Responding to a 1NT Opening Bid -- Balanced hands (Pass, 2NT or 3NT Only)

When partner opens 1NT you know they hold either 15, 16 or 17 HCP (High Card Points) with a balanced hand. If you hold a balanced hand also you want to play in NT. All that is left to determine is whether or not you want to play in a part-score, game or slam. Add your points to partner's to determine where you want to play. Remember there is no point in bidding any higher than 1NT if you know you cannot make a game.

To make game in 3NT you need between 25 and 32 HCP.
When responding to partner's opening 1NT this table will help guide you as to what to bid:

Responder has a balanced hand with:	Responder bids:	1NT opener does this:
0-7 HCP	Pass	-
8-9 HCP	2NT	Pass with a minimum (15 HCP)
		Bid 3NT with a maximum (17 HCP)
10-15 HCP	3NT	Pass

Let's look at some examples:

Example 1

♠KQ3
♥84
♦A732
♣Q532

I have 11 HCP with a balanced hand and partner opened 1NT. Since partner is balanced and I am balanced we probably want to play in NT. If partner has 15 HCP, together between the 2 hands we have 26 HCP. That is enough for a game in NT. I want to be in 3NT. If partner has 17 HCP, together between the 2 hands we have 28 HCP. That is enough for a game in NT. I want to be in 3NT. So no matter what partner has I want to be in 3NT. My response to partner's opening bid is 3NT.

Example 2

♠K93
♥84
♦A732
♣Q532

I have 9 HCP with a balanced hand and partner opened 1NT. Since partner is balanced and I am balanced we probably want to play in NT. If partner has 15 HCP together between the 2 hands we have 24 HCP. That is NOT enough for a game in NT. I want to stay low in the bidding. If partner has 17 HCP together between the 2 hands we have 26 HCP. That IS enough for a game in NT. I want to be in 3NT. Now I am going to have to ask partner whether or not they have 15 HCP or 17 HCP. My response to partner opening 1NT bid is 2NT. This says "Partner, I am interested in a game in NT. If I was not interested in a game in NT I would just 'Pass' and let you play in 1NT. However I cannot quite bid the game myself -- I don't have enough values. I know you could have 15 HCP (in which case you should Pass my 2NT) but I also know you could have 17 HCP. If you have 17 HCP I want you to bid 3NT and we will have a good shot at making game."

There are quite a few examples. Do not feel you need to do all the examples right away. Do a few and come back to them if you want. But I'd rather give you 56 examples and have you quit after 8 rather than give you 8 examples and leave you wanting more! Could I have made a mistake in some of them? Absolutely! If you feel there is an error in the point count or bid, just leave me a message. My editor can be a bit lazy at times so this is more than likely to happen.

On each hand first state how many HCP (High Card Points) you have.

Add your points to partner's if they have 15 and determine where you want to be.
Add your points to partner's if they have 17 and determine where you want to be.
If the answer is the same, that is your bid. If the answer is not the same, you probably need to invite game.

So first state how many HCP and then say what you would bid if your partner opened 1NT and the opponents "Pass".

