Club News Sheet – No. 209    www.pattayabridge.com        8th Nov 2006

 

       
to news-sheet main page to Pattaya Bridge home page
       

Mon 30th      1st N-S    Oli & Wolfgang             61%           2nd    Phil & Tomas = Gene & Mike G               54%

                    1st E-W    John & Kenneth           60%           2nd   Dave & Per-Ake               56%

Wed 1st        1st N-S     Lewis & Terry              57%           2nd    Phil & Tomas                 55%

                    1st E-W    Derek & Gerard           61%           2nd    Dave & Kenneth            60%      

Fri 3rd           1st N-S     Eddie & Royd              59%           2nd    Alan & Lewis                 56%

                    1st E-W    Paul Scully & Terry      62%           2nd    Paul Kelly & Dave          56%

 

Bidding Quiz                           Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

 

Hand A           Hand B           With Hand A partner opens 1♣ and RHO overcalls 1♠. What do

you bid?

♠ KJ42            ♠ K9764                 

♥ Q953            ♥ J2                 With Hand B partner opens 1NT and you transfer with 2♥.

♦ J943              ♦ KJ83             Partner bids 2♠, what do you bid now?

♣ 4                  ♣ Q5

 

Hand C           Hand D           With Hand C RHO opens 1♣, what do you do?

 

♠ 7                   ♠ Q987653      With Hand D it is unfavourable vulnerability and RHO opens 1♣

♥ A1092          ♥ K                  (a) what do you bid? 

♦ J10975          ♦ AQ8             (b) Suppose you choose 1♠. LHO bids 1NT and RHO raises to

♣ KJ7              ♣ A7                      2NT. What do you do now?

 

Hand E            Hand F            With Hand E RHO opens 1♠, what do you bid?

 

♠ -                   ♠ 532              

♥ A10543        ♥ AK1095       With Hand F LHO opens 1NT and RHO transfers with 2♥. What

♦ K10985        ♦ 62                 do you do?      

♣ K42             ♣ K102

 

Hand G           Hand H           With Hand G partner opens 1♥ and RHO overcalls 1♠. What do

you do?

♠ K9742          ♠ J852

♥ 9                   ♥ KQ103         With Hand H you open 1♣ and LHO overcalls 1♦ passed to you.

♦ K2                ♦ J                    (a) What do you do? (b) Suppose you double and LHO bids 1♠, 

♣ A10432        ♣ AK53           partner doubles and RHO bids 2♦. What now?

                                             

 

This week’s Bidding Sequences Quiz is on the next page.

 

 

I was asked if I could write something about responding to partner’s take-out double. There is actually already something on the website: Basic bidding ® begin news No 133.

In fact the series (130-134) covers all of the actions by the intruding side and I’ve put a couple of copies of the set in the conventions folder.
Bidding Sequences Quiz            (Advancer is the partner of overcaller).

                   

J      1♣     pass   1NT   2♠          What is the double by opener?

        dbl    

K     1♣     1♦      pass   pass       What is the double by opener?

        dbl    

L      1♣     1♦      pass   pass       What is the double by responder?

        dbl     1♠      dbl    

M    1♠      dbl     2♠                    What is the 2♠ after RHO has doubled?

N     1♠      dbl     3♠                    What is the 3♠ after RHO has doubled?

P      1♠      dbl     4♠                    What is the 4♠ after RHO has doubled?

Q     1♠      dbl     2♠      dbl         What is the double by advancer?

 

 

The Championship Races

 

The current standings for all competitions are in the results folder and on the web.

There are currently 6 members qualified for the gold cup (30 results above 53%): -

 

1                                  Dave Cutler                  1861.5

2                                  Bob Pelletier                 1795.8

3                                  Michael Guin                1759.1

4                                  Bill Noe                        1747.5

5                                  Phil Lovell                     1743.9

6                                  Kenneth Johansson       1739.9

 

The Conventions Folder

There are a number of  conventions written up with copies in the ‘conventions folder’. It’s a red folder that I bring along every session. A few of the conventions (Multi-Landy and Lavinthal) are ‘standard’ in the club. Feel free to take copies of whatever you want.

