Forum Question 5

Replying to Opener’s Trial Bids

This question was asked to: Julian Pottage

Question

Hi Julian, we played this hand this afternoon on Pogo BBO. West opened a Spade, East bid 2S with 3 of them, west rebid 2NT trial bid and East put it back to 3 Spades. if you open 1Club, it is easier to get to 3NT, but we ended up in 3Spades. how would you suggest we should bid it. we often get this situation: is it reasonable for partner to Pass?, Board number 8 . looking at it, 16 played it, if they didn’t open 1C, they opened a strong NT! almost all in 3NT.

Answer

West has 18 HCP and three tens. It would be reasonable to treat the hand as worth 19 points and so bid 3NT over 2S rather only 2NT. You have asked about East-West but what was worth North doing? i know a singleton king is not pulling full weight but the 64 shape is good and neither side vulnerable is the ideal time to compete.

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