Hand 1

♠A73
♥T6
♦732
♣QJ953



Hand 2

♠AK9
♥Q95
♦T876
♣Q42



Hand 3

♠86
♥AQ9
♦742
♣QJT76



Hand 4

♠T9
♥T97
♦K975
♣T963



Hand 5

♠93
♥AT9
♦AT86
♣KJ87



Hand 6

♠K5
♥K8
♦AJT52
♣J862



Hand 7

♠J4
♥874
♦QT974
♣K84



Hand 8

♠986
♥Q83
♦K964
♣J94



Hand 9

♠AQ5
♥Q8
♦Q532
♠9872



Hand 10

♠K92
♥865
♦AT3
♣KT76



Hand 11

♠K92
♥Q76
♦QT9
♣Q764



Hand 12

♠QJ6
♥J87
♦AT76
♣J94



Hand 13

♠853
♥K72
♦KJ3
♣KJ52



Hand 14

♠T8
♥982
♦AQ973
♣KT4



Hand 15

♠A86
♥J2
♦K532
♣AQT4



Hand 16

♠632
♥A76
♦J8
♣AQ643



Hand 17

♠64
♥K73
♦Q542
♣QT63



Hand 18

♠752
♥762
♦762
♣Q863



Hand 19

♠83
♥876
♦J874
♣AJ54



Hand 20

♠J54
♥KJ6
♦Q9
♣KQ865



Hand 21

♠AJ
♥A7
♦KT653
♣Q542



Hand 22

♠J85
♥Q8
♦AKT93
♣652



Hand 23

♠K43
♥85
♦AKQ87
♣965



Hand 24

♠K5
♥JT8
♦A7643
♣T42



Hand 25

♠K8
♥532
♦T853
♣K763



Hand 26

♠KJ3
♥K75
♦QJ63
♣J73



Hand 27

♠A4
♥Q7
♦QT863
♣J973



Hand 28

♠Q7
♥52
♦J654
♣AT963



Hand 29

♠Q97
♥72
♦AQ95
♣QJ97



Hand 30

♠Q98
♥96
♦KQ864
♣KT8



Hand 31

♠T6
♥AT7
♦AKJ4
♣T863



Hand 32

♠T85
♥JT8
♦Q7532
♣96



Hand 33

♠KQ5
♥754
♦QJ432
♣98



Hand 34

♠K54
♥Q64
♦KJ96
♣863



Hand 35

♠T83
♥72
♦AKJ2
♣T963



Hand 36

♠T65
♥87
♦9854
♣AQT7



Hand 37

♠T9
♥Q6
♦AK742
♣JT64



Hand 38

♠Q76
♥KT
♦AKQ63
♣973



Hand 39

♠52
♥32
♦87543
♣KQ72



Hand 40

♠973
♥984
♦JT86
♣Q84



Hand 41

♠QJ
♥A5
♦9864
♣AT852



Hand 42

♠97
♥T2
♦QJT8
♣KJ753



Hand 43

♠A5
♥Q76
♦Q73
♣J9874



Hand 44

♠A7
♥J85
♦AJT86
♣T92



Hand 45

♠62
♥75
♦QT93
♣J9742



Hand 46

♠K2
♥83
♦A9743
♣AJ76



Hand 47

♠963
♥AT5
♦T8
♣AKJ94



Hand 48

♠52
♥Q5
♦Q853
♣JT864



Hand 49

♠J92
♥KQ4
♦K3
♣K7652



Hand 50

♠KQ3
♥Q5
♦J432
♣QJT3



Hand 51

♠Q7
♥J8
♦AQT9
♣KQ432



Hand 52

♠Q7
♥A75
♦QT875
♣A65



Hand 53

♠J82
♥A95
♦AJ54
♣K85



Hand 54

♠K3
♥T5
♦T9872
♣QJT3



Hand 55

♠K2
♥T95
♦AQJT7
♣A65



Hand 56

♠84
♥Q2
♦AQT2
♣AQT72

What do I do over 1NT?

Hi Heidi,

What do you suggest South respond to North's 1NT and what would be the rest of the auction?

All vulnerable, West is dealer:

	North ♠J8 ♥AK98 ♦A92 ♣K854
West ♠T963 ♥JT97643 ♦Q7 ♣A		East ♠7542 ♥52 ♦T643 ♣J72
	South ♠AKQ ♥Q ♦KJ85 ♣QT963

N	E	S	W
			Pass
1NT	Pass	???

Heidi's Answer:

I think this can go a few different ways.

Option 1:
South can look at their hand and just say "You know I think we have a slam. But since we don't QUITE have the values (maybe) I should just check for Aces."

If they do that South can bid 4♣ (Gerber) to ask. North will show two Aces and South will bid 6NT.

This is breaking one of the rules about asking for Aces. You are not supposed to do this unless you have first or second round control of all the suits. But you are stuck here and have to take a chance.

Option 2:
If South just wants to invite slam on high card values alone they can bid 4NT. North will "Pass" since they are minimum.

Option 3:
More experienced players have ways to show their distribution but I don't think anyone reading this blog will be able to do that.

Should South be concerned about their singleton Heart?

Ideally "yes" they certainly should be concerned. They have no idea they are not off the cashing Ace and King of ♥.

Is there any way to find out about either one of those cards?

No. I thought not.

The same with the ♣ suit. You could be off the Ace and King of ♣. But again, HOW do you find out?

So in reality don't worry about that -- if it happens, it happens. I'd be more worried I'd missed a slam. That is the big worry for me.