 

A Reverse Limerick – Ode to John

 

There once was a member named John

who thought he was never wrong.

He was a noisy dude

and so incredibly rude
that the result is that he is long gone.

 

His reverse was four-four

and I’d told him before

that reversing shows strength

and as for the length

the first bid should always be more.

Be wary of the 3-level vulnerable                       Board 3 from Monday 30th  

 

West stuck his vulnerable neck out here and prevented the opponents from bidding a hopeless game.

 

Dealer:             ♠ KJ42                         

South               ♥ Q953                                          West(D)     North(A)    East          South

E-W vul           ♦ J943                                            -                 -                 -               1♣

                        ♣ 4                                                1♠    (1)      1NT (2)      pass         2NT (3)

3♠    (4)      dbl   (5)      all pass

♠ Q987653           N             ♠ 10                        

♥ K                    W    E          ♥ 10842                  

♦ AQ8                   S              ♦ 107                      

♣ A7                                      ♣ QJ10832             

                        ♠ A                                               

♥ AJ76                                         

                        ♦ K652                                         

♣ K965

 

(1)   What did you bid with this West hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? It’s far too good for a weak jump to 2♠ or 3♠. 1♠ is correct.

(2)   What did you bid with this North hand A in this week’s quiz? Should North show his 4 ♥’s with a negative double or should he show his ♠ stop(s) by bidding 1NT? Either is fine so it really boils down to which feature is more important. With ♠’s of this quality I prefer 1NT although I would not argue with double. Pass (going for the penalty when partner re-opens with an ‘automatic’ double) is reasonable but I would prefer more points and/or another ♠.

(3)   This shows about 17-18 points and is a gross overbid.

(4)   What did you bid with this West hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? You should pass because: -

. LHO has freely bid 1NT, showing at least one ♠ stop.

. RHO has shown a very big hand (17-18).

. E-W are vulnerable and N-S not, so you are more likely to get doubled.

. A double by LHO would be for penalties.

. Most of the points are outside the ♠ suit so will be good in defence.

. The singleton ♥K is worthless as declarer but will probably score in defence.

. This particular South is not renowned for his accurate bidding or play. He has already overbid and will not make 2NT, yet alone 3NT.

(5)  North was all set to bid 3NT (he thought partner had 17+ points) when he saw West’s 3♠ bid. A quick glance at the vulnerability was all it needed to pull out the red card instead.

 

And what happened? And what happened? 3♠ went two down for 500 and a clear top for N-S. No N-S pair ended in a sensible ♥ or NoTrump partscore; two N-S’s reached 4♥ (minus two) and there were the usual spurious results.

The bottom lines.

-         When you open and partner bids 1NT, then a raise to 2NT is about 17-18 points.

-         Make a note of all of the reasons stated above as to why 3♠ here is a poor bid.

-         At unfavourable vulnerability, be careful if the opponents have the points.

-         And be especially careful at the three level when opponents have already exchanged information.

We saw on the last deal that this particular South had little idea about bidding. At the end of the session Mike Poustie came up to me and mentioned that there were a lot of strange contracts/results from our table. Clearly Mike and Angela have been away too long and forgotten about the eccentricities of bidding/play at the Pattaya Bridge Club. So here are just a few of the “strange results”. It’s the same N-S for the next eight deals.

 

Strange results – part 1                                       Board 5 from Monday 23rd 

 

This deal is rather similar to the previous one, with West bidding in the ‘sandwich’ seat.

