Sometimes Luck Trumps Systems

Structured rebids after an inverted raise

 

 

 

Here is a board I was asked about from last Wednesday's STAC. After two passes, West opened 1. North passed and East raised to 2, which was an inverted raise, showing 10+ HCP and no four-card major. (If you play inverted raises, be sure to agree whether they are "on" or "off" by a passed hand.)

What should West rebid?

 

Unless he opened a very unbalanced hand with six diamonds and a five-card major, there is no point in rebidding a major suit naturally - partner has already denied four-card support. However, before committing the hand to play in diamonds, he should investigate the possibility of playing notrump. After all, a nine trick game (3NT) is usually much easier to make than an eleven trick game (5).

• 2 with a heart stopper, but no spade stopper
• 2 with a spade stopper, but no heart stopper
• 2NT with stoppers in both majors
• 3 with a club stopper but no major-suit stopper

East can then bid notrump if he has stoppers in the suit(s) West has not shown, he can bid a stopper of his own, or he can return to diamonds.

On this board, West should rebid 2 to show his spade stopper and deny a heart stopper. East, with no heart stopper of his own should return to 3. West should pass; since East is a passed hand, game in diamonds seems like a bad bet.

As luck would have it, despite the fact that 3NT was a terrible contract since E/W were wide open in hearts, every pair who bid it, made it (with overtricks!) because North (correctly) could not find the A or K lead.