Recommended Auction (which is not really recommended since it does contain some flaws!):

I think that South should just count extra for their extra distribution and ask for Aces. When they find out the partnership is only missing one Ace take a chance on 6NT.

North will have to set up that ♣ suit. If East leads a major or a ♣ it would be easy. They will win a major suit lead in Dummy and play a ♣. West will have to win their A♣ and now North has 12 easy tricks.

On a ♦ lead North will have a harder time since they will probably win the trick in their hand. Who knows what will happen then.

N	E	S	W
			Pass
1NT	Pass	4♣	Pass
4♠	Pass	6NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Climactic finale

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
♥AK9
♦K954
♣J4

This is the thrilling conclusion to this hand.

So far the bidding has been:

Opener	US!
1NT	2♣
2♥	4NT

To review. Partner opened the bidding 1NT. WE had a 1NT opening hand! WOW! So since we do have a four card major we started with Stayman. Partner has to respond. Partner responded 2♥ to let us know they have four ♥. We didn't have a fit there so bid 4NT to find out if Partner was minimum or maximum -- plus we were secretly hoping they would be able to support our ♠ suit. Over our 4NT bid Partner says.....

5NT.

What they heck? That isn't even a response!

What is your bid? What do you think Partner is showing? Maybe think about what they DON'T have. Might make it easier.

Show Answer

First of all I don't think Partner has four ♠. We've got no fit or Partner would have said some number of ♠. So that suit is out.

I also don't think Partner has 17 HCP. If they did then they should just man up and bid 6NT.

Plus I don't think Partner has 15 HCP. If they did they could have said "Pass"

Hmmm. Partner is probably in the middle. They can't quite decide whether or not to go and want us to make a call.

We've got our maximum (17 HCP) so we should say 6NT.

Partner's hand:
♠JT7
♥QT84
♦AQ
♣AKT3

Our Hand:
♠AQ84
♥AK9
♦K954
♣J4



The important card is the K♠. The finesse was on so you had four ♠ tricks which means 12 tricks in total. Good job!

Even if the ♠ finesse lost you had other finesses to try so it was a good slam to be in.

Now what?

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
♥AK9
♦K954
♣J4

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. We decided last post to respond 2♣. This is Stayman asking Partner if they have a four card major.

Partner responds 2♥. What does that tell you about Partner's hand?

What is your bid? What does you bid show/ask?

Show Answer

First of all Partner's bid says they have at least four ♥. (They might have five if you sometimes open 1NT with a five card major.)

It does not say how many points they have. They could have 15 or 16 or 17.

Plus they could still have four ♠. They didn't deny having four ♠. We might still have a fit.

Hmmm. If Partner has 16 or 17 HCP you want to be in a small slam. You have 17 and together with 16 (or 17) makes 33 (or 34) points which is more than enough for a small slam.

But if Partner only has 15 HCP you don't want to be in a small slam.

Plus we could still have a fit! How do we ask if Partner is minimum or maximum while showing four ♠?

4NT. This is quantitative saying "Partner if you are minimum just "Pass" but if you are maximum bid 6NT."

"But what about my ♠ suit?! How do I show that?!" I can hear you say.

You already told Partner you have four ♠. You bid Stayman. You have a four card major. Since you can't have four ♥ (Partner said they had four ♥ and if you had a fit you would have bid some number of ♥) but you have a major you must have four ♠. With no four card major you don't bid Stayman.

So 4NT in this auction shows about 16 or 17 HCP with a four card ♠ suit! Perfect.

The climactic finale is coming up next post.

Responder

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable. The Opponents are not vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ84
♥AK9
♦K954
♣J4

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

Show Answer

It's a tough one. YOU were going to open the bidding 1NT. But don't panic. First thing you need to do is to find out if you have a four-four ♠ fit.

How do you do that?

Stayman!

Your bid is 2♣.

Stay tuned for next post to see what happened!

So you've opened 1NT -- Now What?

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!

Responding to 1NT

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T75
♥KQ4
♦A984
♣AK5

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. (You play 15-17 1NT opening bids.) Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass".

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have 16 HCP (High Card Points) and Partner has opened the bidding 1NT. Your correct bid is 4NT.

4NT is QUANTITATIVE. You are asking Partner whether or not they are MINIMUM (15) or MAXIMUM (17) for their bid.

This is all you need to know.

