Bidding On Misfits by David Bird

A common mistake is to bid again, on a weakish hand, just because you have no fit for your partner's suit.

The very last situation in which you should take the bidding higher is when you and your partner have no good fit.

You should aim to drop the bidding as early as possible.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠
♥ K Q 8 7 4 3
♦ K 10 9 4
♣ 10 9 8

Q: 1 - What will you do next as North?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♠	Pass	?

A: Pass. The deal comes from the final of the 2022 Spingold. Both the North players did press on to 3♥, hoping that this would be a better spot than 2♠. Many players would do the same, but is it right?

You know that partner has six spades, and you will be one level higher if you play in 3♥. You will therefore need to make TWO more tricks for this to be an improvement.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A Q J 7 6 3
♥ J
♦ J 5
♣ K J 3 2

Q: 2 - What will you do next in the South seat?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♥	Pass
?

A: Pass. You have already told your partner that you have six spades (and a minimum hand). Nevertheless, partner thinks that it will be better to play in 3♥. He started with 1NT because he is weak. He must have at least six hearts to think it worthwhile to go up a level.

This hand is paired with the one in the previous question. Street held these cards and persevered with 3♠.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 10 4 2
♥ A 10 9 2
♦ 8
♣ A Q 6 4

Q: 3 - Now you are sitting West. What is your intention here?

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♥	Pass
3♠	?

A: Double. Piedra held these cards. Even though he had a likely five tricks in his hand and the opponents had a clear misfit, he declined to double. 3♠ was passed out and this was the deal, from Piedra's perspective:

♠

♥ K Q 8 7 4 3

♦ K 10 9 4

♣ 10 9 8

♠ 9 8 5

♥ 6 5

♦ A Q 7 6 3 2

♣ 7 5

♠ K 10 4 2

♥ A 10 9 2

♦ 8

♣ A Q 6 4

♠ A Q J 7 6 3

♥ J

♦ J 5

♣ K J 3 2

Declarer went FIVE down in 3♠. Zimmerman collected 250 instead of the 1100 that was available.

So, there are several lessons we can learn from this deal:
- Keep the bidding low when you do not have a fit for partner
- Be particularly wary of rescuing into a different suit when this will put you one level higher
- Finally, when you judge that the opponents have been bidding too high on a misfit, double and make them pay an appropriate price

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 7
♥ A J 6 5 2
♦ A 10 7
♣ K Q 8 3

Q: 4 - What action will you take on this deal?

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♠	Pass
?

A: Pass. Partner should hold six spades. There is no reason to be frightened of a 2♠ contract. You can add plenty of high-card tricks to the trump tricks in his hand.

2NT may play very poorly. Suppose partner has ♠K Q J 9 6 4 and little else. You may go several down in 2NT. Do not continue to bid just because you do not like partner's suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ Q J 6 3
♥ A J 5 4
♦
♣ K 9 8 3 2

Q: 5 - What is your next move on this hand?

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	Pass
1♥	Pass	2♦	Pass
?

A: Pass. "I don't like diamonds at all, and I have 11 HCP with the other three suits all stopped. It is the world's most obvious 2NT rebid."

No, it isn't! Partner cannot hold four spades or he would have rebid 1♠. Your diamond void is the worst possible holding opposite partner's long suit. Be wary of bidding on just because you do not like partner's suit. That's well worth remembering.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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