March 2014 - 65

Special Contributors

Dear Billy
BY BILLY MILLER

Hi, Billy,
What's your rebid holding:
♠A J 9 7 6 4 ♥A K 4 3 ♦5 ♣A 7
when pard responds 1NT to your 1♠
opener? Matchpoints and no interference. My partner rebid 3♥ and
we got too high. I think 2♥ is right.
Thanks!
Higher or Lower
Dear Hy Lowe,
2♥ all the way. 3♥ is a gross overbid. Most experts treat a jump shift by
opener as an unconditional game force.
This is not a game-forcing hand. I like
to call this a "three-bid" hand. A new
suit at the two level has a wide range.
It is not limited to the 12- to 14-point
range like a rebid of the same suit is. It
can go up to 17, even a bad 18! On the
actual hand, if partner corrects to 2♠
over a 2♥ rebid, I would raise to 3♠
(or perhaps a cooperative 3♣), thus
giving the third bid and describing a
good 15- to 17-point hand. Perfectly
bid!

Billy,
North opens one of a minor with a
balanced 18-19 points, intending to
jump rebid South's response. South,
however, passes and West overcalls
1♥. A few questions:

 dearbilly@aol.com

With a heart stop, does North
now rebid 1NT or 2NT? (In view of
South's pass, the latter seems suicidal to me.) If 1NT is the correct rebid
in this situation, can we assume that
anytime North opens one of a suit
and rebids 1NT over the opponent's
overcall he shows 18 or 19 HCP?
Could opener be forced to pass with
18-19 HCP lacking a stopper? In no
case could North's rebid of 1NT (in
the above situation) be construed as
less than that, could it?
Wondering About Notrump
Dear Juan,
A rebid of 1NT after partner has
passed does indeed show 18-19 HCP,
a hand that would have rebid 2NT had
partner responded. Standard treatment. Examples:
West
Pass
West
1♠

North
1♣
1NT

East
1♠

South
Pass

North
1♣
1NT

East
Pass

South
Pass

Opener is not shut out just because
he has no stopper in the opponent's
suit. In that case, he will most likely
double, showing extra values. Hope
that clears up the issue.
◾

West hands for the
March Bidding Box

Bid these hands with a partner.
The East hands are on page 53. The
North-South players are silent unless
otherwise noted. Scores on page 37-39.
Problem 1. North deals. None vul.
♠6 5 4 2 ♥9 6 ♦5 3 ♣8 7 6 5 2
Problem 2. East deals. N-S vul.
♠8 5 ♥J 6 5 ♦Q 10 4 3 ♣A J 10 7
Problem 3. South deals. E-W vul.
♠9 8 2 ♥A J 8 5 ♦K 10 5 4 ♣J 6
Problem 4. West deals. Both vul.
♠A K 9 6 5 ♥10 4 ♦K 3 2 ♣A 4 3
Problem 5. North deals. None vul.
♠K Q 10 6 3 ♥A 5 ♦A 8 ♣A 8 6 2
Problem 6. East deals. E-W vul.
South bids 4♦ (preemptive).
♠K Q 10 5 ♥10 5 ♦A 5 ♣K 8 6 5 4
Problem 7. South deals. N-S vul.
South opens 1NT (15-17). North bids
2♦ (transfer) or 2♥ (non-forcing) if
West interferes. South will accept the
transfer (2♥) if possible.
♠A 10 6 ♥10 ♦A J 7 5 ♣K J 9 6 2
Problem 8. West deals. Both vul.
♠A K 4 ♥K Q J 10 7 ♦9 ♣A K Q 7
March 2014 Bridge Bulletin

65
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2014
