#1

S:AJ                H:AKJTx                    D:Qx               C:Axxx

I had this one yesterday. Wow 19 points and a beautiful five card major. Then your rho opens 1H. What do you bid? ................... 1NT

It is one point too many but you are going to need it partner can’t have much. The shape isn’t right but you can hardly bid your suit. You can’t really double as partner will expect you to have a better spade suit or a really good suit of your own other than hearts.You can’t pass you have half the deck.         

#2

There was a hand last week and opener bid 3C with this hand. Great bid.

S:x       H:xxx              D:xx                C:KQJxxxx   

Responder had     S:Qxx        H:AKJxxx     D:QTxx      C:void

Someone bid 3NT with this hand. Please don’t. Will you make any tricks in dummy? NO you can’t get there. Everything will be played out of your hand and you will be lucky to take three tricks.

#3

I had this hand on Monday and we talked about it. Someone suggested bidding 1NT with my hand.

S:Txx               H:Txx              D:9xxx            C:Qxx

1D                   x                      P                      ? ………….. your bid

Once again do not bid 1NT you do not have enough points. Lets do the arithmetic

You need 25+ points to make a game in 3NT

You have 2 points, partner may well have about 12 for a total of 14.

This leaves opponents with 26 points. Who has the best shot at making 3NT you or opponents?If they can take 9 tricks at NT it leaves you with four for down three. You have to bid 1 heart and hope partner has some help.

You need a six card suit in diamonds, hearts or spades

You need 6 points in the suit (Jan)

You need two of the top three honours or three of the top five. 8 - 10 points when vulnerable. You can cut a few corners not vulnerable. (Jane)

You will see other people do it but you should not open a weak two with a weak suit and defence. e;g; S:Axx H:Axx  D:JTxxxx, C:x 

Do NOT open a weak two with a void. (Jane's teacher says so, I do what he tells me)

Do NOT open a weak two in first or second seat if you have a four card Major as you may miss a golden fit.

Opening a weak two is a preemptive bid you should not bid again unless partner forces you to do so. e.g. by bidding 2NT or 4NT.

Bidding after the weak two bid.

If you have about 10 scattered points and 3 of partner's suit raise to the 3 level to make it difficult for the opponents. This is not asking opener if they want to go to game.

You need an opening hand plus if you are responder to bid 2NT

2Nt is used by responder to find out if you have a maximum or a minimum for your weak two.

With 8 -10 points and two of the top three honours when partner bids 2NT you bid an ace or king in another suit. With <8 points re-bid your original suit

With AKQxxx in your suit bid 3NT. This tells responder exactly what you have and they can decide if they want to play 3NT or go to four of your major.