a ♦ fit. Pretty much all the time Partner will open 1♦ on a four card suit.

If you play in ♦ you get to count Dummy points. You've got a very useful singleton and you can add 3 more points to your hand. That brings your total to 16 points. More than enough to go to game in ♦.

If you bid 4♦ Partner will "Pass" (your 4♦ bid shows a much weaker hand than the one you have) and you missed a game.

If you either bid 5♦ or cuebid the Opponent's suit to show a strong hand you got to your 5♦ game which makes. Good job!

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

Do you play Negative Doubles? I hope so because this is a perfect one!

This shows either four ♥ OR longer ♥ but with less than 10 HCP.

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

2♣.

I can hear you right now. "What?!? I've got EIGHTEEN High Card Points! I have to JUMP to 3♣ to show a big hand.

Let me ask you this -- if Partner has a lousy 6 points (and let's face it sometimes Partner will respond with fewer!) and no fit for you do you really want to be in a game?

No? Well bidding 3♣ does show a big hand -- big enough to go to game once Partner responds no matter how lousy Partner's hand is. It's a jump shift and jump shifts are game forcing.

If you bid 2♣ Partner might take another bid. THEN you can show a stronger hand. If Partner has to say "Pass" to 2♣ you probably aren't going to make a game.

P.S. If you jumped to 3♣ you got the partnership to game and Partner has the lousy 6 point hand. You go down.

If you bid a simple 2♣, Partner responds 2♦. You can now bid 3♦ just in case Partner has something useful but Partner doesn't and Passes. Which is a GOOD thing because you only make 3♦.

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

I like 2♦.

Yes, Partner only promises three ♦ when they open the bidding 1♦ but most of the time they have four ♦. So most of the time you will have a fit. Plus the only other call you could make would be 1NT. (2♣ would show 10 or more HCP which you do not have.) I hate to bid 1NT with no high cards in either major if I have other options.

However 1NT wouldn't be wrong exactly. Just maybe more likely to not work out.

Partner can take nine tricks in ♦.

You cannot even take seven tricks if you play in 1NT.

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

2♠

You have enough points you NEED to respond to Partner. "Passing" says you don't even have 6 HCP (High Card Points). Remember Partner might just have 20 HCP over there and is just waiting for you to respond so they can bid a game.

You also don't want to bid 1NT. That actually DENIES having three card support for Partner's major suit opening bid.

2♠ says that you have about 6 to a bad 10 points and three or more ♠. Perfect!

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

Just open 1♠.

Opening the bidding with 3♠ shows seven ♠ but it also shows a WEAK hand.

With an opening hand, open at the 1 level. You can always jump later on.

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

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

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