If Partner has 17 HCP you want to be in a small slam. Together the partnership has 33 HCP and that's all you need to make a small slam. (Well, for a good shot at making a small slam!)

However if Partner has 15 HCP you DON'T want to be in a small slam. Together the partnership will have only 31 HCP and that's not QUITE enough to make a small slam. If you had a longer suit maybe...but you don't.

Asking for Aces WON'T help here. The Partner ship could have all four Aces but be missing two Kings and a Queen/Jack combination! That's not good. (Bidding 4♣ over 1NT would be Gerber -- asking Partner how many Aces they have.)

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!!!

Responder must bid

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

Here is your hand:
♠JT72
♥QT54
♦85
♣A72

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

Pass.

Your Partner opened the bidding 1NT. You have two four card majors but you CANNOT bid Stayman to ask if Partner has a four card major. You do NOT have enough values. You need at least 8 HCP in order to bid Stayman if you intend to bid again. If you bid 2♣ and Partner responds 2♦ you will have to bid again -- Partner might only have a doubleton ♦ and so do you! If you bid 2NT Partner will think you are inviting game with 8 or 9 HCP. You might get a little too high in the bidding.

So just "Pass" and stay out of trouble.

What do you do?

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

Here is your hand:
♠AQ986
♥8742
♦
♣AK84

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

2♣.

You do have a five card major so you might be tempted to transfer to your ♠ suit HOWEVER you also have a four card ♥ suit. If you transfer to ♠ you will never find your ♥ fit!

If you didn't have the values for Stayman you would just transfer to your 5 card major and "Pass" but here you do have the values for Stayman. If Partner responds 2♦ you can always jump to 3♠ to let them know you have a five card suit with a forcing to game hand.

Responding to 1NT

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

Here is your hand:
♠K87
♥KJ9
♦KJ93
♣AT6

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. You play that as 15 to 17 HCP. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

3NT

This tells Partner you have 10 to 15 HCP (High Card Points) and no four plus card major. Which describes your hand perfectly.

You DO have a VERY nice hand but Partner has 17 HCP AT MOST. Together you are off at least 8 and maybe 10 HCP. Not enough for a slam.

If you do bid 4NT to invite slam, Partner will accept. They have 17 HCP and a five card suit! Extras!

However, you are off one Ace and two Queen's. For Partner to make this slam they need to guess who has the Queen of Diamonds and also the Queen of Clubs! If they even guess one of the Queen's wrong they go down.

Responding to 1NT

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

Here is your hand:
♠JT842
♥82
♦T8654
♣6

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

Do you play Jacoby Transfers?

If you do bid 2♥. This FORCES Partner to bid 2♠. Then you can "Pass".

If you don't play Jacoby Transfers you are better off playing in 2♠ rather than in 1NT. So bid 2♠. Your Partner is supposed to "Pass" that bid.

BOTH those bids you are allowed to make with ZERO points. So don't worry you don't have enough points to bid. With such a distributional hand you want to play in a trump suit.

Check out the following to learn about Jacoby Transfers. They are a nice bid to know!
Introducing Jacoby Transfers

Responding

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

Here is your hand:
♠432
♥AJ2
♦AJ632
♣63

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

3NT.

This tells Partner you have 10 to 15 HCP with no major.

You do have a nice ♦ suit. This is true. But this nice ♦ suit will take tricks in NT as well as in ♦.

You take 11 tricks on this hand.

Which means you WILL make 5♦ and score 400 points.

But you will also make 3NT with TWO overtricks. This will score you 460 points.

If you play matchpoints the overtricks are HUGH. If you bid 5♦ you only beat one pair. (One pair couldn't get to game.) EVERYONE else bid to 3NT.

What to respond to 1NT?

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

Here is your hand:
♠72
♥842
♦KQ85
♣KQ76

Partner is Dealer and open the bidding 1NT (15 to 17 HCP). The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

3NT

You have the values for game. You are balanced. Just bid game.

Some people bid 2♣ on this hand. This is a bid called "Stayman" which asks Partner if they have a four card major. You do not care if Partner has one or even two four card majors. YOU do not have a four card major so you won't find a fit!

What to Respond over 1NT?

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A832
♥QJ8
♦K74
♣QT3

Partner opens the bidding 1NT (15 to 17 HCP). The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 3NT?

Now NORMALLY when Partner opens the bidding 1NT and I have the values for game and a four card major I will bid Stayman. 2♣. This asks Partner if they have a four card major. We might discover a four four ♠ fit on this hand.

