BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

WHAT would you open on this hand?

You must open, although the hand, with only 13HcPs and poor intermediaries, is very minimum. The perfectly correct and reasonable opening is 1 ♦ , with a planned rebid of 2 ♣ .

This is the sequence which beginners will be taught — to open in the longest suit and then rebid in the second suit, if biddable and lower-ranking. As soon as beginners gain experience and start to develop their own bidding style, they will appreciate that a better and more practical bid for this hand is 1nT — especially when playing duplicate. 1nT shows a balanced, or semi-balanced hand with 12-14HcPs, and no singleton.

We don’t need to worry about having two doubletons, because here they are both headed by the king and protected from the initial lead coming through.

This 1nT bid has several features, which are extremely useful at duplicate. (1) it is a limit bid, and you don’t need to bid again, unless forced by partner. ( 2) it is an obstructive bid which prevents the opponents from intervening with a major at the one-level. (3) Tricks in nTs score much better than those in a minor. (4) Partner does not need to respond with less than 11HcPs. (5) it is a very difficult contract against which to defend.