Game, Anyone?
With Acol, there is good reason for the 1NT rebid to show a hand of 15-16, or the more up to date version of 15-17 high card points.
Board 5 from 13/03/2019
Dealer N NS Vul
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K9842
Q7
6432
86I generally do not recommend bidding No Trumps when one of your suits is wide open, but when West opens 1D and East responds 1S, there is no more descriptive bid than 1NT. 2H would be a reverse and show more high card points though it would be right in terms of the shape description. However, 1NT does have the advantage that it shows a hand with 15-17 high card points. The club situation is not ideal but West’s decision should be based on the playing strength in 1NT, and five diamond tricks certainly make 1NT an attractive proposition. As it happens, East is happy to hear West’s rebid and with a nine count should raise to 2NT to invite game, which West would happily accept.
Some people are a bit more sophisticated and play 2C by East in such a sequence as ‘check back’ which asks for a more accurate description of West’s rebid. West will show more than a minimum 1NT rebid and 3NT will be the final contract. With a balanced combined 25 or 26 counts, 3NT should be bid and made, since even when there is no certainty of nine tricks, the tricks often come thanks to a favourable lead, inferior defence, or good declarer play.
Should West end up in 3NT the most likely lead is a low spade and this will, after three rounds, give declarer a trick while establishing a trick for the defence. If East is declarer, South will probably lead a low club to give declarer the ninth trick immediately. But whatever happens, if EW bid to 3NT, and make, they will score extremely well when other pairs languish in a part score in diamonds when West just rebids diamonds.
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