Matchpoints. E-W vulnerable.
♠J 10 ♥6 5 3 ♦K 7 5 ♣A K Q 9 4
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | 1♣ | |
| Pass | 1♦ | Pass | ? |
What’s Your Call?
| 1♥ | 1♠ | 1NT | ||
| 2♣ | 2♦ | 2♥ | 2♠ | 2NT |
| 3♣ | 3♦ | 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT |
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Dbl | Pass |
Show your hand type
Half of the panel sees a balanced hand and rebids 1NT.
“1NT scores more if you make it than 1♦ and may keep the opponents out,” say the Joyces.
“1NT may block the majors,” agrees Boehm. “I’d sooner bid 2♦ than pass.”
“Sure, I could pass because partner is a passed hand,” says Cohen, “but I like 1NT for the preemptive effect. If I pass, they’re more likely to find their major-suit fit.”
“Bidding 1NT makes it a little more difficult for the opponents to get to two of a major suit,” says Giragosian.
“I don’t want to let them into the bidding too easily,” says Meckstroth.
“Stoppers are for children,” says Rigal. “Describe your hand type and you won’t go far wrong.”
“Bidding 1NT is clear cut,” says Bridge Buff. “I play them so well, I don’t need stoppers. When my circuits heat up, I’m cool as ice. Humans fear me.”
2♦ was the next most popular call.
“I have too much to pass, which leaves it close between 1NT and 2♦,” says Walker. “If partner can’t bid over 2♦, that’s probably the best spot.”
“Pass makes it too easy for the opponents to get in the auction, and we might lose eight tricks in 1NT,” says Falk.
“Either partner has diamonds or a good hand,” says Colchamiro. “I like 2♦ because I have eight cards in the minors and no stoppers in either major. Even at matchpoints, I have to make the right bridge bid.”
“I hate to rebid a five-card suit and 1NT is too ugly for my taste, so 2♦ it is,” says Sanborn.
“Support partner,” agrees Robinson. “It makes it more difficult for the opponents to get in the bidding.”
What about rebidding the strong club suit?
“This looks like a six-card suit to us,” say the Coopers.
“I will not rebid 1NT with no semblance of a major-suit stopper,” says Stack. “Raising diamonds is a possibility, but with such a great club suit, I think that’s the most descriptive.”
“2♣ — I don’t like a 1NT rebid,” says Lawrence.
Bidding 1NT wrong-sides the contract, but at least shows the balanced distribution and makes it harder for the opponents to find their major-suit fit, if they have one.
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