Strong balancing bid: what is the right call?
Sitting South, what would your next bid be?
Tom Drijver’s solution
You intend to bid NT after any response from partner. This describes your hand perfectly. In the pass-out seat, you first show a takeout double and then bid No-Trump, showing (15)16-18 points with a good opening lead.
Score: 20/20 ✅
This is certainly a possibility, but perhaps a bit too passive. A 2♦ bid gives a somewhat modest picture of your strength.
Score: 15/20
In the pass-out seat, a jump bid is not weak, but strong. Your point count is sufficient, but your hand lacks an extra diamond for such a strong diamond bid.
Score: 10/20
Your distribution is suitable for a 1NT bid, but in the pass-out seat this shows only 11-15 points, so you do not describe your strength accurately and may miss a good game contract.
Score: 05/20
What did you think of this question by Tom Drijver?
Share your opinion and your score in the comments!
Sitting South
Great question and solutions
Yes it is a good problem, but 2NT shows as the recommended answer yet the explanation sounds like it recommends « double and then bid No-Trump, showing (15)16-18 points »
I would not say double as my partner may not think i have 17 points but perhaps 12 or 13 .
Likely 1 nt if given a second bid, diamonds.
I agree with Trump’s Bridge (but I doubt if Trump ever played bridge). I thought « double » was the first bid to be made by South.
I agree, d and then bid 2Nt
As a novice, and playing with a lot of novices, I would just bid one no trump and keep the meaning the same as in other positions . Double would be good though I usually do this with a hand short in the opponents bid suit. I might change if I play with better players.
2 NT are minors – first doublet and 1NT is 15-18
1 NT in round 1 and then show my diamonds