Tough Rebid

Here is an interesting hand I was asked about today:

Here is your hand:

♠86
♥A865
♦743
♣AKQT

You are Dealer and open the bidding 1♣. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) bids 1♦. Your Partner bids 1♠. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call now?

If it makes it easier think of all the potential bids you could possible make and eliminate the ones you can't bid.

Show Answer

Talk about ugly rebids!

The possibilities are:
"Pass"
Pass is not an option. Partner's 1♠ bid is forcing. Partner could have a huge hand over there.

1NT
1NT is a possibility but I do know that LHO has a five card suit (they did overcall) and I also know Partner might leap to 3NT with an opening hand thinking I will be able to stop the ♦ from running. I can't.

2♠
Partner might only have four ♠ over there. That's not a good option.

2♥
2♥ shows a MUCH bigger hand than the hand I have now. This is a REVERSE showing four ♥ and five ♣ and 17 or more HCP.

2♦
Bidding the Opponent's suit would show a much bigger hand than the one I have now.

2♣
This normally would show at least a five card suit but in a normal situation I wouldn't need a ♦ card to bid 1NT. Even if Partner thinks I have five in the suit the four I have are really, really good.

I think we have a winner! 2♣ is probably the call to make.

If you did manage to bid 2♣ Partner bids 2♥. This would be a forcing bid (new suit by Responder) so you can safely raise to 3♥. Partner will now bid a game.

My second choice for bids would be 1NT. If you bid it with enough confidence the Opponent's might not realize you do not have a stopper. If you did bid 1NT your Partner will take you out of the NT and you will again bid your ♥ game.