Mistakes to avoid in bidding

A majority of the time, you will have a bad result by playing in five of a minor instead of three NT.

Most of the time, when you can make five of a minor, three NT will make an overtrick or two. Today I saw more than the usual number of minor suit game contract and those pairs had a bad score. Often the inexperienced player has a very good minor suit like six diamonds headed by AKQ and a singleton somewhere. Their partner opens one no-trump and they are afraid of bidding 3 NT because of that singleton. Remember, your partner has open one NT showing a balanced hand, plus when you have so many points in diamonds, your partner having 15 to 17 points should have some stoppers in your singleton.

And, those diamonds will sparkle in a NT contract, giving declarer six of the nine tricks needed to make game. With his 15 to 17 points, your partner should be able to supply three or four more.

And to add insult to injury, you will often go down in five of a minor when three NT makes!

Another bidding mistake to avoid. When your right hand opponent opens the bidding out of turn, you should almost never accept it. And call the director!!

(Almost means 99.99% of the time)

We read it often in bridge books, but in the heat of the action,

this is often forgotten!

The worst place to play a misfit is in NT.

Do not bid NT because you don't like your partner's suit unless you have lots of points.

Two NT either by opener or by responder invites three NT. Always!

Another often made mistake;

Consider this; 1♣-1♥-1NT- 2♥, the opponents always passing. Opener should pass 100% of the time even with a singleton heart! 2NT doesn’t exist in this sequence! Let alone 3NT. And, believe me; I have seen some players rebid 3NT!!!! . As if 2♥ would be a forward going bid. It is not. 2♥ here is an absolute sign off. With 6 hearts and 10-12 HCP, responder would bid 3♥, invitational.

A NT bid should never be a rescue bid. Instead, make the most difficult bid in bridge. PASS.......

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