[bridgeboy]

Playing matchpoints for both hands below:

(A) All vul,
You hold

J5
KQT3
AQT762
7

You deal and open open 1D, LHO overcall 1S, partner bid 1NT, passed to you. Your bid

I believe it's a choice between Pass and 2D?

( B )
All Vul,
You hold

AK763
AT64
93
Q2

You deal and open 1S, partner respond 1NT (Non-forcing). Your bid?

Again, this should be between pass and 2H?

Thanks all for giving your opinions.

[mcphee]

I think bidding on both hands is a no brainer and in both cases could easily lead to a playable game.

[luke warm]

hand 1 is a 1H opener for us, but given the actual bidding i'd now bid 2D

hand 2 is also a 1H opening, but with the given bidding i'd go 2H

[pclayton]

The tricks are a little slow for NT on "A". The only reason I'd pass 1N is LHO may leave it in instead of balancing with 2♣.

"B": Partner can still have a SIX bagger in hearts, right? I'd hate to be the one to explain why we are playing 1N opposite: xx, Kxxxxx, Ax, xxx. Even then, I don't mind playing a 5-2 spade fit with more 'mundane' patterns.

[Double !]

Are there some reasons for not making the normal, natural rebids on these two hands, especially with 6-4? Isn't doing otherwise tantamount to masterminding?

[fred]

Double !, on Jan 29 2005, 06:43 PM, said:

Are there some reasons for not making the normal, natural rebids on these two hands, especially with 6-4? Isn't doing otherwise tantamount to masterminding?

Agree.

Try to keep the ball in play in hands like these. You don't want to put yourself in a "top or bottom" situation by departing from the "normal action" so early in the auction. Still lots of chances to get a good board (good judgment later in the auction by your side, good play by your side, mistakes by the opponents).

There is a lot to be said for playing "down the middle" at matchpoints in my view, especially if you think that your bridge skills are stronger than those of most of the rest of the field. Play for average results. The tops will take care of themselves, but if you can avoid getting zeroes you will almost always score well.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com