Question 4

Hi Heidi,

We encountered a number of challenging hands (to us) in bidding lately. Please provide us some insight:

With the following hand, should N open with 1♦ (so he can rebid 2♣) or should he just bid 1♣ as it is very solid, and treat like there are only 3 ♦ or 4 very bad ♦?

In response (to N's 1♦ or 1♣), should S bid its bad 4-card ♠ or what is the alternative?

What if S bid 2NT, is that 11-12 HCP balanced hand or 13+ HCP and game forcing?

Do you have any notes on "responding to minor openings"?

First up here are some posts on responding to a minor opening bid:
Responding to 1 Diamond
Responding to 1 Club with 6-9 Points
Responding to 1 Diamond with 6-9 Points
or for just some quick little questions check out the side bar under "Bidding - Responding to 1 of a Minor"

No one vulnerable, E is dealer:

	North ♠T4 ♥Q5 ♦KJ84 ♣AKQJ7
West ♠J82 ♥JT73 ♦Q72 ♣T62		East ♠AKQ7 ♥9642 ♦963 ♣93
	South ♠9653 ♥AK8 ♦AT5 ♣854

Heidi's Answer

So the first question I will deal with is should North open 1♣ or 1♦?

If North opens 1♣ they are close but not quite strong enough to rebid 2♦ (a reverse showing 17+ HCP). (Some people might not care they are a bit weak for a reverse. That's up to them.)

So do they lie about their shape by opening up 1♦ and rebidding 2♣?

Perhaps just open 1♣ and rebid 2♣ since the suit is very good.

Hmmmm. A good question. I personally don't like opening 1♦ and rebidding 2♣ with longer ♣ than ♦. Many, many good players do it and think that is the best way to go. So it is more of a style thing. I try to avoid it when I can and so I very seldom do this.

What would I open the hand? Probably 1NT. This shows my 15 to 17 HCP and balanced(ish) shape.

It is not a perfect bid. But neither is opening up 1♣ and rebidding either 2♣ or 2♦. Or opening up 1♦ and rebidding 2♣. None of these show your extra strength. (Nor do they deny extra strength though!)

They all have their bad points.

So choose whichever bid you like best. None are perfect but none are wrong either.

Let's see where the auction will take us with each option.

Option 1: Heidi's favourite -- opening 1NT

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

South will ignore their four card major since they are 4-3-3-3. No ruffing in that Dummy so why play in a major suit fit?

They don't have a fit anyhow so will land in 3NT regardless of whether or not South bids Stayman.

Option 2: North opens 1♣ and rebids 2♣.

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1♣	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♣	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

South SHOULD bid their four card major -- lousy as it is.

Option 3: North opens 1♦ and rebids 2♣.

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♣	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

South SHOULD bid their four card major -- lousy as it is.

Option 4: North opens 1 of a minor (any one) and South ignores their four card major.

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1♣ or 1♦	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT	Pass	Pass	Pass

If South ignores their four card major they still need to jump to 2NT to show a balanced 11 or 12 HCP.

Conclusion

So you see that in the end it won't matter. All roads lead to 3NT.

As it turns out on this hand it is probably best that South plays the NT. West is unlikely to lead a ♠ and Declarer can take 12 tricks if they guess who has the Q♦.

If North plays 3NT East will probably lead a ♠ and the defenders can hold Declarer to 9 tricks if they defend properly.