Rebid Problem

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AKQJ7
♥865
♦K9
♣942

Partner opens the bidding 1♣. The Opponents are silent during the auction. You respond 1♠. (That's pretty easy.) Now Partner rebids 2♣. What is your call?

Show Answer

I'm good with SEVERAL bids by you. These bids include 3NT, 2♦ and not as crazy about 2♥ but this bid will work out also.

Bids I do NOT like are non game bids that Partner is allowed to "Pass". These include 2♠, 3♣ and 2NT.

First of all Partner opened the bidding. You have an opening hand. YOU need to get the partnership to game. Not Partner. Partner opened -- they did their job. You need to do your job now. YOU know you have an opening hand -- you have to communicate that to Partner.

2♠ shows a weak hand (about 6 to a bad 10 points) with a six card suit. Partner will "Pass" unless they are very strong or very distributional.

3♣ will NOT get the partnership to game. This is a NON-FORCING bid. Partner will just "Pass".

2NT will also NOT get the partnership to game. You show about 11 or 12 points with this bid. A couple less than what you have. This is also a NON-FORCING bid. Partner will just "Pass".

You belong in a game. In Matchpoints, unless there is a GOOD reason not to play in 3NT, you play in 3NT with a minor suit fit. "BUT I have no high cards in the other suits!" you might cry. True -- but what the heck did Partner open the bidding on? Besides the Opponents don't have a good suit or they'd be in the auction bidding.

However bidding 3NT will shut the auction down and you still could have a ♠ fit. Partner might have three of them. In order to find out if Partner has three ♠ BID A NEW SUIT. New suits are FORCING by Responder so you don't even have to jump taking up room in the bidding. For example 2♦ or 2♥. (I'm less crazy about 2♥ because I don't like lying about a major suit. Partner could still have four of them and not quite get the joke.) If you do this the FIRST thing Partner will do is tell you they have three ♠. Then you'll have found your fit and bid game.

As long as you either bid game OR a forcing bid you end up in the right spot.