BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

What action would you take on this hand after your right hand opponent (RhO) opens 1Nt (12-14)?

The chances that you have discussed this situation with your partner are remote, because it’s not likely to arise very often. You must not double, whatever the vulnerability, because this would be for penalties, and the hand is quite unsuitable. Apart from the fact that your opponent could make his contract if clubs don’t break, there is a strong likelihood that either LhO or your partner would make a weakness takeout — and you will have missed a great opportunity to describe your hand accurately.

The conventional bid to show this powerful twosuiter is 2NT; this cannot possibly be treated as ‘natural’ because with a strong balanced hand, you would of course double. 2NT is game-forcing, and partner is expected to bid his lowest suit (3 ♣ ). With a less powerful hand than this — say, small cards instead of the two aces — you’d need to make a simple overcall in one of the suits.