Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.
Here is your hand:
♠AKQ6
♥A53
♦KT75
♣62
You are Dealer. You play 15 to 17 1NT opening bids so you decide to open the bidding 1NT. Both Opponents are silent throughout the auction. Partner says 4NT.
What is your call?
Show Answer
First of all just what is Partner's 4NT bid? Is it asking for Aces?
No. Over a 1NT opening bid, 4♣ is asking for Aces. (Gerber.)
4NT is QUANTITATIVE. Partner is asking if you are minimum or maximum for your opening 1NT bid. With a minimum they want you to "Pass" and with a maximum they want you to bid 6NT. They should have either 16 or 17 HCP.
You are neither. You have 16 HCP. You are right in the middle! What do you do?
Well that depends on just who you are as a bridge player.
If you like to bid your slams then bid 6NT. You have two four card suits that might get you an extra trick. Being slightly unbalanced is better than being perfectly balanced (4-3-3-3).
If you are way too scared of the 6 level then just "Pass".
If you feel you MUST have 33 HCP to be in a small slam, bid 5NT and ask Partner if they have 17 HCP. With 16 they will "Pass" but with 17 HCP will bid 6NT.
(That last bid is more modern. When I was a kid growing up we had to man up and decide for ourselves whether or not to go to slam. No passing the buck to Partner!)
Partner has the hand on the previous post:
♠T75
♥KQ4
♦A984
♣AK5
Everyone took 12 tricks. Some even took all 13 tricks!
No comments:
Post a Comment