 

Dealer:             ♠ AKJ4                                         

North               ♥ K754                                          West          North         East(C)    South

N-S vul            ♦ 3                                                 -                 1♣             pass (1)    1NT

                        ♣ Q854                                         2♠    (2)      dbl   (3)      pass (4)    pass

pass

♠ Q9652               N             ♠ 7                          

♥ Q8                  W    E          ♥ A1092                 

♦ A842                  S              ♦ J10975                 

♣ 106                                    ♣ KJ7                     

                        ♠ 1083                                          

♥ J63                                                    

                        ♦ KQ6                                          

                        ♣ A932                                         

 

 

(1)   What did you bid with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? A 1♦ overcall looks fine to me, but then there would be no tale to tell.

(2)   This is very dangerous; at the two level with a miserable suit. Even at favourable vulnerability it’s very dangerous as a double by LHO is for penalties (sequence J).

(3)   North had no problem applying the axe.

(4)   E-W have a ♦ fit but it would be foolhardy to try to rescue partner with no known better spot. There really would have been no problem had East overcalled 1♦ initially at (1).

 

And what happened? 2♠ went two down and the resultant 300 was a clear top for N-S as it’s only a partscore deal.

The bottom lines: -

-         Be wary of bidding in the ‘sandwich seat’; especially if RHO has bid 1NT – you are asking to be doubled (for penalties).

Strange results – part 2                                       Board 6 from Monday 23rd 

 

The very next board. This time it’s N-S who got into rather a strange contract – a hopeless 3NT when there is a 5-4 ♥ fit.

 

Dealer:             ♠ K7                                             

East                  ♥ Q865                                          West          North         East          South

E-W vul           ♦ AQ864                                       -                 -                 pass         pass

                        ♣ K6                                             2♥    (1)      pass (2)      2♠    (3)    pass

pass           dbl   (4)      3♠    (5)    pass

♠ AJ863                N             ♠ Q102                    pass           3NT (6)      pass         pass (7)

♥ A3                  W    E          ♥ K9                        pass

♦ J9                        S              ♦ 753                      

♣ J753                                   ♣ AQ1092              

                        ♠ 954                                            

♥ J10742                                              

                        ♦ K102                                         

                        ♣ 84                                             

 

 

(1)   This was some form of multi bid; showing a weak hand with ♠’s and a minor or else some sort of strong hand I believe. It looks a bit strong for a ‘weak’ bid to me; I would open 1♠.

(2)   North decided to wait and see. A double now might confuse partner.

(3)   Saying that East is quite happy to play in 2♠ if West has the weak hand type.

(4)   So it’s confirmed that West has a weak hand with ♠’s and so North made a perhaps ambitious take-out double.

(5)   Upping the ante.

(6)   Both East and West appeared to be bidding with weak hands so North assumed that his partner had something, so he chose to bid 3NT.

(7)   Partner has doubled an effective 2♠ bid for take-out and with 5 ♥’s South should obviously bid 4♥. But he was “confused” by West opening 2♥, despite the fact that it was very clearly explained to him that West had a weak hand with 5 ♠’s and a minor suit.

 

And what happened? 3NT went three down for a quiet 150 away for slightly above average for N-S as some E-W’s were making 170 or 200 in a ♠ contract.

The bottom lines: -

-         If the opponents play a strange system and you ask what the bids mean, then listen?

 

Strange results – part 3                                       Board 11 from Monday 23rd 

 

Our same N-S pair blundered into a decent 4-3 fit on this deal.

 

Dealer:             ♠ Q52                                           

South               ♥ 53                                               West          North         East          South

Love all            ♦ AQ65                                         -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ K642                                         1NT           pass           pass         2♣   (1) 

pass           2♠              all pass    

♠ K10                   N             ♠ 8763                    

♥ AQ2               W    E          ♥ 10976                  

♦ K84                    S              ♦ J10                  (1)  both majors (should be 9 or 10 cards)

♣ A8753                                ♣ J109                    

                        ♠ AJ94                                     And what happened? 2♠ made exactly for an

♥ KJ84                                    absolute top to N-S as most E-W’s scored

♦ 9732                                     anything from 90 to 150 playing in No Trumps.

