Let me preface this with the confessions that I have not kept up on bidding theory for some time and have a major championship tropy count of zero.

I would have responded with one heart holding this pattern only if I had planned not to bid again over a minimum rebid by partner (one notrump or two clubs). If I had planned to raise two clubs to three, I would have responded one diamond (expecting partner to bid one heart with something like 4-4-1-4).

What would the “Bid with the Aces” answer have been if North had rebid one notrump (instead of two clubs)?

Hi Jim2,

Your not having kept up with bidding theory, nor your not having scalps on the wall are of little consequence. Since you bring the main ingredients necessary, enthusiasm and love of the game, you are eminently qualified.

Having a coordinated plan, like you seem to have, is a reasonable exercise to make you comfortable and since, in the long run, most all plans are workable it is hard to say which is best. However, let me inject some caveats which might be worth considering.

1. If one diamond is preferred to one heart as an opening response, that partnership is more likely to be preempted out of perhaps reaching a heart contract, be it a part score or even a game.

2. Everything being more or less equal, I, holding the responder’s hand, would probably prefer a heart lead to a diamond, especially against a suit contract by the opponent’s.

3. My experience tells me that the fluidity and therefore beauty of your scheme would come out second to the practicality of quickly getting in the responses which are more likely to turn out to be bell ringers, at least comparably speaking.

Please understand that I have no real proof of the superiority of which I speak, only that I perhaps have more of a sense of urgency than I do of beauty.

In answer to your specific question about South’s rebid to North’s hypothetical 1NT rebid in the BWTA hand, I will quickly answer, PASS! In an aggressive attempt to never miss any possible game, many points are lost by playing 2NT instead of 1NT and, of course, in reaching a too thin 3NT. Yes, bridge is a bidder’s game, but also yes, bridge is also a thinking man’s game and not a blatant war always seeking huge victories. As an aside, it is usually easier to run a five card suit if the interior is AQJ instead of just an isolated queen, therefore to even consider to raise to 2NT with the subject hand I would prefer for my fifth card to be in the strong hearts rather than the weak diamonds. Small edge, but bridge has a number of such value options.

Bridge has always had many nuances, and will never be totally mastered by anyone, at least up to now. All we can do is continue to play and love it and therefore experience the thrill of learning, sometimes the hard way.

Good luck and thanks for your questions.