BIDDING QUESTIONS

By Larry Matheny

 

In this session we are going to look at some bidding sequences about which I’m frequently asked.  Please realize there is often more than one alternative.  The important thing is that you and your partner have an agreement.

 

 

1.  AFTER PARTNER OPENS 2C, HOW DO I CONTINUE AFTER USING THE 2H DOUBLE NEGATIVE AND PARTNER’S REBID IS IN MY SHORT SUIT?

 

Partner opens a strong 2C and I held this poor collection:

 

                    S-2   H-J543   D-10987   C-7653

 

                    PARD   YOU

                      2C        2H

                      2S        ??

 

I responded with a double negative bid of 2H and partner of course rebid 2S.  I couldn’t Pass since partner could hold a two-suited hand, so what do I do?

 

I recommend you use the next suit as an artificial response.  Here you would rebid 3C which your partner would Alert.  If asked, his description is “This is artificial, my partner may or may not have a club suit.”  You should skip over notrump since if that is to be the final strain, the strong hand should definitely declare. 

 

 

2.  AFTER PARTNER’S 2/1 RESPONSE, DOES A REBID OF MY OPENING MAJOR SUIT SHOW 6+ CARDS? 

 

                    YOU   PARD

                      1S      2H

                      2S

 

There are two schools of thought on this question.  Many play that this does show six or more spades and partner may now raise with only two cards.  My problem with this approach is that it can make your rebids very difficult when holding only five spades.  For example, holding S-AK765   H-K2  D-543  C-K43, you are now forced to rebid 2NT without a diamond stopper.  Or, with S-AK765  H-K2  D-43  C-QJ43, you might have to rebid 3C when most partnerships play that as showing extra values.

 

My partnerships will freely rebid a five-card spade suit here when no other rebid is suitable.  Partner will not assume I hold more than five spades and will bid accordingly.  How do we show a sixth card?  We rebid the suit at the next opportunity.  Here is an example:

 

                    YOU   PARD

                      1S       2H

                      2S      2NT

                      3S

 

You will find books on this subject taking both sides of the argument so it is up to you to decide which works best for your partnerships.

 

 

3.  DOES A RAISE OF PARTNER’S 2ND SUIT ALWAYS PROMISE 4-CARD SUPPORT?

 

The traditional answer is “Yes, unless you have already denied holding four of them.”

Here are some examples of promising four cards for your raise:

 

PARD YOU            PARD YOU            PARD YOU

  1S       2C               1S       2D                1H      1NT

  2H       3H               3C       4C                2D      3D

 

Here are some sequences where holding four cards has already been denied:

 

PARD YOU            PARD YOU            PARD YOU

   1H     1NT              1S       2D               1C       1H  

   2S      3S               2NT     3H               2C       2S

                                4H                         3S

 

 

4.  SHOULD I USE ROMAN KEYCARD BLACKWOOD FOR SPADES AFTER THIS SEQUENCE?

 

                              PARD    ME

                                1S       4NT

No, because you might hold this hand:  S-A  H-KQJ10943  D-A32  C-K2

 

A Roman Keycard Blackwood response might tell you that partner has two keycards but are they two aces or one ace and the king of spades?  A simple rule is “If you have a forcing raise available, then 4NT is NOT RKC.”  With a big hand and spade support, you can always bid 2NT (or whatever your conventional forcing raise is) and later bid RKC.  That means with this hand, 4NT should be straight Blackwood asking for aces.

 

 

5.  WHY IS IT WRONG TO RESPOND 1S WITH THIS HAND AFTER PARTNER OPENS WITH 1H?      S-KJ875   H-J65   D-Q43   C-32

         

This is an easy trap to fall into.  If partner rebids 2C or 2D, you are stuck.  A rebid of 2H now would show a mere preference and only 2-card support, while a jump to 3H shows a stronger hand.  The solution of course is to simply raise to 2H with your first call.  It’s a good habit to try to anticipate the auction.

 

 

6.  IS THIS FORCING?

 

                  (A)                                    (B)                              (C)

          PARD   YOU                     PARD  YOU                PARD    YOU

            1C        1S                        1C       1S                    1C        1S

            3C        3S                      2NT      3S                    2H        2S

 

 A.  The easy solution is to play any bid over 3C as game forcing.  This allows the most flexibility.

 

B.  The same solution is best here: any bid over 2NT is game forcing.  However, there is a convention (Wolff Signoff) that allows you to get out in 3S.

 

C.  This is strictly a partnership agreement.  Partner’s 2H bid is a reverse showing 17+ points with clubs and hearts.  I prefer to play 2S here as a one-round force but many play it as non-forcing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  AFTER PARTNER PREEMPTS, IS A NEW SUIT BY ME FORCING?

