Rebids by Responder over 1NT

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T
♥AJ986
♦KQ
♣KJ754

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents are silent during the auction. You respond 2♦. (You play Jacoby Transfers.) Now Partner dutifully bids 2♥. What is your call?

Show Answer

3♣. This should show five cards in both suits and forces the Partnership to game.

This is a nice feature of the Jacoby Transfer bid. You are able to show a more distributional hand to give Partner a choice of contracts.

Here you just might be able to get to a small slam. Partner has:
♠A6
♥KT7
♦A52
♣AQT86

and loves BOTH your suits!!!

Opponents

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠KJ43
♥8
♦K753
♣KQ52

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

Show Answer

Double! Take out.

If you bid any suit now Partner will think you have five of them. That's what you need to make an overcall. Make PARTNER choose what suit to play in because you have support for all the other suits!

Overcalls

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

Here is your hand:
♠A85
♥Q7
♦A43
♣AJ973

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 2♦. A weak 2 bid. They have a six card suit and 5-10 HCP.

What is your call?

Show Answer

I would probably bid 2NT.

This would show the equivalent to a 1NT opening bid. Which you have. Plus a stopper in the ♦ suit. Which you have.

I don't really like overcalling 3♣ on this hand. Your suit is pretty bad plus it doesn't quite show the number of points you have (though you should have a nice hand to overcall at the 3 level) nor does it show your stopper for NT. If a game is there it is probably in NT. Get this hand off your chest with a 2NT bid. Now you can let Partner figure out what to do.

Rebids by Responder

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A872
♥Q9
♦A74
♣A752

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

3NT. You have a balanced opening hand with the ♦ stopped.

Bidding 3♣ would show support for Partner's second suit BUT it is also a bid your Partner can "Pass". You have an opening hand and Partner opened the bidding -- you want to get to game!

Rebids by Responder

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠K42
♥54
♦A
♣AKQ7654

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

Show Answer

I'm good with SEVERAL bids by you.

The one bid that most people made which I did NOT like was 3♣. The reason I did not like that bid is that Partner is allowed to "Pass" that bid! (If you play 2/1 Game Forcing then Partner is NOT allowed to "Pass" 3♣ and it's a slam try so that is a GOOD bid to make! But if you play normal Standard American this is a bid Partner is allowed to "Pass".)

Bidding 4♣ would be Gerber in this auction -- asking Partner how many Aces they have. It's not a perfect bid but it's an option.

If you do bid Gerber what do you do if Partner shows you one Ace? Do you bid the slam? If you do what slam do you bid? 6♣? 6NT?

Bidding 3NT is a little timid but at least you got to game.

Turns out you can take 12 tricks in either ♣ or NT so bidding the slam is fine. HOWEVER if you bid 3♣ Partner passes and let's you play it there! Oooops!

Rebid question

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

Here is your hand:
♠KQ54
♥KT43
♦T
♣AQ96

You are Dealer. The Opponents are silent during the auction. You decide to open the bidding 1♣. Your Partner responds 1♥. What is your call?

Show Answer

3♥.

This tells Partner you have a ♥ fit (so you must have four since Partner only promised four) and about 17 or 18 points (though you'd make this bid with a really good 16 also.)

Only have 14 points you say? You have 14 HCP (High Card Points) but you have three DUMMY points! Don't forget to include those!

Plus don't even THINK about mentioning your ♠ suit first. If you don't support Partner NOW you DON'T have four card support. It's as simple as that.

Responder to bid

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠K97
♥J72
♦KJ73
♣K95

You are Dealer and start with a "Pass". Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass". Partner opens the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass".

What is your call?

Show Answer

First of all you have 11 HCP. You also have four ♦.

There are a couple of options to show this hand.

Option 1 is to support the ♦ by bidding 3♦. This should show ♦ support with 11 or 12 HCP. Which you have. This is not a perfect bid because Partner might only have three ♦. Most of the time they will have four ♦ so you'll probably end up in a pretty good spot.

Option 2 is to bid 2NT. This should show 11 or 12 HCP with a balanced hand, no four card major and a little something in all the rest of the suits. This is not a perfect bid because you don't have much in the ♥ suit. However, Partner could and the Opponents probably don't have much or they would be in the auction bidding.

Which do you think is the best bid and why?

I would probably choose to bid 2NT with this hand.

For one thing you are VERY balanced. You will not be able to ruff anything in this hand so playing in ♦ might not get you any more tricks.

For another thing you want to protect your KINGS. If the opening lead comes into your hand If the Opponents lead anything but a ♥ you will be guaranteed a trick with your King in that suit.

On this one you take 8 tricks in either NT or ♦. Good thing you choose to bid the NT -- 3♦ would be too high! (Partner will "Pass" any bid you make -- they are very minimum.)