Adventures with Heidi

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠92
♥A865
♦KT753
♣64

Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♣. Your Partner overcalls 1♠. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

To put the pressure on you have ME as a Partner. Make me proud.

Show Answer

My Partner said "Pass". She had some values but did not have a ♣ stopper. She also could not raise my suit.

I was left to play in 1♠.

Guess what? We got a top on that board. 100%.

Why?

Most players with that hand bid 1NT. They got to play there and went down one or two.

But 1♠ made 9 tricks. To be fair they can lead a trump or switch to a trump and I only take 7 tricks. But that is still a making contract.

What to Overcall?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AKQJ73
♥985
♦7
♣T94

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

Show Answer

I like 2♠.

This gets across that you have a SIX card suit but weak values.

You are vulnerable so Partner should expect a good suit so you are not too strong for this bid.

If you overcall 1♠ and then rebid your ♠ suit (because who wouldn't want to show six of that lovely suit!) then you tend to show some defence.

After all, with a six card suit and no defense you would have started with a 2♠ bid!

Rebids after a Double

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are NOT vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ6
♥KQ52
♦J7
♣AK87

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♦. We decided last post to make a Take Out Double. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) says "Pass" and Partner responds 2♣.

What is Partner showing for their bid? What is your call?

Show Answer

Partner is showing a WEAK hand (0-8 points) and is saying their longest suit is ♣.

If you are going to bid again you should bid 3♣. This bid shows a VERY strong hand (which you have) but is also non-forcing. Partner can "Pass" this bid -- and will! They are very weak and don't want to be any higher.

3♣ will make but game won't -- Partner is too weak.

What to Overcall?

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are NOT vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AQ6
♥KQ52
♦J7
♣AK87

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

Show Answer

Double.

You have a tolerance for all the other suits. Let Partner tell you where their length is.

The Opponents have bid

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A
♥K8543
♦KT2
♣KJ82

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

Show Answer

I think you have two options on this hand.

One option would be to overcall 2♥.

I don't really like overcalling 2♥ on this hand. Your suit is pretty bad and you don't even have a six card suit.

The other option would be to make a Take Out Double. Let Partner choose what suit to play in!

To me that is BY FAR the best option.

If you Double Partner might even "Pass"! Your side can take 9 tricks if you defend right. That's 800 points for your side which is a top board.

If you bid 2♥, Partner will probably bid 2NT. Then you can bid 3♣ and play there. You'll take 9 tricks in 3♣ for 110 points. That would be an average board.

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.

What to Overcall?

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

Here is your hand:
♠9
♥AT7
♦AKQJT862
♣4

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

Show Answer

I'm good with a couple of bids.

2♦ shows an opening hand with a good five (probably six) card suit. This is an option.

I like 5♦ also. This puts MAXIMUM pressure on the Opponents and they have to decide whether or not to let you play (maybe Doubled?) or to bid further in ♠? With no room to explore, maybe they will guess wrong.

A bid I am NOT okay with is 3♦. This shows a WEAK hand with a seven (maybe even six on the auction!) card suit. Your hand is too strong.

If you bid 2♦ you might discover your seven-three ♥ fit. You can take 11 tricks in either red suit.

If you bid 5♦ you may or may not get Doubled (not many people were) but you can take 11 tricks so you will make your contract in any case.

If you bid 3♦ the Opponents have room to discover their ♣ fit and they can take 11 tricks in ♣. Ooops! Even if you bid 5♦ now they will just bid 6♣ and go happily down one.

What to Overcall?

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

Here is your hand:
♠QJT753
♥AQ
♦QJT
♣J7

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

Show Answer

1♠

This shows at least 10 HCP (though some will do it on less) with at least a good five card suit.

If you bid 2♠ to show that you have a six card suit you are misleading Partner. You are showing six in your suit but you are also showing a WEAK hand. This is a pre-empt. You should have about 6 to 10 points with a six card suit. You have the six card suit but your hand is too strong!

Overcalls

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

Here is your hand:
♠KT8
♥AQJ
♦QJT
♣AJ95

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

Show Answer

1NT

This shows a good 15 to 18 points because you are an overcall.

You wouldn't open the bidding 1NT (you have 18 HCP and are too strong) but you can overcall 1NT with up to 18 HCP.

What to do?

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

Here is your hand:
♠KJT
♥K98752
♦A
♣Q54

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) is Dealer and opens the bidding 1NT. Your Left Hand Opponent says "15 to 17!" just like they should in duplicate.

What is your call?

Show Answer

Pass.

You've got nothing you really need to say on this hand. Did you really want to talk about that ♥ suit of yours?

For one thing, your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) has not bid yet. They could be sitting there with quite a few points still!

For another thing, your ♥ suit is really not that good.

I might feel a little different if your LHO opened the bidding 1NT and it went "Pass", "Pass" to you. Now you just want to get them out of their 1NT contract plus you know that RHO (Right Hand Opponent) doesn't have much or they would have made a bid.

What do you do?

