In a competitive auction when your partner hasn’t supported you, rebidding or jump-rebidding can be “deep and dangerous” in Shakespeare’s words.
I learned this to my mortification in an OK Bridge game. I was sitting North, with West dealing and both sides vulnerable:
NORTH (Me)
♠️ 9 3
♥️ A J
♦️ A Q J 6 5
♣️ A J 8 4
WEST EAST
♠️ Q J 10 7 4 ♠️ A
♥️ K Q 10 7 ♥️ 5 4
♦️ 10 ♦️K 7 4 3 2
♣️ Q 7 5 ♣️ K 10 9 6 3
SOUTH
♠️ K 8 6 5 2
♥️ 9 8 6 3 2
♦️9 8
♣️ 2
The bidding proceeded as follows:
West North East South
Pass 1♦️ Pass Pass
DBL 2♣️ DBL 2♦️
Pass Pass DBL All Pass
Opening lead: ♠️A
I figured that with a decent hand I had the right to rebid. The result was down two doubled for a disastrous -500 penalty that submarined any chance to place in the session. Better to pass on my second bid, leaving opponents to work out a misfit.
(Don’t be so tough on yourself, Jim! You didn’t commit a mortal sin! The minor suits broke horribly!)
Two boards later an opponent was snared by his own hubris. He was sitting South and dealing, with both sides vulnerable:
NORTH
♠️ J 10 9 5 4
♥️ 2
♦️ 5 2
♣️ 9 8 6 4 3
WEST East
♠️ A Q 7 3 ♠️ 8
♥️ 10 8 6 ♥️ Q J 4
♦️ Q J 9 6 3 ♦️K 10 7 4
♣️ 2 ♣️ K Q 10 7 5
SOUTH
♠️K 6 2
♥️ A K 9 7 5 3
♦️A 8
♣️ A J
The bidding proceeded as follows:
South West North East
1♥️ Pass Pass 2♣️
3♥️ All Pass
Opening lead: ♣️2
In this case, South had the right to rebid his excellent hand. But 3♥️? That meant contracting to make nine tricks with no help from partner. South went down two for -200. Better to rebid 2♥️, down one for a more palatable set.
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