Tough Rebid

Here is an interesting hand I was asked about today:

Here is your hand:

♠86
♥A865
♦743
♣AKQT

You are Dealer and open the bidding 1♣. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) bids 1♦. Your Partner bids 1♠. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". What is your call now?

If it makes it easier think of all the potential bids you could possible make and eliminate the ones you can't bid.

Show Answer

Talk about ugly rebids!

The possibilities are:
"Pass"
Pass is not an option. Partner's 1♠ bid is forcing. Partner could have a huge hand over there.

1NT
1NT is a possibility but I do know that LHO has a five card suit (they did overcall) and I also know Partner might leap to 3NT with an opening hand thinking I will be able to stop the ♦ from running. I can't.

2♠
Partner might only have four ♠ over there. That's not a good option.

2♥
2♥ shows a MUCH bigger hand than the hand I have now. This is a REVERSE showing four ♥ and five ♣ and 17 or more HCP.

2♦
Bidding the Opponent's suit would show a much bigger hand than the one I have now.

2♣
This normally would show at least a five card suit but in a normal situation I wouldn't need a ♦ card to bid 1NT. Even if Partner thinks I have five in the suit the four I have are really, really good.

I think we have a winner! 2♣ is probably the call to make.

If you did manage to bid 2♣ Partner bids 2♥. This would be a forcing bid (new suit by Responder) so you can safely raise to 3♥. Partner will now bid a game.

My second choice for bids would be 1NT. If you bid it with enough confidence the Opponent's might not realize you do not have a stopper. If you did bid 1NT your Partner will take you out of the NT and you will again bid your ♥ game.

Tough Rebids

Here is your hand:

♠5
♥T43
♦AQ5
♣AKJ952

Playing matchpoints and everyone is vulnerable. The Opponents are silent during the auction.

Partner is Dealer and opens the bidding 1♠. You decide to bid 2♣. Partner rebids 2♠.

What is your call now?

Show Answer

I hope you didn't bid 3♣. That would be a NON-FORCING bid. Partner is allowed to say "Pass" and they will on this hand. You just missed a game.

Talk about tough rebids though! What SHOULD you bid?

You've got a choice of a few (not great) bids.

First of all 3NT is a choice. You might be worried about the ♥ situation though. Partner doesn't have to have any ♥ honours for their bid. But you can always hold your breath and try. At least you got to game.

4♠ is another choice. You hate to support Partner with only a singleton but you did get the partnership to game and now you don't have to worry about ♥ stoppers.

If you want to get Partner to choose between 3NT and 4♠ you could try 3♦. It is a FORCING bid. Now if Partner bids 3NT you can "Pass" and if Partner goes back to their ♠ suit (again!) you can raise then to 4♠.

I would probably bid 3♦ on the hand. Partner doesn't want to go by 3NT by raising the 3♦ suit any more than you do. But that's my style. As long as you didn't rebid 3 (only) ♣ and got the Partnership to game you will do fine on this board.

Choices

Here is your hand:

♠A98
♥A8
♦J64
♣AQ432

Playing matchpoints and no one is vulnerable.

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

Show Answer

You DON'T have a good bid. Your choices are 1NT to show a good 15 to 18 HCP balanced hand OR Pass OR 2♣ to show a good five card suit with an opening hand.

None of these bids are great.

Pass is pretty conservative. You do have a nice 15 HCP with a five card suit.

Bidding 2♣ doesn't really get across your hand. You suit is too weak and your hand is too strong.

Do you dare risk bidding 1NT WITHOUT a stopper in the Opponent's suit? I say you should. It's only a minor. They don't promise a five card suit like a major suit opening would. Partner might not jump to 3NT and if they do then the Opponent's might not lead a ♦. If they do then Partner might have a little something in the suit so you have a stopper. If Partner doesn't then maybe the suit breaks four-four. I'd risk it.

If you do overcall 1NT you probably get to play it there and take 8 tricks for 120 points.

If you said "Pass" originally (wimp) then the Opponents get to 2♥ and take nine tricks.

If you overcalled 2♣ you probably get to play it there and you will take 9 tricks for 110 points.