Question 5

Hi Heidi,

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

How should N rebid with his hand?

Should N have opened with 1♦ in the third seat after partner has Passed and N has a strong hand?

NS vulnerable, S is dealer:

	North ♠A ♥KT97 ♦AQT4 ♣AQ72
West ♠K9764 ♥862 ♦K765 ♣5		East ♠T5 ♥AQ4 ♦832 ♣KT642
	South ♠QJ832 ♥J53 ♦J9 ♣J98

N	E	S	W
		Pass	Pass
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
???

Heidi's Answer

Absolutely North should open 1♦. They are too weak to open a strong 2♣ bid so must open at the 1 level.

After South responds, North knows the partnership belongs in game. They can REVERSE into their four card ♥ suit. South will rebid 2♠ to show a five card suit and North will then jump to 3NT.

Instead of making a reverse North can tell Partner they are strong by making a JUMP SHIFT. They can rebid 3♣. This now shows an unbalanced hand that wants to get to game even if South is minimum for their response.

What does South do now? They must bid.

Probably doesn't matter what they do. If South rebids 3NT then North will "Pass". If South rebids 3♠ then North will bid 3NT and South will "Pass".

Any other options over 1♠?

North can rebid 2NT. But South is allowed to "Pass" that bid and probably would since they are weak. That would not be a good bid by North especially with their singleton.

North can rebid 3NT depending on what you play that as. If you have no agreement South will probably just "Pass" out of fright.

So all roads on this hand lead to 3NT. Which should be a fine contract to be in.