Ask The Experts

June 2007

Question 1: Barbara Stewart (C Flight)

You hold:
                  AKQx
                  AKQ10
                  KQxx
                  x

You have opened the bidding 2C (strong, of course); Partner has responded 2D (waiting)

What is your rebid ?

Panel's Responses

Ken Bland

2H-partner raises bid 3 spades your partner bids 3C bid 3D-try to get to best game if partner has more than min-slam

Tom Kniest

2NT - if pard has a 4- or 5-card major and more than a Yarborough, we'll land on our feet. If he passes, 2NT is as good as any contract, without seeing his hand. This hand is much better suited to a big club system.

Roger Lord

Two spades, the highest ranking suit first, which ironically provides the most economical means of finding a fit. Suppose responder now says 3 clubs (which may be an artificial negative rebid). You can bid 3 diamonds leaving room for partner to raise diamonds, or to introduce hearts if he has length, or to take a preference of 3 spades.

Tom Oppenheimer

I believe that I would rebid 2 no trump. This bid accurately shows point count and leaves options such as Stayman available to find a 4/4 fit.

Nancy Popkin

I would respond 2H; the AKQ10 is the equivalent to a 5 card suit. My hope is that my partner will respond 2S or 2NT. If 2S, I will raise; if 2NT, I will raise to 3NT.

Fran Schiefler

'IF' I had opened the hand 2C and partner responded 2D, I have a couple of bids, none of them a true description of my holding. 2H should show at least five, but you might try it, planning to get the spade suit in next.  With so many points in three suits and

seven tricks in hand, I might try a rebid of 2NT, hoping partner will be able to use (Puppet) Stayman or with some values be able to bid the notrump game.

Ed Schultz

I would bid 2H and hope for the best. Two and three suited hands can be very difficult to handle over a strong 2 club opening.

Karen Walker

2NT. Unless you have a special gadget to show this distribution, a 2NT rebid is the least

damaging distortion. Partner is unlikely to insist on clubs as a trump suit, and 2NT puts

your notrump system into play to locate a fit in either major. If you instead rebid a major,

you're likely to lose the other one, and this isn't a good hand for playing a 4-3 fit (or a 4-2, as partner might raise with Jx).

En Xie

Without new convention, we have to choose one of imperfect options:2H,2S, or 2N. None of them will show the truth of the hand. I would bid 2NT if 2H as bust is our agreement (then 2D would be game forcing here). Singleton C is a bad thing for 2NT, but we have chance to find 4-4 fit in major by bidding 2 NT. Also, 2NT clearly shows the high card point range of the hand, therefore, making it easy for partner to decide what to do next. I am not so sure what to bid if we don't play 2H as bust. I'll probably still bid 2NT and cross my fingers. Because now I don't know if partner has points or not. If partner doesn't have points and with club lead, the contract is unlikely to make. Another close choice is to bid 2S first then bid 3H. The problem with the choice is that 3H probably will be forcing for many partnerships.

Milt Zlatic

The least of all evils is to rebid 2NT. If partner bids 3NT, he should have length in clubs. If partner bids Stayman, you're even happier.

Question 2: Linda Lubeck (B Flight)

Several of my partners in Atlanta play Montreal Relays where a response of 1D to partner's 1C = says nothing about diamonds and no 5 card major (unless later bids show 5 of a major and 6+diamonds). I can see where this might help us locate 5-3 majors faster and we could use support doubles for something else, but might we be missing more 4-4 major suit fits ?

Is this a good bid to add to our arsenal ?

Panel's Responses

Ken Bland

They don't even play the “Montréal relay” in Montreal

Tom Kniest

Such a system sound bizarre to me. 4-4 fits are great, and are best played by the strong hand. I don't know the logic behind this system, but suspect it's flawed since I haven't met a single good player who uses this system.

Roger Lord

Bring on opponents who play Montreal Relays ! Its bad enough to play “five-card majors” and postpone opener's bidding a 4-card major – now you want to gag responder too !!

Nothing can prevent my showing a 4-card major, if an 8-card fit is plausible. The exception to an initial major suit response is the natural bid of 1 diamond with a diamond suit and invitational values or better, following up with the major. Montreal Relays would prevent such a descriptive sequence as well.

Tom Oppenheimer

You do not say if opener also passes up 4 card majors to bid 1NT. If this is the case then you would miss many 4/4 major fits which I believe to be an inferior approach. The problem with bidding a diamond rather than a 4 card major is that it is very hard to catch up when the opponents enter the auction preemptively or otherwise. You will now be playing more of a guessing game. On the plus side, it is more difficult for the opposition to lead if they know less about the distribution. I believe in sharing as much information with partner as possible.

Nancy Popkin

I wouldn't think you would miss 4-4 fits because the 1 club opener should respond with a major if he or she has one. As far as adding it to your arsenal, I do not see what the real benefit is.

Fran Schiefler

I played Montreal Relay for a couple of years with a partner who now lives in another state. It worked well for us, however I do not feel a sense of loss playing without it.

Ed Schultz

I would not play them. I believe natural with judgment is best.