                        ♣ Q                                              

 

 

 

 

Strange results – part 4                                       Board 15 from Monday 23rd 

 

This time we have South raising partner’s weak Unusual NoTrump to 3NT with a nine count.

 

Dealer:             ♠ 10                                              

South               ♥ 98                                               West          North         East          South

N-S vul            ♦ A9854                                        -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ AK865                                       1♠              2NT (1)      pass         3NT (2) 

all pass                        

♠ AJ8764              N             ♠ 93                        

♥ AK103           W    E          ♥ QJ742            (1)  A trifle strong for the unusual NoTrump, but

♦ QJ                       S              ♦ 106                       opposite this South it always helps to have

♣ 2                                        ♣ Q1093                 a little in reserve.

                        ♠ KQ42                                   (2)  Apparently having no idea what 2NT meant.

♥ 65                                        

♦ K732                                    And what happened? For some strange reason

♣ J74                                       East led the ♣3. Dummy’s ♣J won and another

                                                ♣ revealed the bad split there. So declarer ran the

♦’s and E-W both threw their ♥’s. Declarer then made the contract with 3 ♣’s, 5 ♦’s and one ♠.

Needless to say, 3NT making by North was a complete top. And what happened at the sensible tables? Most E-W’s were scoring anything from 140 to 450 in sensible ♥ contracts.

 

Strange results – part 5                                       Board 18 from Monday 23rd 

 

Here we have our same South passing a take-out (Responsive) double with a void in trumps.

 

Dealer:             ♠ J76                                             Table A

East                  ♥ K87                                            West          North         East          South(E)

N-S vul            ♦ J643                                            -                 -                 1♠            dbl   (1)

                        ♣ AJ5                                            2♠    (2)      dbl   (3)      pass         pass (4) 

pass                  

♠ A10984             N             ♠ KQ532                

♥ Q2                  W    E          ♥ J96                       ‘Expert’ Table

♦ 72                       S              ♦ AQ                      West          North         East          South(E)

♣ 10976                                ♣ Q83                     -                 -                 1♠            2♥    (1)

                        ♠ -                                                 3♠    (5)      4♥    (6)      pass         pass

♥ A10543                                      4♠    (7)      pass           pass         5♥

♦ K10985                                     all pass

♣ K42                                    

         

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this South hand E in this week’s quiz? How many times have I said not to double with two suited hands? Double is a terrible bid here as you may well miss a 5-3 ♥ fit. A Michaels cue bid (2♠ to show ♥’s and a minor) is a possibility if you play them this strong (it’s not my style).

(2)   3♠, or even 4♠ is to be preferred; but not against this South!

(3)   A responsive double. North cannot bid ♥’s as South has shown four at most and will be forced on a ♠ lead. This double asks South to bid his best suit.

(4)   Let’s get another absurd contract onto the score sheet. The news-sheet next week (i.e. this one) should be interesting.

Sensible      (1)  This sensible South simply overcalled 2♥, with the intention of bidding ♦’s later if

Table                necessary.

(5)   The value bid. 4♠ is better if you play that as a weak hand (you should do).

(6)   Obviously it’s much easier for North knowing that there are 5 ♥’s opposite.

(7)   Perhaps I should have bid this last go?

 

And what happened? 2♠ doubled made +1 for a top to E-W. South then tried to blame North, saying “my double shows ♥’s so why did you double”. I shan’t print what I (North) said.

The bottom lines: -

-         Don’t “do a Chuck”. For those who don’t know, that is immediately after the hand is over blame partner for your mistakes. Chuck was the undoubted master at it.

-         Sequence Q is called a responsive double and asks partner to bid his best suit.

-         Do NOT NOT not not double 1♠ with 5 ♥’s. If you have a 5 card major, then bid it!

-         A double of 1♠ generally shows four ♥’s (or a very good three).