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

Here is your hand:
♠AQ9532
♥Q98
♦Q2
♣72

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♠. (Yep, that's right. Your beautiful six card suit!)

What is your call?

Show Answer

Pass.

You've got nothing to bid on this hand. A "Double" would be take out saying "Partner, bid anything but ♠!"

If you "Pass" the Opponents get into trouble since they have no fit and only half the points in the deck.

An Overcall

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

Here is your hand:
♠AQ7
♥986
♦AJ93
♣KT3

Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♣. Partner says "Pass" and your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass".

What is your call?

Show Answer

1NT

This shows about 12 to 14 points ONLY because you are in the BALANCING position.

If you "Pass" right now the auction is over. Your LHO didn't open with a strong 2♣ bid and your RHO could not bid at all. Your PARTNER must have some values but they just couldn't make a bid.

If you "Pass" 1♣ the Opponents will just take 7 tricks. That's 70 points for them.

If you bid 1NT you will play it there and take 8 tricks. That's 120 points for you!

Advancer Bids!

Just who is the Advancer? The Partner of the Overcaller! Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠AK86
♥T95
♦KQT2
♣96

Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♣. Partner bids 1♥. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call?

Show Answer

2♣.

You have a STRONG hand! You have to communicate that to Partner. By Cuebidding the Opponents suit you FORCE Partner to bid. It tends to (in this auction) show support for Partner's suit and 11+ points.

If you bid a simple 2♥ Partner will just "Pass". They won't believe the partnership has enough for a game.

What bid will Mess up the Opponents most?

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

Here is your hand:
♠J
♥J63
♦J
♣KQJT9875

Partner is Dealer and "Passes". Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♦. What is your call? (Look at the colours before you decide.)

Show Answer

How about 5♣? Put MAXIMUM pressure on the Opponents.

If you bid a wussy 4♣ how happy are you going to bid if they bid 4♠ and Partner cannot "Double"? Are you really going to defend against 4♠?

Hopefully not. You'll either have to bid 5♣ or be extremely unhappy you are playing in ♠.

So since you are probably going to bid 5♣ anyhow put maximum pressure on the Opponents and bid 5♣ right away -- before they figure out what major suit they want to play in.

If you did bid 5♣ right away you probably got Doubled and went down 3 tricks. This gave the Opponents 500 points.

If you bid a wussy 4♣ guess what? The Opponents bid 4♠. They took 12 tricks in 4♠. That gave them 680 points.

Do you Bid or Not?

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠T986
♥AQJ84
♦972
♣8

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) is Dealer and open the bidding 1♦. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 1♥?

This is tricky. You do have a very bad hand point count wise. But you DO have a VERY nice suit. If Partner is on lead you want them to lead a ♥. This is your one and only chance to tell them. Don't let your lack of values stop you.

If you did overcall 1♥ then the Opponents stop short of bidding game. They can't bid 3NT because they don't have a ♥ stopper.

If you did NOT overcall 1♥ guess what? Your Opponents bid to 3NT and your Partner is on lead. The only lead that can defeat 3NT is a ♥ lead.

Did your Partner find the ♥ lead?

No. Of course they didn't. You needed to tell them what to lead.

What to bid as an Opponent

Playing matchpoints. Neither you nor the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠A984
♥
♦KQT92
♣KJ97



This time it is your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) that opens the bidding 1♥. Partner Passes. RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says 1NT. What is your call?

Show Answer

Double. This should be a take out Double of the suit your LHO bid (♥).


You could overcall 2♦ but if Partner has no points, a singleton ♦ and 5 or 6 cards in either black suit you'd prefer they play in their suit.

Tell Partner you have values and can support any suit they could bid. It gives Partner options which is always better than singlehandedly determining the contract.

What to bid?

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

Here is your hand:
♠Q752
♥K432
♦5
♣AKT9

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponet) is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♦. What is your call?

Show Answer

Double.

You have a perfect Double. You can support every suit but ♦ and you have an opening hand. Get Partner to choose the suit.

If you bid a suit now you show a FIVE card suit.

What to bid

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠QJ84
♥T
♦KT82
♣A543

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

Show Answer

How about Double?

You cannot bid a suit -- you don't have 5 cards in a suit.
Ask Partner what their longest suit is other than ♥. Double.

If you are not familiar with the Take Out Double look into it. There are quite a few posts on this blog. It's a nice bid if you use it wisely.

Your call

Playing matchpoints. Both you and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠QJ
♥JT76
♦AKQ4
♣QJ4

Your RHO opened the bidding 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about Double? Get Partner to pick the suit to play in?

You can't overcall 1NT even though you have a perfect 1NT opening bid. That promises a stopper in the suit the opponents opened.

You also can't overcall 2♦. That promises at least a five card suit.

But you also hate to say "Pass" on the hand. You'll never play in a contract if you "Pass" with these hands.

If you "Double" Partner will compete and maybe you will scare the Opponents away from their ♠ contract. Maybe not, but at least you gave it a shot.