Weekly Hand Analysis - Rich Nordeng - February 26, 2024 - Forcing

 

Question:  Was the bid by East forcing?  How should the bidding have gone?

Rich:

East’s opening bid of 1 Heart is not forcing on W, who may pass with a bad 5 points or less. Here W has much more than 5 points and should respond 1 Spade. This bid is forcing on East, who should rebid 2 Clubs to show his second suit. Over 2 Clubs West is not absolutely forced to bid again. But East could have as much as 17 or 18 points, so West should bid again on any reasonable excuse. Here West has good support for Clubs and so should raise to 3 Clubs. With no extras, East passes 3 Clubs.

I confess I would have opened 1 Heart with the North hand. A minimum opening for 1 of a major should be about 12 points and 2 or more Quick Tricks.  (Quick Tricks: AK of a suit =2; AQ=1-1/2; Ax=1; KQ=1; Kx=1/2.) The North hand has 2-1/2 QT: 1-1/2 in H and 1 in D, and thus may be opened 1 Heart with 11 high card points. This hand is a sound minimum 1 Heart opening because the values are concentrated in the two long suits: hearts and diamonds.

If North opens 1 Heart, East should pass. The club suit is too shabby to warrant a 2 Club overcall. South should respond 2 Hearts.

West may be tempted to make a takeout double (I think I would do it), but may be deterred by the vulnerability. If West passes, the bidding should die at 2 Hearts by NS. If West makes a takeout double, East has a choice of Pass or 3 Clubs, probably favoring the pass. Notice that 2 Hearts is an okay contract  for NS on any reasonable trump break.