Bridge Venue

• Question 1
  
  What should North bid, as opener, and why, with his balanced hand ?

• Answer 1
  
  What should North bid, as opener, and why, with his balanced hand ?
  
  Answer
  
  He should bid his best suit, Diamonds, not NT. With 15-19 points, his plan should be to bid NT on his rebid, to show his exact HCP point count, which in NT is very important.

• Question 2
  
  South responds 1NT. If his Clubs and Spades were the other way round, what should he then bid ?

• Answer 2
  
  South responds 1NT. If his Clubs and Spades were the other way round, what should he then bid ?
  
  Answer
  
  Well, South responds 1NT because he is too weak to bid his 5 card Club suit at the 2-level. If C and S had been the other way around, he could bid Spades at the one level.

• Question 3
  
  How does North now tell South that he has a balanced hand ?

• Answer 3
  
  How does North now tell South that he has a balanced hand ?
  
  Answer
  
  Either by bidding 2NT, or more likely by passing South's 1NT bid. When he hears his partner has 6-9 points, and not necessarily balanced, game is only going to be possible if partner has a max. 9 points. And even then there is possible exposure in Hearts. Too risky, especially as vulnerable.

• Some subjects to follow up on

  50 Unbalanced, The general idea 21 Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 41 After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 50 Unbalanced, The general idea