![The bridge question](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Header_Quiz_India-EN-1052x423.jpg)
What would be your next bid?
![The bridge question](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Header_Quiz_India-EN-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Donne-EN-pub-1-1-927x1024.png)
What would be your next bid?
The solution
This is a great position for considering the system you are playing. Playing a strong NT and five-card majors with Argine, I would rank the options as follows:
![1 Heart](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/03-22.png)
15/15 ✅
You want to make sure you find a major fit if you have one and, on this hand, there are two majors to consider. Adding ♦ into the mix as well when slam is unlikely will simply make this task more difficult if your partner shows a weak NT next. When choosing between your majors, show the lower of two four-card suits.
![1 Diamond](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-24.png)
Not that you would never make this bid with this shape: if your hand were stronger, you would not want to preclude a potential 6♦ contract at this stage. But you are not all that strong. Of course, Partner could be strong himself for the 1♣ bid, in which case 6♦ is a very possible contract. But do remember that if you are making 6♦, your partner will often be able to reverse into 2♦ next anyway. The problem is if he has an 18-19 balanced hand… but then he is unlikely to show a diamond fit even if you do respond 1♦!
10/15
![1 Spade](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/04-11.png)
There is really no reason in favour of showing the spades first; not even the fact that it’s ♠! There are reasons not to, though. Bidding 1♠ might result in you missing a heart fit even if your partner is unbalanced because he will not be strong enough to reverse into ♥ with a minimum and if you follow up with 2♥, Partner will take you for 5♠4♥. However, if he has four spades, he still has space to bid 1♠ over a 1♥ response.
0/15
The auction continues and then you encounter another decision.
![](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Bids-pub-EN-1.png)
What will your rebid be?
![4 Spades](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/05-9.png)
15/15 ✅
Straight to the point: you have a spade fit and would like to play in a game. Your singleton in Partner’s suit is unlikely to be a useful singleton and may significantly devalue Partner’s hand. On top of that, you have poor trumps and gaps in the red suits.
![Diamonds](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Bids-E1-7-1.png)
Your plan is presumably to force to game with Fourth Suit Forcing (FSF) before agreeing ♠, which will leave more bidding space available for you to discuss slam if Partner is strong. This is a noble endeavour; but you should remember that by not bidding a direct 4♠ immediately, you have denied a hand of minimum game-forcing strength. This is important because FSF followed by spade support must then logically be a mild slam try. Don’t try to bid Partner’s hand for him: bid yours instead!
10/15
![4 Clubs](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/06-5.png)
A splinter would be a perfect description of your shape, so why have I awarded it the lowest score? Well, this splinter would be in Partner’s suit, so there are two reasons:
1. It is unlikely to excite your partner and may simply give the opponents a clue about what to lead.
2. Are you sure that Partner will take this as a splinter? Or might he think it is showing a double fit? Or worse: a slam try in ♣? Avoid the murky and probably unhelpful bid!
5/15
![](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Bids-2-pub-EN-1.png)
The full deal:
![](https://www.funbridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Diagram-EN-pub-1-1024x971.png)
What did you think of India Natt’s question?
Share your opinion and your score in the Commentary Section!
Very helpful,,,I was tempted to bid 2NT after the 1 Spade but realised this would have shown a more balanced hand than I had and underbid my HCP
Why would the opener not bid 2 clubs on second bid to show it was a real suit? Unless “Least of the Minors” is not a convention used.
I think 1D is better. If partner has a four card major he/she will bid it and you can raise to game.
I really appreciate Natts guidance thank you
I agree completely with her reasoning.
Thank you. I like “the what would you bid?” It sets me thinking.
Why didn’t India comment on the bid of 2NT. It was the first bid I thought of.
I would also reply 1NT.
I think you must show a major if you have one, and the lower major of fours (even with, say, 5 Ds and a void club – the Walsh convention). Bidding 1D is a poor 2nd possibility hoping that partner will bid her major, thus finding the fit.