02:33:02 Lynn Chapin: Here are tonight's lesson hands for download. 02:33:17 Lynn Chapin: Judgment on "do I open, or do I not?" 02:35:06 Lynn Chapin: The Rule of 20 - add HCP + cards in your 2 longest suits. If it totals 20, consider opening your hand. 02:36:31 Anna Crawford: is that a limit raise? 02:37:16 Lynn Chapin: 1S - 2S ↠single raise, showing 6-bad 10 vs 1S - 3S ↠"limit raise" We have a spade fit, and I have around 10-11 points. 02:38:01 Lynn Chapin: Remember in a suit contract, declarer should make the plan by first counting LOSERS. 02:40:00 Lynn Chapin: "Rules" are tools to use to help you decide what to do. They're made for guidance, not hard and fast rules. Tonight's lesson is all about using judgment. :) 02:41:43 Lynn Chapin: "Borrowing a King" is used to determine if you can "balance," and not let them steal the contract so cheaply. 02:42:20 Lynn Chapin: 2NT openers are balanced, holding either 20 or 21 HCP. 02:43:08 Lynn Chapin: Did anyone overcall 1S with the South hand? 02:44:20 Lynn Chapin: Overcall suits should show a decent suit... it should not be moth-eaten like this one :) 02:47:29 Lynn Chapin: South is 17 HCP, and balanced. Consider an UPGRADE when you have a beautiful minor with 5 pieces. Open 1D and jump your rebid. 02:48:18 Lynn Chapin: 1x - 1y 2NT ↠this rebid says I am balanced with 18-19 points. 02:50:43 Lynn Chapin: It wasn't Mojo's tip, by the way :) It was a standard bridge tip, and it didn't have this hand in mind. 02:51:27 Lynn Chapin: GUIDELINES …… not necessarily Rules :) 02:53:13 Lynn Chapin: It's standard bridge that the 2NT jump rebid is 18-19 balanced. It's not a special agreement. 02:53:46 Lynn Chapin: In NT you can lead away from honors... 4th best :) 02:55:56 Lynn Chapin: THIS hand is what today's tip talked about. If you have a NT balanced shape, with a 5-card major, YOU HAVE NO REBID. If you have no rebid, consider opening the hand 1NT instead of your major. It describes a balanced 15-17, right? :) ALWAYS PLAN YOUR REBID BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR FIRST BID! 02:58:25 Lynn Chapin: The opening lead is probably 2H. 02:58:31 Lynn Chapin: 4th best 03:01:44 Lynn Chapin: K7 AJ954 AQ Q985 ^ ^ ^ ^ This hand has the same HCP, but now when you open 1H, you have a REBID of 2C. So open this one 1H instead of 1NT. 03:04:26 Lynn Chapin: 2C - we have done 4SF 03:05:08 Lynn Chapin: Fourth Suit Forcing - we have enough to go to game. It's ARTIFICIAL. 03:06:16 Lynn Chapin: 1D - 1H 1S - 2C! (this is 4th Suit Forcing, artificial, forcing to game) 2D - 2H (can now describe the shape showing the long hearts) 2NT - 3NT 03:07:51 Lynn Chapin: Well, 1D - 1H and opener rebids 1NT risks missing your spade fit... Don't bid 1NT in order to "trigger" NMF. You rebid 1NT to show a balanced 12-14 count. That 1NT rebid describes your hand, and you're done bidding unless partner wants to go further.