November 2022 - 52

Newer Players
Reasoning with Robert
Bidding opposite a passed hand
W
hen you open the bidding
in third seat, sometimes
you have fewer high-card
points than normal. When you do
this, you need to think ahead about
how you are going to handle the
auction - have a " prepared rebid " for
each of partner's possible responses.
If you make a second bid, partner will
expect you to have at least a full opening
hand, so you need to be prepared
to pass most of the responses that
partner can make.
Rebids after one of a major
When you open 1k or 1 in third
seat, a common response from
partner will be 1NT (semi-forcing),
showing about 6-11 HCP. When this
is partner's response, you can usually
pass with most hands where you
opened light with a four- or five-card
major suit (remember you can open
a good four-card major in third seat).
Being prepared to pass partner's
response - even with an unbalanced
hand - is the most likely way to handle
subminimum opening bids.
After opening 1 in third seat, you
also must be prepared to deal with a
2k response from partner. A two-level
response is not a 2/1 game-forcing
bid, because partner is a passed hand.
Instead, it shows a five-card or longer
suit and about 9-11 HCP (a maximum
passed hand).
For example, holding:
K Q 10 9 4 kQ 8 lK 9 3 '8 7 3,
if you hear partner respond 2k, you
can simply pass. This may leave
partner to play in a 5-2 heart fit, but
passing now keeps the auction low
and lets partner know that you had a
minimum or subminimum hand with
at least some hearts.
52 | Bridge Bulletin | November 2022
Note: Many partnerships use a convention
called Drury that makes 2'
(and 2l if you play two-way Drury)
bids after a third-seat one-of-a-major
opening an artificial raise.
When you open the bidding light
with 1k, you must be prepared to deal
with a 1 response from partner.
J 8 3 kA K J 8 3 lJ 4 3 '8 4
Partner could have only four spades
to respond 1, so you need at least
three spades to pass. Here, you can
stretch to open the bidding 1k and
feel comfortable passing partner's
1 or 1NT response.
Preempting in third seat
If you can't handle one of the common
responses from partner, you may
need to choose a different opening
bid. A common way of avoiding a
rebid problem is to open at the two
level, even with a five-card suit.
K Q J 9 8 k5 lK 8 4 'J 8 4 3
Say you open the bidding with 1
in third seat; if partner responds 2k
(which it seems like they always do
when you have a singleton), you will
be in a difficult situation. So instead,
with this excellent five-card suit, you
may choose to open the bidding 2.
Another example:
6 kK Q J 10 6 l10 8 6 4 'A 7 6.
If you open the bidding 1k, then
you may get into trouble if partner
responds 1. You could rebid 2l, but
you don't want to be too encouraging
with this hand. Instead, it is best to
open 2k with this hand, especially
if not vulnerable. There is some risk,
but when your suit is this strong, you
can usually survive the two level.
A big advantage to opening at the
two level is that it is more difficult for
BY ROBERT S. TODD
robert@advinbridge.com
advinbridge.com
the opponents to enter the auction.
After one of a minor
When you open the bidding with
1' or 1l, there are more possible
responses that partner can make -
1k, 1, 1NT, raising your minor or
even 2NT. You might have a hand that
can pass any of these responses, for
example:
J 4 3 kJ 8 4 l9 4 3 'A K Q 5.
You can open the bidding 1' and
feel comfortable passing any bid that
partner makes (it is OK to play in a
4-3 fit).
Often you won't have the ability to
handle opening 1' or 1l, especially
with unbalanced, subminimum
values - you will end up in trouble if
partner responds in your short suit.
3 k8 4 3 2 lA K Q 10 8 'J 4 3
Say you open 1l, if partner responds
1, you are going to be forced
to make a second bid, and partner
might think you have more high-card
points than you do. With this hand, it
is best to open 2l in third seat.
Opening the bidding in third seat
is a bit of an art form. Make sure
that you think about your rebid and
be prepared to handle the auction if
partner responds in your shortest
suit!
http://www.advinbridge.com
November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
