{"title":"1 Diamond Opener, Partscore Contract","auctionOrig":"1d,p,1nt,p,2d,p,p,p","auction":"1d - (p) - 1nt - (p) - 2d - (p) - p - (p) ","rptText":"Opener doesn't have a 5-card major. Diamonds are longer than clubs, so open 1D.\n\nResponder has low points but good diamond support. NT typically plays and scores better than a minor suit contract, so with 6-10 high card points HCP, responder bids 1NT.\n\nOpener would worry about his singleton club--if responder doesn't have a club stopper, it might be dangerous to stay in NT. The opening bid of 1D typically shows 4 diamonds, though sometimes it is 3 diamonds if the hand shape is 4432 (4 spades, 4 hearts, 3 diamonds, 2 clubs). To show more than the typical minimum of 4 cards, opener can rebid his diamond suit. This asks responder to clarify their support for diamonds or, with stoppers in all suits, go back to NT.\n\nResponder does have a club stopper; however, now they know that the pair has 8+ cards in diamonds. You need 28/29 combined points to play in a minor suit game contract. Since opener has not shown signs of having 21 points, responder should just pass and let the pair play in 2D.\n\nIf opponents interfere (not likely since they haven't bid at all so far), opener or responder could raise to 3D or 4D, but should not bid to 5D.\n\nThe score for a 2D contract making 4 is exactly the same as for a 4D contract making 4, so if playing in a partscore, try to bid only as high as is necessary to play the contract--there is no point in bidding higher if the opponents don't make you, and if you do bid higher you run the risk of not making your contract.\n\nNote that according to the double dummy par score, opener/responder could make a higher score playing in 2 spades and making 3. But with responder showing no 4-card major, opener is not likely to bid their 4-card spade suit."}