BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

PLayiNg Pairs, at Love all, your RHO deals and opens 1 ♦ . What action would you take, and would it make any difference if you were in fourth seat and two passes had followed the 1 ♦ opening? iN ThE immediate overcalling position, there is nothing to be done except pass. You can’t double for take-out or bid 1NT (which is always a strong bid when intervening in first position), nor can you bid a suit.

But things are different if you are in the protective position. You know opener’s partner couldn’t bid and he certainly wouldn’t want to leave his partner in 1 ♦ at Pairs if he could do anything about it.

Therefore, the assumption is clear that your partner probably has a share of the missing points. Bid 1NT and leave the rest to him.

he will know you are not showing a strong hand and that, in fact, what you have is a weak No-Trump and it may not even be up to the full strength. he will expect something in the region of 10 to 12 hCPs with a stop in diamonds, and will bid accordingly.