Rebid Problem

Here is your hand:
♠A8
♥AT4
♦AJ94
♣KQT5

You decide to open the bidding 1♦. The opponents passed throughout the bidding. Partner responds 1♠.

What is your bid? You are playing match points.

Show Answer

First thing to think about is "Do you have a fit for Partner?"

When Partner responds they are only showing a four card suit. You do NOT have a fit.

Since you don't have a fit, you now need to describe your hand. You are balanced. How do you show Partner you are balanced? Yes, you bid NT.

The trick is what LEVEL do you bid NT?

Bidding 1NT shows a MINIMUM hand. A hand that was not good enough to open 1NT. So about 12-14 HCP. (With 15 HCP and a balanced hand you would have opened 1NT. So you would not have 15 HCP.)

You have 18 HCP. You cannot rebid 1NT.

Jumping to 2NT shows a balanced hand that was too good to open 1NT but not good enough to open 2NT. So about 18 or 19 HCP. That describes this hand perfectly!

So your response is 2NT.