[Jaybarnes]

The bidding went 1D - 1NT - 2C. I (responder) had 7 points with 4 clubs. I passed, I had nothing to show at two level. But I got c*****d out by my "expert" partner (This was in a quick 4-board tourney).

Does 2C over 1NT response carry some meaning I'm not aware of?

[helene_t]

It shows 11-17 and at least four clubs, your pass is normal.

[Huibertus]

You are allowed to pass 2♣. However, holding anything else then a drop dead minimum with 2 more ♣ than ♦ you should give false preference to ♦ to allow for partner to bid on on case he was on the strong side with invitational values. The upper limit of 2♣ should be taken into consideration. Without a hand it's hard to judge if partner had a point or not.

[DavidKok]

This is, in part, a style issue. Some people want you to bid over 2♣ on any excuse. Other people will only ask you to bid if you think a strain other than clubs, or a level other than the 2-level, is likely to be best.

At the beginner level I think we are commonly taught to strain to rebid. Most hands with 8(+) HCP should try to move, for fear that opener has a 17+ hand and game is still possible. In fact, personally I'd also stretch the 2♣ rebid to include some 18-point hands and possibly some 19-counts too, but now we're getting well past the beginner level.
Personally I think this is so-so advice. It's actually quite far against the odds to strain this much to keep things open, and we might very easily get too high with 8-opposite-13 or the likes. There is a very common fear of missing a making game, and people will go to serious lengths to avoid that risk - incurring other, potentially greater, risks in the process.

Personally I would pass with most hands with 7 HCP, 4 clubs and at most 2 diamonds. If you had a third diamond that would change the situation considerably. Unfortunately you did not list this in the original post. I'd be curious to see what the full deal was.

Now there are some details about this specific auction that merit consideration, and actually there's some really interesting bidding theory about this start of the auction exactly, but I think this is beyond the Novice and Beginner forum.

[bluenikki]

Jaybarnes, on 2025-July-28, 08:15, said:

The bidding went 1D - 1NT - 2C. I (responder) had 7 points with 4 clubs. I passed, I had nothing to show at two level. But I got c*****d out by my "expert" partner (This was in a quick 4-board tourney).

Does 2C over 1NT response carry some meaning I'm not aware of?

If your seven were the ace of diamonds and the king of clubs, you should _want_ to bid, possibly with false preference.

If they included the QJ of the majors, maybe not.

[mike777]

 Jaybarnes, on 2025-July-28, 08:15, said:

The bidding went 1D - 1NT - 2C. I (responder) had 7 points with 4 clubs. I passed, I had nothing to show at two level. But I got c*****d out by my "expert" partner (This was in a quick 4-board tourney).

Does 2C over 1NT response carry some meaning I'm not aware of?

Your expert partner should say nothing and talk about the hands after the game. Ignore them.

As far as raises after 2C?
It's complicated 😔

With weakish hand and some D support, rebid 2D.

I was taught a raise to 3C is weakish, a blocking bid.

With more and clubs, bid 2S.
In fact to get more complicated you can bid 2S with invitational in d or clubs, over 2S partner bids 2NT and you rebid your club or D support, tricky.

Your 1NT bid is limited, agree?
Your 1NT bid denied 4 spades, agree?

Bid 2NT with stoppers and invitational
values.

All of the above is one application, there are others.

Good luck.

[johnu]

Jaybarnes, on 2025-July-28, 08:15, said:

But I got c*****d out by my "expert" partner (This was in a quick 4-board tourney).

Self proclaimed "experts" and "world class" on BBO usually means they learned the game yesterday, the same day they signed up for an account. While there are "real" experts on BBO, you probably aren't going to be playing with one of them in a 4 board tournament. You would not be far off by completely ignoring every one of them.

[Jaybarnes]

Thank you all for your input. I am very far from a learner but am out of touch with modern styles and systems of bidding. If I thought there were any chance of game I would have continued bidding, but even if partner had max I still doubt we would have game. and clubs seemed as likely a part score as anything.

[smerriman]

DavidKok, on 2025-July-28, 08:33, said:

Personally I would pass with most hands with 7 HCP, 4 clubs and at most 2 diamonds. If you had a third diamond that would change the situation considerably. Unfortunately you did not list this in the original post. I'd be curious to see what the full deal was.

It's worth noting that it is impossible to hold 4 clubs and at most 2 diamonds in this auction, because then you would have a four card major and not have responded 1NT.

At least, it should be impossible; having looked up the hand record, I suspect the four card spade suit that was actually held was what the OP's partner was more upset about; either that or their own misclick of 2♣ holding a 6 card diamond suit and just 2 clubs. Unfortunately, in these types of tournaments, it's rare to find any hand resembling normal bridge - every result tends to be pretty much random.

[blackshoe]

DavidKok, on 2025-July-28, 08:33, said:

Most hands with 8(+) HCP should try to move, for fear that opener has a 17+ hand and game is still possible.

This is why I like "limited opening" systems, like Precision. If you open something other than one diamond, partner knows he's going to need at least ten points for any hope of game.

Before someone berates me for introducing a Forcing Club system in the Novice and Beginner Forum, consider that in some countries, Precision is the "beginner" system.

[thepossum]

If experts are playing with beginner partners one would hope for friendly advice

[mycroft]

As a non-expert, let me give you(*) the first piece of advice I give anyone who listens (RL or FtF):

If they call themselves an expert, don't believe them. Results or GTFO.

This applies to me, too; I have my results, and they prove (basically, remember 90% of bridge players are better than their partners) that I am what I am - a decent flight A player. Not Bracket 1, not expert, but not a fish either.

And the fish rule also applies: if you can't tell who the fish is at the table in 5 or 6 hands, it's you. But still, you should be able to figure out who can actually play (especially online, when you can watch as dummy) pretty quickly.

I was taught this (not in so many words, but I got it) by my second bridge teacher. Who had a "nobody resume" that included two WBF Junior World medals. Who would talk about Eeexxperts vs experts, and make it very clear which were which.

Another note for those new to BBO: It is a proven fact that if you can actually play this game, you'll never get a partner on BBO who can also play if you don't call yourself an Expert. There are also many, many "large fish in small ponds" who go online and since they're the best player they know, they know they're an expert. Both of these groups are minefields for newer players.

But even if OP's partner isn't one of those, there's a reason they're in the Permanent Floating Pickup Pool. And if it isn't because they can't play (as well as they claim), it's very likely because they can't find anyone to put up with them. Because they expect perfection, and will make it very clear when they don't get it.

Long story short (or at least less long): OP, bridge is a fabulous community and BBO is a huge place, where I am sure you will be able to find people you enjoy playing with and against; and you may learn to be a better player, too (or find someone who can teach(**))! There are - less fabulous - parts of the community as well, as anywhere; your job is to route around them. There will be hurdles as you find your community; block them and move on. But you will find your community.

(*)Possum, I know you, specifically, already know this. Using your response as a springboard only.
(**)Also, know that there are teachers who are hopeless at advising beginner players. Some of them are the best bridge teachers in the world - but they can't help talking over beginners. A Random Partner, after A Hand, will not be one of those, but they do exist. If you're looking for a teacher, do look for someone you can understand, who you can see plays the way you want to play (just better), who can also give decent, polite, and useful advice, later.