Rebids by Opener

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AJ6
♥Q53
♦AK7
♣A952

You are Dealer. You decide to open the bidding 1♣ because you are too strong to open the bidding 1NT. (You play 15 to 17 NT's.)

Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass" and your Partner says "Pass"! Luckily your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) now bids "Double".

What is your call?

Show Answer

1NT.

This shows a BALANCED hand with 18 or 19 High Card Points. Perfect!

Now NORMALLY you would have to jump to 2NT to show a balanced hand with 18 or 19 points. That is if Partner had responded to your opening bid. You could NOT rebid 1NT since that would show a balanced, MINIMUM hand with less than 15 HCP. So you would have to jump to 2NT to show a balanced hand with 18 or 19 HCP. (Not enough to open 2NT but too much to open 1NT.)

However in THIS auction Partner passed. They do not have enough points to respond to your opening bid. That means they do not have 6 HCP or even a good 5 HCP. They've got NOTHING! So with a MINIMUM hand you would just "PASS" and stay out of trouble!