Why is the strong 1NT so prevalent in Bridge?
Bridge is widely considered to be the queen of card games on both sides of the Atlantic. However, there's one huge difference between the way that (most) Americans and (most) Britons play. In American...
View ArticleShould I have done something other than open one heart in the following...
At matchpoints, with only us vulnerable, I opened one heart in third position (after two passes) with the following: ♠ AK ♡QJT98432 ♢3 ♣ K9.Despite my eight hearts, I elected not to preempt in order...
View ArticleRecommended Acol bidding after strong NT rebid
The bidding has proceeded as follows:1S - 2D2NT(*) - ?(*) 15-17 HCP balanced, denies 4H. With both majors, 1H would have been opened.HoldingS: 6 5H: 9 3D: A K J 5 4C: K 10 8 6What is your response...
View ArticleHow strong a suit do you need to impose a (minor) suit on a partner bidding...
Not vulnerable versus vulnerable at matchpoints, I opened with a pass, LHO bid one spade, and partner bid two spades (Michaels), showing 5-5 in hearts and a minor.I bid three diamonds with the...
View ArticleShould the responder to a strong two club bid have been given a "double...
At matchpoints, with only them vulnerable, I was defending against a strong two club sequence bid by a husband and wife team.Wife opened 2 clubs (strong) on my right with ♠ AK64 ♡AQ ♢AQ ♣ KJ742....
View ArticleShould there be different standards for a strong two club bid depending on...
A strong two club bid indicates the ability to take something like eight and a half tricks, with a meaningful portion of that being tricks outside the main suit. The test that I use is something like,...
View ArticleHow far should a partnership explore altnernatives to a no trump game that is...
Here is an example of what I mean:With no one vulnerable at matchpoints, partner opened two clubs (strong) after three passes. I made the waiting bid of two diamonds, and partner bid three clubs with ♠...
View ArticleDid I have enough information to call four spades in this situation?
With only them vulnerable, partner open 1 club (possibly a "convenient" minor) in second seat. My right hand opponent overcalled four hearts (showing eight). I passed with the following.♠ AT8652 ♡2 ♢93...
View ArticleWas I wrong to open with a singleton lead in this situation?
At matchpoint duplicate bridge, not vulnerable vrrsus vulnerable, and sitting West, I held♠ AK32♡ J643♢ 6♣ JT82Partner (East) opened one heart, South overcalled one spade, I raised to two hearts, North...
View ArticleWhy might an auction go 1NT-3NT?
Sort of a follow up question to this question.In that question, the auction goes 1NT - pass - 3NT - all pass. The answers to the question point out that, by opening 1NT, declarer is saying they have...
View ArticleCan I reasonably expect my partner to have a four card suit when responding...
With only them vulnerable at matchpoints, right hand opponent opened (a weak) two hearts in third seat. I doubled (for takeout) with the following:♠ AKT♡ Q♢ AKQ642♣ A93After left hand opponent passed,...
View ArticleDid I bid properly against a (weak) 1NT opening?
With no one vulnerable at matchpoints, right hand opponent dealt and bid 1NT (which was alerted as 11-14).I made a "big double" with the following 16 point hand: ♠ QJT ♡ 6 ♢ AKJT9 ♣ AJ54, intending to...
View ArticleWAs it reasonable for me to pass my partner's 2NT bid?
With both sides vulnerable at matchpoints, left hand opponent (LHO) dealt and bid 1 diamond. Two passes followed.I doubled (takeout) with ♠ KJT5 ♡ AJT4 ♢ Q5 ♣ AT4. LHO rebid 2 clubs. Partner bid 2NT,...
View ArticlePremptive bid with too much strength in Bridge?
What happens if opener bids 3 diamonds (a preemptive bid) and everyone else passes and then it is discovered that opener had 14 points, too many to preempt?
View ArticleAre these two hands similar enough to bid the same way?
In the first case, I was in "third" position, only them vulnerable at match points. Here I pre-empted 3 diamonds with the following 13 high card point hand: ♠ 2 ♡ KT ♢ AKQ6432 ♣ J53. I would not have...
View ArticleIf a responder to a strong 1NT bid is 5-4 in the majors, would it make better...
At matchpoints, with only them vulnerable, I dealt and opened a strong (16 point) 1NT. Partner bid a 2 heart transfer (to spades) with the following: ♠ AT843 ♡ AQ87 ♢ Q5 ♣ Q7.I duly made the forced two...
View ArticleWhat does it mean when the laws say that a forcing 1NT response cannot...
"Invitational" usually means 10-12 high card points. A forcing 1NT response typically has a range of 6-12 points.I consider it unwise to bid a forcing 1NT with only 6-7 points. Does the rule mean that...
View ArticleAm I underestimating the differences between these two hands if I bid them...
In the first case, I was in "third" position, only them vulnerable at match points. Here I pre-empted 3 diamonds with the following 13 high card point hand: ♠ 2 ♡ KT ♢ AKQ6432 ♣ J53. I would not have...
View ArticleWhat are the arguments for and against raising a "one over one" response with...
The obvious danger is that you may end up in a 4-3 "Moyesian" fit if you do so. That appears to be why many members of my club hate that bid. Yet I feel that it provides useful information and induces...
View ArticleDo good bridge players open one diamond and rebid two clubs when they are...
With no one vulnerable, partner opened 1 diamond after one pass. I bid one heart with the following:♠ J985 ♡ AT852 ♢95 ♣ A9. Partner rebid 2 clubs. I tried 2NT, thinking that partner had the minor...
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