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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

<= find/hide more deals exploiting this aspect

Quick summary

If you are balanced-ish, leave it in NT

3NT if you have 19 HCP
2NT with 16-19 ("inviting")
pass with 15 or fewer

If you are unbalanced, a part score from a minor match at a low level is the most likely outcome, but a game can sometimes be found in Hearts or NT.

Don't leave it in 1NT if very unbalanced.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	J 10 6 2
	A 8 6
	J 6 2
	A 9 8

+	North
	Q 7
	9 4
	9 8 7 5
	K Q 10 6 3

+	East
	9 8 3
	K 7 5
	A Q 4 3
	7 5 4

	South
	A K 5 4
	Q J 10 3 2
	K 10
	J 2

Example Deal

You: South
Dealer: West
Vuln: all

# 126014

Opening NT, with an unbalanced hand??
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126014
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

South is obviously going to open with Hearts. What possible rebids could he have ?

Question 1

South is obviously going to open with Hearts. What possible rebids could he have ?

Answer

Well, South has a 5-4 distribution in the Majors, and 14 HCP. Nice. The apparently obvious re-bid would be his 4-card Major, however with fewer than 16HCP South should not go through his "barrier" - limiting any rebid to no higher than 2 Hearts. Bidding higher than that, his partner would put him with 16+HCP, and all sorts of overbidding might occur! So 2 Spades cannot be his re-bid.
It will have to be rebid of Hearts. But that would promise a 6-card suit - or a very strong 5-card suit, which is questionable in this case.
The only other alternative is to open a weak 1NT - which I quite like, as it's possibly the "smallest lie" you can tell your sensible, stable and understanding partner. At least the extra doubleton has 2 honours! Some people though would go for the Heart opening bid and re-bid.

Question 2

Why doesn't North tell his partner about his longest suits ? With only 6 points, why doesn't he pass ?

Question 2

Why doesn't North tell his partner about his longest suits ? With only 6 points, why doesn't he pass ?

Answer

After the opening bid of 1 Heart, he would need to go to the 2-level to mention his minor suit, Clubs. But with only 7 HC points, he is too weak to change suit at the 2 level. You need about 10 HCP really. Also, he is too short to support Hearts, and he cannot switch to Spades with only 2 of them. The only bid left is 1NT, which he should bid just in case his partner is on maximum 18 or 19 HCP..... we wouldn't want to miss a game.

Question 3

Why does South leave it in 1NT, given that his Hearts are so good ?

Question 3

Why does South leave it in 1NT, given that his Hearts are so good ?

Answer

He knows his partner might only have 6 points, and 9 at the most, so game is not on, since we are well shy of 25. We've got good Hearts, but we don't have suit agreement in Hearts. We've got Spades covered, so the chances are high that our partner's limited strength is in the minors. So there are probably enough stoppers to be safe in 1NT. Probably better than 2H, where he could be short or even very short.

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid
Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit
Selection of opening suit
After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit
Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
p			p	p	???
					1H
p			1NT	p	p
p
-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1H	Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit
1NT	After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid




			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: East , 3 Reasons, when playing in No Trumps: 1. long suit 2. 4th highest, if lacking 3 honours 3. unbid suit

« 0053 »

Unbalanced Openers rebid. Partner bid 1NT

Game in Spades most unlikely! NT ?

Your partner has nothing obvious to bid after your opening bid, but he has 6-9 HCP and needed to let you know that, so he bid 1NT.

If you're reasonably balanced, and have cover in the suits which your partner has in effect denied having, leave it at 1NT if there is no chance of game, as will generally be the case. If you're at the weak end of your promised 12-19 point range, you may in any case feel obliged to pass. If you're very unbalanced, or there's a big hole somewhere, put it back into a suit, because the opposition can be expected to exploit the hole !

If on the other hand you have 16-19 points, which can be expected in 25-30% of occasions, you should get quite excited because you may have 25 points between you:

If you're balanced and have the full 19 points, you'll probably put it into game with 3NT. If you're slightly short of 19 HCP, you'll probably bid 2NT, asking partner to raise to 3NT if he has the maximum from his promised 6-9 range.
It gets more difficult if you have an unbalanced hand. In principle you want to try to find a "game" fit in a Major or NT. So the two of you are going to have to use the remaining bidding space to search for a Major fit (a bit unlikely given the bidding), or try to convince yourselves that NT is safe. Trial bids and 4th suit forcing might both be helpful techniques to be aware of in this situation. However, a common and sensible if unexciting outcome will be a "part score" in a minor, i.e. 2 or 3 or .

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday

Quick summary

Bridge Venue

Unbalanced Openers rebid. Partner bid 1NT

Game in Spades most unlikely! NT ?