What should I bid? (August 2021)
The best submission for August came from Brian Thorp. He wins a voucher of $30 funded by TBIB, toward any purchase made at the Bridge Shop or Paul Lavings Bridgegear.
All Vul
N Dlr
North
♠ K10
♥ A5
♦ 1086
♣ AQJ1084
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♣ | Pass | 1NT | |
| Pass | ? |
Playing a weak NT with five card majors and inverted minors, 1♣ is better minor, and 1NT shows 6-9 hcp and denies a 4-card major and probably five or more Clubs. In a Butler Pairs event what rebids would you consider for N and which one would you choose?
Hi Brian,
On this hand, I think there are three potential options – Pass, 2♣, or 3♣.
3♣ seems to be a bit aggressive opposite a 6-9 1NT response. Partner will overvalue the ♣K when we would prefer her HCP to be in the outside suits for stoppers (and hoping the ♣K finesse will be onside). So rebidding 3♣ may get us to more aggressive 3NT’s and going down in vulnerable undertricks is probably not best especially in Butler Pairs where securing positive scores is a good thing.
2♣ seems like the ‘normal’ rebid and I would say is fine. If 1NT could potentially be 10 HCP, then probably 2♣ might be best because it can still allow partner to raise to 3♣ for us to continue with 3NT.
Pass I think is a tad risky but I think it’s also an OK choice (and probably my choice too). The main reason is because if you think you’re not going to go to game, then you might as well pass and try to ‘steal’ the partscore and in 1NT, whereas rebidding 2♣ may allow the opponents to more easily balance (thinking we have a club fit, and don’t want us to play in an ‘easy’ 2♣ contract) and have the opponents win the competitive partscore bidding in a major suit (especially when partner has no 4-card major so the opponents have a double fit in the majors!).
Hope that helps,
Andy
