Every E/W pair underbid this hand.

West's rebid of 1NT shows a balanced hand with 15/16 HCPs, so with 10 HCPs, East KNOWS that Game is on so needs to make a forcing bid to get West to bid again.  East should therefore rebid 3♠ to show enough points for Game and precisely 5 ♠.  With 3 ♠, West should prefer 4♠, though with such a flat hand and hence no ruffing potential, a bid of 3NT would be OK.  Both contracts can make, though a ♥ lead (should be ♥6) by South against 4♠ would make Declarer sweat.

Also look at Hands 6 and 9 which, in both cases, should end in 4♠.  Only one E/W pair in each case actually bid  this.

On what sort of hand do you open 1NT?

In Standard Acol, an opening bid of 1NT shows a balanced hand with 12-14 HCPs.  A balanced hand includes a 5-card Minor if you're a Beginner, but also includes a 5-card Major if you're an Improver.  I can't be certain in all cases just looking at the final contracts but I can deduce that a lot of you are forgetting this fundamental cornerstone of Acol. There was a perfect example of this last week - Hand 2.  Only one East opened 1NT, the other four opened 1♦ , being seduced by a nice looking ♦ suit.  No prizes for guessing which of the five E/W pairs got the best score!!

On Hand 8 this week I have shown what is the 'correct' bidding sequence.  West opens 1NT - the hand being a perfect example of a 1NT open.  North has nothing to say, nor does East, with only 7 HCPs.  With 11 HCPs, unbalanced, and a 6-card suit, South has a perfectly valid 2♥ overcall.  There the matter should rest.  I can be 100% certain that 4 Wests did not open 1NT, either by looking at the final contract, or observation on the night.  I'm fairly sure Ruth also opened 1NT.

I did observe one other fundamental tenet of Acol being broken, by East.  Responding 2♣ after a 1♦ open.  As Responder, NEVER EVER bypass a 4+card Major biddable at the 1-level, unless you are strong enough to force to Game, ie you also have an opening strength hand.

If played correctly, 2♥ gives N/S their best score, making 9 tricks, though as the cards lie South can actually make 10 tricks.  But then I can always make lots more tricks if I can see all 4 hands!!  West should go one off in 1NT, but the defence would have to be very sharp to achieve this (starting by leading ♣10).

I could have chosen a number of other examples where it looks as though the opening bid wasn't 1NT when it should have been.  I'm also very surprised that no North bid NTs in Hand 6.  Ignoring E/W the obvious bidding sequence is: 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT.  If East leads a ♥, there are 9 tricks there in NTs.  Further, if South were to be a tad bold, they could end up in 3NT, making 9 tricks - a clear top result.

Nobody bid this 'correctly'.  I know South only has 22 HCPs, but I think the hand should be opened 2♣; it is strong enough to want to force to game.  North would respond 2♦ showing fewer than 8 HCPs.

South's bid of 3♦ is now irrevocably forcing to game.  At this point, North could go straight to Blackwood, but I would bid 3NT.  Remember that South's bid of 3♦ is unconditionally forcing to game, so with an outside Ace and some good ♦, North should be interested in a slam.  South mustn't then pass, he doesn't know North has a ♠  stopper - remember that South's bid was forcing, North had to bid.  He could have had 0 HCPs!  South's bid of 4♥ implies 5 ♥, and hence 6 ♦.  Now North uses Blackwood to find the excellent small slam in ♦.

As the ♥ split 3-3, there are an easy 12 tricks, discarding ♣Q on ♠A.

Note that 6♥ would also make, as the cards lie, as ♥ the split nicely, but 6♦ is the better/safer contract.

In Acol, a bid of 2♣ shows a hand with 23+ HCPs, or a Game force.  In the latter case, there could well be fewer than 23 HCPs, but Opener wanting to force to Game, either having 10 tricks in his own hand, or a very strong two-suiter, not wanting to stop short of Game.  Here North holds the former type, holding 25 HCPs.

Responder's bid of 2♦ just says - "I have fewer than 8 HCPs partner".  North's rebid of 2♠ is forcing tio Game - South must not pass, he should bid 3♥  to show his suit.  North's rebid of 4♣ describes his hand very well, but with no values except in ♥ South rebids his ♥.  North should then accept this.

There are an easy 11 tricks, with a 12th possible, but only if East doesn't lead a ♦ when he takes his ♥K.

On Monday, two N/S pairs stopped in just 2♥, a significant underbid!

It would appear that no South opened 1♠ on this hand.  Why not?  It satisfies the Rule of 20, and you have a very easy rebid of 2♥ should North not support your ♠.

As it transpires, North would jump straight to Game.  I don’t understand why nobody ended up in Game.

Reminder re the “Rule of 20”.

1. Add together the number of HCPs and the combined length of your two longest suits.  If the total is 20 or more, you should consider opening the bidding.
2. You must, however, have an easy rebid, whatever your partner responds.  Only show your second suit if you can do so without ‘reversing’.  Hence you need to be happy to rebid your first suit if necessary.

Both of these criteria are met here – it is always easy if you have two touching suits with the higher ranking being a 5-card suit.  The fact that your second suit is a poor one should not put you off bidding – your first suit is a good one.

Sheila was sat South with this hand and asked what she should have done after East had opened 1♥.

Being Vulnerable, the best option is to pass.   West would also pass, and North should then bid 1♠; I know it's only 6 HCPs, but with a void and a 6-card suit and a good second suit, North should not pass.  With just a 5-loser hand, South should then jump to Game.

I note that 3 Souths must have overcalled 1♠.  Remember that an overcall in a suit promises a good 5+card suit, I don't care how strong you are!

An alternative for South would be to Double - promising a 4-card ♠ suit.  I would probably prefer this to passing if NV.  If North were to respond 2♣, then you would have to pass or gamble on 2NT, hoping North has some values.  Dodgy, especially when Vulnerable.

1NT is also an option, despite the singleton and only 15 HCPs.

All of these are much better bids than 1♠!!!!!!

PS - I also don't care about the current debate over using exclamation marks!  They are useful in making my displeasure known!