Tutorial

Bidding Defence Declarer

Opener's second bid after an initial one no-trump opening and a no-trump response from partner

Don't forget that all the bidding on this page assumes no part-score. With one, you would make the most economic bid to get game and rebids that may be theoretically correct go out of the window.

We have opened 1NT, so we have 12-14 points and a balanced hand. Partner has responded in no-trumps. It is unlikely that the opponents will intervene as you have a substantial balance of the points. If they do, then chasten them with a double. Let us now consider our options.

1)  Partner has responded 2 NT. This is encouraging to game. If you have 14 points, bid 3NT. If you have 12, pass. If you have 13 points, look for plus or minus values, and ask yourself how well you are playing the cards tonight.

2)  If partner bids 3NT, pass it.

3)  If partner bids 4NT, this is best used as 'quantitative', although some players unfamiliar with Gerber may use it as Ace-asking. Partner is asking you to bid 6NT if you are maximum-14 points, and to pass if you are minimum.

4)  A bid of 5NT is also quantitative, asking you to bid 6NT anyway, and go to 7NT if you are maximum. Not a bid for the faint-hearted, this one. It's come up for me once in fifty years.

5)  A first response from partner of 6NT or 7 NT should be passed. Smelling salts are in order.