Karen Walker

This sounds like a solution in search of a problem, as finding 5-3 fits isn't all that difficult (or sometimes, even necessary) in standard bidding. This treatment might work as long as you have a muzzle on your opponents, but it puts you at a disadvantage in competitive auctions. If RHO throws in a 1S overcall – and doesn't he always? -- you'll lose lots of 4-4 heart fits. You'll also lose possible diamond fits.

En Xie

I think Montreal Relays is a good convention. You won't miss 4-4 major fit if opener is required to bid his/her 4 card major after 1D. The side affect of this convention is that you tell your opponents too much information and it might help them on defense and declarer play. I would

play the convention if my partners ask me to play it. I don't see any significant improvement of bidding with the convention though.

Milt Zlatic
Bidding 1D does not tell partner to skip bidding a major. You could have two four-card majors. If partner does rebid 1NT, the only 4-4 fit you'll miss is when partner is 4-3-3-3 or 3-4-3-3. I'd stick with support doubles. On a 1C-1D auction, an opponent's interference can leave you in no-man's land since neither of you have bid naturally.

Hand from local club game, MPs. Dealer = N; vul =none
  
West                   East
AKx                     x
Axx                       QJ9xx
xxx                        KJ10x
KQxx                    Jxx
  
W                      N                   E                      S:
-                         P                   P                      P:
1NT(15-17)      P                   2*                   P:
2                     P                  ??P/2NT/3/3??
  
2*= Jacoby Transfer  
2NT= 8 to 9 HCP with 5 and ?? probably should have balance hand ?? (?? should have no void or singleton side suit ??)
3= should have 5 card suit (I think may be only 4 ) with void or singleton side suit and game force or slammish
3= should have 6 card suit with invitation hand.
  
  What call do you make as East ??

Panel's Responses

Ken Bland

2NT lesser of evils. Can't force with eight count

Tom Kniest

Pass - 1st, it's matchpoints, and going plus is important; not bidding close games. 2nd, even looking at both hands, no game is a bargain. While the hand has some shape, it's too soft to bid more. My personal preference is that a 2nd suit shows at least invitational values, but is not a game force - it get across the main point that I'm unbalanced. (Many of my partners have told me that for years.)   

Roger Lord

This hand is worth inviting game. A solution which is second-best is to play a new suit natural and unlimited but forcing just one round. The superior method is to play second-round transfers. Here, the auction would go: 1NT-2D-2H-3C (showing diamonds invitational or better)-3H or 4H (you decide).

Tom Oppenheimer

I think that 2NT most accurately describes this hand. It shows the correct point count and number of hearts.

Nancy Popkin

I disagree with your partner's bid first. He/She has almost a maximum response to the transfer; yet he only has three trumps (bad) but three trumps to an honor (good). His hand is very suit-oriented with aces and kings and the king/queen of clubs together in a 4-card holding is very good. That is why I would treat the hand as a maximum for hearts.

Now there are 3 ways to show a maximum for hearts:

1) 3 clubs showing club concentration, a maximum and 3 card heart support. Partner can then retransfer saying 3 diamonds. Over 3 hearts he would bid 4 hearts. That way the hand is still played from the right side. 3 clubs does not guarantee 4 trumps.

2) 3 hearts which guarantees 4 trumps.

3) Or, 2NT showing a maximum with only 3 trumps. Again responder can bid 3 diamonds retransferring to hearts and then bid 4 hearts.

I prefer option 1 so that if partner is balanced with weakness in clubs, but cards in the other suit, he can put the hand in notrump. In this case, partner should be worried about spades and retransfer by bidding 3 diamonds. Over partner's 3 heart call, responder should raise to 4 hearts. Passing 3 hearts on this hand is not an option since you have good hearts, good diamonds, a club honor fitting partner's bid, and a singleton.

Fran Schiefler

I play that 3D would show 5-5 distribution. Even if your partner would expect no more than 5-4 the bid should be game forcing. I would choose the bid of 2nt (you can't have everything) and spades might even be 4-4-4-1 :-)

Ed Schultz

Something to be said for transferring to 2H and passing if partner can't super accept. I would go for the plus! One could obviously transfer and bid 2NT right on values but does have the singleton; or transfer and bid 3D which will force to game, but will let partner know where you are.

Karen Walker

2NT. This suggests a balanced hand, but it doesn't promise one. With a hand like this one,

it's more important to limit your values and give partner an easy decision. 3D will propel you

into game and give the opponents extra information. Second choice is to take a position and pass (only at matchpoints).

En Xie

Like question 1, this hand is about choosing an imperfect bid under current system and agreements. 3D should be out of consideration first, I think. Under your agreements, it's game forcing. your hand certainly doesn't have the strength. I prefer 2NT bid, it shows clearly your high card points range and give partner a chance to make a good decision. I might think about bidding 3h if the suit were a little better. It would be very hard for partner to think you have QJ9xx with 3H bid, therefore it's unlikely for partner to make a good decision.

Milt Zlatic

Rebid 2NT. Partner should be awake to the fact that your hand can be distributional since you can't bid a new suit without making a forcing call. You have soft values so NT may be easier to play.