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How does one evaluate a hand responding to a "strong" two clubs?
When opener bids a "strong" two club, responder bids two diamonds (waiting), and the opener rebids his suit, e.g. two spades, the responder is now the "captain" of the partnership. That's because s/he...
View ArticleIs it OK to refrain from exploring further at matchpoints when you are in a...
With no one vulnerable, I opened one club in fourth position at matchpoints after three passes with the following:♠ J752 ♡AJ6 ♢A4 ♣ QT52. I did so because people at our club who pass with 12 high card...
View ArticleIs it ok to open a "weak two" with a decent six of a suit and a "weak" four...
With equal vulnerability, and a holding like (s) KQ9753 (h) K432 (d)xx (c) x, I would pass in first or second position, so that others can bid and I can respond or overcall. I don't mind doing this...
View ArticleUnder what circumstances might some modern experts bid no trump with...
This question arises from the modern practice of sometimes bidding say, 1 NT with only a singleton ace (or even king).I would never do this with a singleton king, but might do with a singleton ace. I'm...
View ArticleIs "finesses wrong for declarer" a good reason to double a (bridge) contract?
Suppose you have a hand like (s) KJx (h) xxx (d)Axxx (c) xxx, sitting "West."The (Standard American) bidding has been S 1 spade, N 2 hearts, S 2 spades N 4 spades. You and partner have passed so far,...
View ArticleHow should partner have followed up his takeout double under the following...
With only them vulnerable at matchpoints, RHO dealt and passed as did I. LHO opened one club in third seat. Partner doubled (takeout) with the following: ♠ KJ5 ♡AKQJ ♢KJ2 ♣ T53.I bid one spade, my...
View ArticleIs a 4-3-3-3 shape as negative in a no trump as in a suit contract?
With a "12 point" hand like ♠ QJ2 ♡K64 ♢A42 ♣ Q852, I might pass, rather than open in first or second seat because of its "flat" shape, for which I would deduct a point. It also has no four card...
View ArticleWhat is the advantage of bidding to game in Rubber Bridge?
Suppose North-South ("N-S") has a combined hand that can make a contract of 4 Hearts. If they win 10 tricks and make 4 Hearts, then they get 120 points whether they bid 4 Hearts and made game, or (say)...
View ArticleHow should partner and I have gotten to 3NT?
Dealing, and with only us vulnerable at matchpoints, and holding ♠ 84 ♡AK5 ♢AKQT96 ♣ A6,I opened a timid one diamond, planning to bid 3NT if partner bid one spade or 1NT.Partner passed with six high...
View ArticleWhich of these hands should be opened in which late positions?
With no one vulnerable at matchpoints, I passed in first position with ten high card points. Ditto for second seat with eight high card points.Partner passed in third seat with eleven points and a weak...
View ArticleShould I have opened the following hand in fourth position?
With everyone vulnerable at duplicate, there were three passes to me. I passed in fourth position holding the following: ♠ QJT642 ♡4 ♢K95 ♣ KJ3. We got a bottom because everyone else with our cards bid...
View ArticleWhat is the most expeditious way to defeat this (overbid) slam?
With nobody vulnerable (at matchpoints), I opened two spades (weak) as East. Partner, West, who had a big hand, raised me to six spades. (All other pairs stopped at four spades.) South doubled with ♠7...
View ArticleHow should I choose which game to bid with this strong but misfit hand?
With only us vulnerable at matchpoints, I opened one club in second seat with this powerhouse: ♠ Q52 ♡AQT5 ♢void ♣ AKQ852.Left hand opponent passed, partner bid one diamond, right hand opponent bid one...
View ArticleWhy is the rationale for requiring a minimum 5-4 distribution for an...
At least, that's the understanding I got from this source on conventions (clause 4 of the "overcalls" section).My preference is for 5-5 in the minors or the two lowest relevant suits, and a minimum of...
View ArticleWhat could 1NT mean opposite a partner's takeout double?
Here, for reference, is the entire hand that inspired the question. With only us vulnerable, left hand opponent bid one spade, partner doubled for takeout, right hand opponent passed, and I have (s)943...
View ArticleWhen should someone make a minimum bid over a takeout double with 8 or more...
There was this example cited by an expert (Frank Stewart}. On the hand ♠ 943 ♡A52 ♢AQJ ♣ 8732.the SE consensus was that "11" high card points were really more like seven because of the 4-3-3-3 shape,...
View ArticleHow far should one go in preferring an eight card major suit game to a no...
Both vulnerable at matchpoints, I dealt and bid one diamond (planning to rebid 2NT) with the following:♠ JT8 ♡A6 ♢AK76 ♣ AKT4.An opponent overcalled one heart, and partner bid one spade, showing five....
View ArticleHow might one make value judgments regarding bidding systems?
In the comments section of this question, it was noted that the late Barry Crane would open "an 11 high card point hand containing a king. With good distributional hands open lighter." The downside to...
View ArticleDid my partner and I get to 3NT in a reasonable way?
At matchpoints, with only them vulnerable, after three passes, I opened 1 diamond with the following 17 high card point hand:♠ K97 ♡AK ♢AQJ982 ♣ 76.I did not open 1NT because of my two doubletons, one...
View ArticleAt what point (if at all) does the "captaincy" revert to a 1NT opener?
Suppose I open 1NT. This defines my hand within narrow limits (typically 15-17 high card points and "balanced" distribution), causing my partner, who now knows a lot about my hand, to become 'captain"...
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