Strange results – part 6                                       Board 22 from Monday 23rd 

 

Here we have a poor 3NT making when the opponents have 5 ♥ tricks off the top.

 

Dealer:             ♠ Q108                                          Table A

East                  ♥ 8743                                           West          North         East(B)     South(F)

E-W vul           ♦ 4                                                 -                 -                 pass         pass

                        ♣ J8763                                         1NT (1)      pass           2♥            pass (2) 

2♠              pass           3NT (3)    all pass  

♠ AJ                      N             ♠ K9764                 

♥ Q6                  W    E          ♥ J2                         ‘Expert’ Table

♦ AQ10975           S              ♦ KJ83                     West          North         East          South

♣ A94                                    ♣ Q5                       -                 -                 pass         pass

                        ♠ 532                                             1NT (1)      pass           2♥            dbl   (2)

♥ AK1095                                     pass (4)      pass           3♦    (5)    pass

♦ 62                                              4♣   (6)      pass           4♠    (7)    all pass

♣ K102                                         5♦              all pass

Table A:     (1)  I have no problem with opening 1NT with a 6 card minor and honours (at least Qx) in all of the outside suits but I think that this hand is far too strong. I would open 1♦ with a view to jumping to 3♦ next go.

(2)   What did you bid with this South hand F in this week’s quiz? A double of a transfer bid shows that suit and double is totally obvious.

(3)   What did you bid with this East hand B in this week’s quiz? With a decent 2nd suit I prefer a (game forcing) 3♦. This does not particularly invite a minor suit game but warns partner about the shortage in the other two suits.

‘Expert’      (1)  Let’s suppose that this West also opens the off-beat 1NT.

 Table         (2)  South finds the double to show ♥’s.

(4)   It’s best to play that pass shows two of the transfer suit and that completing the transfer shows three (or four but not good enough to super accept).

(5)   East correctly shows his 2nd suit.

(6)   West obviously wants to play in ♦’s, but East is unlimited and there may be slam so he cue bids his ♣A.

(7)   Pass or correct. East has no slam ambitions but is unsure about the trump suit.

 

And what happened? At Table A North had to find a lead against 3NT. With scant values himself he led the ♦4 in the hope of finding partner’s suit. Unfortunately it was declarer’s suit and West quickly claimed 9 tricks.

And what happened at sensible tables? One other pair bid to 3NT going one down. Two pairs bid sensibly to 5♦ and also scored 600 and the rest were in partscores.

The bottom lines: -

-         A double of a transfer bid (or of Stayman) shows the suit bid and asks partner to lead that suit should opener end up as declarer.

-         AK1095 is certainly a good enough suit to want to it led.

 

 

 

Strange results – part 7                                       Board 9 from Monday 23rd 

 

Here we have our dynamic N-S pair playing in a 4-2 fit.

 

Dealer:             ♠ 1042                                           West          North         East          South

North               ♥ K4                                              -                 pass           1♦            pass

E-W vul           ♦ J109                                            1♠              pass (1)      1NT         pass

♣ KQ863                                      pass           2♣   (2)      pass         pass

dbl             pass           pass         2♥    (3)

♠ 8763                  N             ♠ K95                      dbl             all pass

♥ A103              W    E          ♥ QJ87                   

♦ 4                         S              ♦ AK83             (1)  North has nowhere near the values to bid

♣ AJ974                                ♣ 52                        in the sandwich seat.

                        ♠ AQJ                                      (2)  But now, with both opponents limited,

♥ 9652                                           a protective bid is acceptable.

                        ♦ Q7652                                  (3)  If South had paused to think he would realise

                        ♣10                                               that North cannot have more than 3 ♥’s as he

would have doubled instead of bidding 2♣.

 

And what happened? 2♥ went two down and 300 was a top for E-W. 2♣ was a far better contract. The bottom lines: -

-         4-2 fits do not play well.

