Sitting South, what would you bid next?
Mikael Rimstedt
Here you are faced with a difficult decision after partner’s take-out double.
What‘s your call?
Mikael Rimstedt‘s solution
With all the heart honours well-placed, you need to think about the best game. The only problem is that you don’t know if that game is 3NT or 4S… or none of them! But one thing we know for sure is that if your opponents play in hearts, you are almost guaranteed three tricks. Here passing will often be your safest way to achieve a decent score, or even a big one, without having to guess where you belong. Take advantage of your opponents falling into bad splits instead of you being that person!
Score: 20/20 ✅
If I was faced with this hand and had to choose which game is most likely to make, I would say 3NT. All heart honours are perfectly placed to stop the opponents and partner, who usually holds an opening hand in this type of sequence, will make sure the other suits are stopped and you may be able to take nine tricks. In 3NT, you won’t have to worry about bad splits and ruffs, which are usually an issue after the opponents’ weak opening.
Score: 15/20
In theory, 2NT as a mini cue bid to continue with 3NT, which will show four spades and a stopper in hearts. The only problem is that partner will only pass over 3NT if you don’t have four spades because you are not showing such strength in hearts.
Score: 10/20
Partner will expect you to have between 0 and 9 points, so this bid is clearly an underbid. When partner makes a take-out double, you have to jump to show strength, and bidding 2S here is not a jump.
Score: 5/20
What did you think of Mikael‘s question?
Share your opinion and score in the Comments section!
Wonderful quiz! I would have bid 2 Spades. But I see the point made here!
I would have passed as I open with minimum 12 pointa
The right answer depends on the vulnerability
Hello, all vulnerable 🙂
Pass.
Being behind East I would leave 2hearts doubled in.
Guaranteed at least 2-3 winners.
I wouldn’t bid 2s for the reasons stated as it is a drastic underbid and I don’t like 3nt personally as eventually you are leading from hearts and partner could have 1 only.
Partner being in 4th position won’t be doubling with a minimum hand in my view.
So pass 2hearts doubled for a top board in my view.
Avrei dichiarato 2SA. Gioco quinta nobile.
2sa —> lebensohl
Sorry, no lebensohl!,
U would hv bid 2 NTs. Would that be terrible ?
Depends on your system 🙂
I would hv bid 2 NTs. Would that be terrible ?
Good bidding question? I probably would have erroneously bid 2S but appreciate the logic behind Pass w Penalty dbl. definitely would be more fun to play!
Vulnerability is critical but not mentioned. We almost certainly have a game somewhere but is it worth 400 or 600. If opp are vul, I like the pass, but otherwise I am going to bid 2nt expecting partner to bid 3nt or Spades. 2nt is almost never a sign of in any sequence
Hello, all vulnerable 🙂
2 spades
3 spades- meaning I have 10/11 points .Hopefully partner may have 4 more Would be afraid to bid 2nt as I have poor over in diamonds!
3 ❤️ over bid ,,partner kan bid his good color
3 picche per giocarne 4.
I’d leave the double.
I would have bid 2N. But I see that 3 S is more informing, both promising at least 4 and a stopper in H and the strength. Gives north the opportunity to raise into 3N.
Pass Is the best for sure. Exactly for the mentioned reason. Then, playng lebenshol, the alternative Is 3sp: 4cards 9-11 po. Given that 4 po are in hearts, again Pass is the best
Hi I didn’t understand the 3S response … perhaps due to English translation.
In our system a jump to 3S shows 4 spades and 9+ hcp. I never heard of it showing a stopper in the heart suit