However since I am SO BALANCED (4-3-3-3) there is no way for Partner to use my small ♠ to trump anything. So this hand has no ruffing value whatsoever.

Because of this there is no point in finding a four four ♠ fit. I will just bid 3NT to get to my game.

On this hand you DO have a ♠ fit. But you take the same number of tricks playing with ♠ as trump and with nothing trump. 3NT will take 10 tricks and so does 4♠. But of course if you play in NT you get the extra 10 points which is HUGE at Match Points.

Rebids by Responder

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J974
♥Q974
♦K74
♣A4

Your Partner opens the bidding 1NT. The Opponents are silent during the auction. We decided last post to respond 2♣. Stayman. You are asking Partner if they have a four card major. Partner bids 2♥. What is your call?

Show Answer

4♥. You found your fit. You have enough for a game. Bid it.

What to bid over 1NT

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠J974
♥Q974
♦K74
♣A4

Your Partner opens the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

2♣. Stayman. Ask Partner if they have a four card major.

For more information on Stayman check out the following link:
Introducing Stayman

Bids Over 1NT

Playing matchpoints. Neither side is vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠643
♥AK7
♦974
♣J875

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. You play that as 15 to 17 HCP. The Opponents are silent during the auction. What is your call?

Show Answer

I know with 8 High Card Points you are supposed to invite. However 2NT is really just inviting Partner to game if they have their maximum (17 HCP) and asking them to "Pass" if they are minimum.

The suggested values are 8 or 9 HCP.

But other things are involved here. Partner needs NINE tricks to make 3NT. You have two for them. Do you really think they have seven tricks in their hand?

Probably not.

With no source of tricks for Partner you need a VERY nice hand from Partner to make game. (A good source of tricks would be a five card suit.)

Generally if you are VERY balanced (4-3-3-3 in each of the suits) you need more total values to make a game (27 or 28 HCP rather than 25 or 26 HCP) since you have no source of tricks.

A good idea to remember is with 4-3-3-3 hands, subtract one point for how balanced they are. So your 8 HCP now becomes 7. So even if Partner is maximum you will not make a game most of the time.

Even with a 4-3-3-3 10 HCP hand I would recommend inviting rather than just bidding 3NT. 10 HCP minus 1 because of how balanced the hand is only comes up to 9 points. With 9 points you invite game.

Change the hand slightly to:
♠643
♥A72
♦97
♣KJ875

and I would invite for sure. Partner might be able to set up the ♣ suit for four or five winners.

What to Respond?

Playing Matchpoints. You are vulnerable and the Opponents are not vulnerable. Here is your hand:

♠7654
♥32
♦T63
♣AK42

Partner opens the bidding 2NT. This shows 20 or 21 HCP with a balanced hand. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". You have agreed to play both Stayman and Jacoby Transfers over a 2NT opening bid. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 3♣?

I know those ♠ are lousy. Maybe you'd prefer to play in NT?

3NT does make. So you are fine if you just respond 3NT.

However 4♠ also makes. Bidding Stayman allows you to find your four four ♠ fit.

Bidding 3NT gets you 1.5 matchpoints out of a possible 9. Bidding 4♠ gets you 4.5 matchpoints out of a possible 9. (Which is average.) Plus bidding 4♠ gives you the possibility for an overtrick for a 9 out of 9! You won't get an overtrick in 3NT.

Over Interference

Here is your hand:

♠J4
♥J7652
♦97432
♣7

Playing matchpoints and no one is vulnerable.

Partner was Dealer and opened the bidding 1NT. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bid 2♣ (showing ♣ only). What is your call?

Show Answer

How about "Pass"?

When Partner opened the bidding 1NT you were definitely going to make a Jacoby Transfer bid of 2♦ and then "Pass" Partner's 2♥ response. (Or you would have bid 2♥ to play.)

But the Opponents entered into the bidding. You no longer have to rescue Partner from their NT bid. The Opponents did that.

Now you CAN bid (if you want) but I might not. You have a pretty bad suit and Partner might only have two of them. On the other hand you do have two five card suits and it's an aggressive game these days.

Hey, IF you do decide to bid do you know how to bid the ♥ suit? Would transfers be on? Have you and your Partner talked about that? Best check to make sure you are both in agreement!