By Peter Rhead
Examples of opener’s second bid after partner’s 1NT response
You are the opener bidding one-of-a-suit. Your hand is thus unlimited showing 13-21 points. Partner responds One No-Trump. His bid limits the value of his hand. His bid shows a balanced hand of 6-9 points. You, the opener, now know whether there is a possibility of game but partner does not know this. Therefore you are the captain and must plan your bids to discover the total values held by the partnership.
Today, you sit with these five example hands. What is your opening bid and second bid in each case? Partner always responds 1NT to your suit opening for these examples.
Case 1:
Spades AKxxx
Hearts QJxx
Diamonds Qxx
Clubs x
Case 1: You open One Spade. Partner responds 1NT. You have no likely game. Therefore, you just PASS.
Case 2:
Spades xxx
Hearts xx
Diamonds Ax
Clubs AKxxxx
Case 2: You open One Club. Partner responds 1NT. You have no likely game. Therefore you just PASS.
Case 3:
Spades Axx
Hearts AKxxxx
Diamonds x
Clubs Axx
Case 3: You first bid One Heart with 15 points plus 2 points for your long suit. Partner responds 1NT. You now know your partnership may have enough points to be in game (17+8=25). Therefore you jump in your suit, Three Hearts, showing a one-suited hand with 16-18 points inviting game. Partner bids game with 8 or 9 points. He could bid 3NT but more likely he will bid Four Hearts if he has two-card Heart support.
Case 4:
Spades AKJx
Hearts AKQxx
Diamonds Kx
Clubs xx
Case 4: You open One Heart. Partner responds 1NT. You now know your partnership has at least 25 points for a game (20+6=26). Your second bid is a jump shift to Three Spades showing a big two-suited hand of 18-21 points. The jump shift is forcing to game. Partner cannot PASS. Partner can bid 3NT or Four Hearts or Four Spades depending on the shape of his hand.
Case 5:
Spades AKxxxx
Hearts Axx
Diamonds Qx
Clubs xx
Case 5: You open One Spade, 15 points counting two length points. Partner responds 1NT. You now know you are unlikely in game territory with your poor 15 points (15+9=24). You bid the suit again, Two Spades, showing six Spades but no game interest. Partner now knows the partnership does not have game and opener just wants to play his suit. Partner should PASS.
Next Week: More examples of your second bid after partner’s 1NT response.
Remember, as we all fight COVID-19 with social isolation, if you want your Bridge fix, online competition is available for all skill levels. From the ACBL Bridge website, you can hook up either to play live people or to play robots. Either way you test or consolidate various Bridge skills. At ACBL.org just click on “Play Bridge” and follow the prompts for various choices.
If you wish to promote an activity in your Bridge group or ask a Bridge question, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will try to include it in this column.
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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