 

If your partner preempts at the three-level, a new suit by you is forcing.  (Unless of course game has been reached or you are a passed hand.)  After partner’s weak-two, it becomes a partnership agreement.  If you play a new suit as non-forcing, it must be Alerted.

 

 

8.  SHOULD I ACCEPT A TRANSFER OVER INTERFERENCE?

 

                    ME    OPP   PARD   OPP

                    1NT     P        2D       DBL

                    ??

 

If you accept, you show at least three cards in the suit.  Holding only two cards, you should Pass.  If partner wants to “re-transfer”, he can now redouble. 

 

 

9.  SHOULD I OPEN 1NT AND 2NT WITH A WORTHLESS DOUBLETON?

 

Yes!  This should not be a deterrent to making the bid that best describes your hand.  If you don’t, you will usually end up bidding two suits and suggest an unbalanced hand.  For example:

 

          S-65   H-KQ109   D-AQJ3   C-KJ2   

 

Open 1NT; if you open 1D, what do you bid after partner’s 1S response?

 

 

10.  SHOULD I REBID 1NT WITH A SINGLEON?

 

Another partnership agreement.  Years ago it was acceptable when your singleton was an honor.  Today many players freely rebid 1NT with a singleton.  The reason is that notrump scores better than a minor suit contract.

 

11.  HOW DO I BID THIS HAND?     S-3  H-KJ43  D-AK93  C-A1065  

 

                       OPP    ME    OPP  PARD

                        2S     DBL     P       3H

                         P      ??

 

You have no idea if partner holds:

 

#1   S-982  H-AQ76  D-762  C-QJ3 

#2   S-982  H-9876   D-762  C-QJ3

 

With hand #1 you want to be in 4H but with #2, 3H may be too high.  The lebensohl convention can help.  Simply stated, after your takeout double, a new suit by partner shows 7-11 points.  With less, partner will start with 2NT.  This asks you to rebid 3C and then he will either Pass or sign off in another suit.  So with hand #1, partner would bid 3H and you have an easy raise to game.  With #2, he would bid 2NT, you would rebid 3C, and he would rebid 3H to show the weak hand. 

 

With more than 11 points, partner will make sure game is reached.  This convention just takes the 0-11 range and splits it up.  This is simple and it works.

 

 

12.  HOW DO I BID THIS HAND?    S-AK987   H-Q9  D-J1094  C-Q9

                   

                    PARD  OPP  ME   OPP

                         1H    1NT    ?

 

It was a matchpoints event with no one vulnerable.  I bid 2S and played it there for down one and a poor result.            

 

Double!!!  Partner has an opening hand, your right hand opponent has shown 15-18, and you have 12 points.  Your left hand opponent is BROKE!  Double is your big bid while bidding 2S denies enough strength to double.  Overcalling 1NT is a dangerous bid because it can be so easily doubled.

 

 

13.  WE MISSED A COLD 5D CONTRACT.  WHAT WENT WRONG HERE?  

 

                    S-J2  H-KJ109   D-AK1054  C-K2

 

                    PARD   OPP   ME  OPP

                       1C       1S    DBL   2S

                        P         P      3D     P

                        P         P

 

You showed a hand with 4 hearts, 6 diamonds, and less than opening strength.  Instead of making a negative double, just bid a natural 2D.  You can bid 3H next to make sure you don’t miss a possible heart fit.  After making a negative double, you can never bid diamonds and show strength.   

 

 

14.  WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THIS AUCTION?  It was a matchpoints event with vulnerable opponents. 

 

                    S-AK98   H-J  D-KQ109  C-Q983

 

                    PARD   OPP    ME   OPP

                      1H       DBL    1S      P

                      2H         P      3NT    P

                       P          P

 

We made ten tricks but our score was below average. 

 

It’s time you were introduced to the REDOUBLE card in your bidding box.  You missed a great opportunity to punish the opponents.  You have good defensive values, a singleton in your partner’s suit, and the opponents are VULNERABLE with no place to run.  Doesn’t this look like a great opportunity for a huge number?

 

 

15.  MY OPPONENT OPENED A 2D FLANNERY BID AND I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO COMPETE.  HELP!

 

Their opening bid showed 11-15 high card points with four spades, five hearts, and unknown minor suit distribution.  It is not as popular as it once was but you do need to be able to compete against it.  Here is a standard defense:

 

OPP   YOU

  2D     DBL   15-17 balanced with stoppers in the majors

            2H    takeout bid of hearts

            2S    natural w/6+ spades

            2NT  minors

            3C    natural

            3D    natural

 

Good luck with all of these solutions.  Remember, it’s important you agree with partner.