How Distribution Points contribute to Total Points

South deals and bids Pass (only 4 HCP)

North has only 11 HCP which is not sufficient to open bidding. However, North has an unusual shape. Note the void in Spades and the long Clubs. This is definitely not a no-trump hand, but Clubs looks interesting as the trump suit.

In a trump play a void is worth 5 points and a long suit is worth 1 point for each card after the fourth. So in addition to the 11 HCP North can also add 5 points for Spades void and 3 points for Clubs length, giving a total of 19 points which is more than enough to open bidding.

Notice also that South has a singleton in Diamonds. A singleton is worth 3 points, giving a total of 7 points. N-S combined has 26 points which is good enough for a NT or major-suit game (25+), but short of a minor-suit game (29+). Since Clubs is the likely trump, a minor-suit game is unlikely to achieve for N-S.

	♠ ♥ K107 ♦ AQ3 ♣ Q1087643
♠ AQ32 ♥ J8 ♦ K10864 ♣ K2		♠ J1094 ♥ AQ96 ♦ J952 ♣ A
	♠ K8765 ♥ 5432 ♦ 7 ♣ J95

Analysing the above, N-S partnership has no loser in Spades, 2 in Hearts (10 and 7), 1 in Diamonds (3)  and 2 in Clubs (the absence of A and K). They can theoretically get 13 - 5 = 8 tricks. Assume that N-S wins the bidding in Clubs.

The best strategy for N-S would be to first get rid of ♦7 so S could be void of Diamonds. Once done, they could cross-ruff Diamonds and Spades between them as long as they are mindful that South's Spades is longer than North's Diamonds.

N-S then need to guess the hand shape of W-E. It's clear that W-E has 8 Spades (most likely spread equally 4-4), 6 Hearts (likely 3-3), 9 Diamonds (4-5) and only 3 Clubs (A, K and 2).

Let's see how this can be played. North is first to bid Clubs, so East will start the play. If East plays Hearts or Clubs they will win the trick. Spades or Diamonds will give the trick to N-S which can then be followed by the plan to discard ♦7.

Responses to 2♣

Last night I had a rare hand with 22 TP. My partner had 5 TP. With the combined points of 27 we should have been good with a NT or major suit game, but I had a singleton and partner did not have any 5+ cards.

I opened the bidding with 2♣. Defender made a 2♦ overcall. Partner responded with 2NT. I rebid 3♦ since I knew we couldn't play no-trump due to my singleton. Diamonds was my longest suit. Partner rebid 3NT.

SAYC recommends the following responses to 2♣.
2♦ if partner is unsure as the hand is not suited to a positive response.
2♠♥ or 3♦♣ if partner has 8+ TP and 5+ cards.
2NT if partner has a balanced 8+ HCP.

Accordingly, partner's best response should have been 2♦ since he did not have enough points. Unfortunately, defender's overcall was exactly this bid. In this situation I think the best response would have been Pass. This way I would know that partner's hand was not good enough.

Let's say if partner did call Pass. I would have concluded that our combined points could not be more than 29, i.e. my 22 plus partner's maximum of 7. A minor-suit game was still a possibility if partner did have 7 HCP. A no-trump game was still impossible due to my singleton (unless partner's suit was long), so I would have to establish whether it should be a major or minor game. I would then bid 3♦ to signal my long suit to partner. He had only 2 diamonds so he would change suit, but since he had no 5+ suit at all his best bid would again be Pass. On hearing 2 consecutive passes from partner I would then conclude that our best final bid would have to be 3 major.

Opening Bid

4♠♥♦♣ : 8+ cards and strong (2 of A, K, Q)

3NT : 25-27 HCP and balanced

3♠♥♦♣ : 7+ cards and strong (2 of A, K, Q)

2NT : 20-21 HCP and balanced

2♠♥♦ : 6+ cards and strong (2 of A, K, Q)

2♣ : 22+ TP

1NT : 15-17 HCP and balanced

1♠♥ : 13+ TP and 5+ cards and longest suit (if equal length, select higher ranking)

1♦ : 13+ TP and either longest or 4-4 minor

1♣ : 13+ TP and either longest or 3-3 minor

HCP : A=4, K=3, Q=2, J=1