 

Strange results – part 8                                       Board 2 from Monday 23rd 

 

We finally come to the last of the ‘strange results’ that Mike and Angels commented upon. This time we have a 5♠ phantom sacrifice that should make just 9 tricks making 11 tricks.

 

Dealer:             ♠ J                                                 West          North         East          South

East                  ♥ 10432                                         -                 -                 3♠            4♥

N-S vul            ♦ KJ10875                                     4♠              5♥              5♠    (1)    pass

♣ Q2                                             pass           dbl             all pass

 

♠ AK3                  N             ♠ 10876542            

♥ Q5                  W    E          ♥ AJ                       

♦ 632                     S              ♦ A9                  (1)  One should never bid again having pre-empted

♣ 107654                              ♣ J8                         and this example is especially bad with a very

                        ♠ Q9                                              poor suit and two defensive tricks

♥ K9876                                       

♦ Q4                                            

♣ AK93          

Anyway, this time it’s not the bidding but the play. How on earth can East make 11 tricks?

South led the ♣A upon which North played the ♣Q. For some strange reason South took this as a signal for a ♥ switch and led the ♥K. Declarer still must lose a ♦ and a ♣ to go one down of course but when South eventually got in with his ♦Q he led the ♣3 and declarer’s bare ♣J scored.

 

The bottom lines: -

-     I have nothing more to say. I could mention a couple more hands but nine really is enough from one session isn’t it? I will not recover from Monday for months.

Negative Doubles – part 1                                  Board 24 from Friday 27th

 

A recurring topic.

 

Dealer:             ♠ 6                                                 Table A

West                ♥ 10762                                         West(G)     North         East          South

Love all            ♦ QJ3                                             pass           pass           1♥            1♠

                        ♣ KQ865                                      1NT (1)      all pass      

 

♠ K9742               N             ♠ J10                       ‘Expert’ Table

♥ 9                     W    E          ♥ AKJ54                 West(G)     North         East          South

♦ K2                      S              ♦ A964                    pass           pass           1♥            1♠

♣ A10432                              ♣ J9                         pass (1)      pass           dbl   (2)    pass

                        ♠ AQ853                                       pass           2♣   (3)      pass (4)    pass

♥ Q83                                            dbl   (3)      all pass      

♦ 10875                                       

♣ 7     

 Table A:    (1)  What did you bid with this West hand G in this week’s quiz? It’s best to go for the penalty as our experts do.

‘Expert’      (1)  West’s best action is to ‘double’ 1♠ for penalties. Playing Negative Doubles this

 Table               is achieved by passing and then passing partner’s ‘automatic’ re-opening double.

(2)   ‘Automatic’.

(3)   N-S are in for a hiding whether North attempts to run or not.

(4)   Forcing. If West cannot double 2♣ for penalties then he must bid.

(5)   West is very happy to double 2♣ for penalties.

 

And what happened? I imagine that the bidding started   pass, pass, 1♥, 1♠   at most tables yet E-W did not defend a doubled contract at any table. Despite my continually writing about the topic it appears that almost everybody either does not know how to or does not wish to take the penalty. As it happened 1NT at Table A scored a near top as most E-W’s were going down in 2NT or 3NT. Getting 800 or 1100 for a penalty is much better than bidding a dubious NoTrump game.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         When partner opens and RHO overcalls in a suit in which you have length/strength, then go for the penalty. This is especially true if you are short in partner’s suit or if you have 10-11 points when game is by no means certain.

-         With length/strength in RHO’s overcalled suit, pass and await partner’s ‘automatic’ re-opening double.

-         Remember the automatic re-opening double. When you open, RHO overcalls and this is passed back to you then it is virtually always best to ‘re-open’ with a double if you play negative doubles.

-         There are a few rare exceptions when you should not, and they are on the web-site in the conventions section under Negative Doubles.

-         I have updated this Negative Double page to say more about when you should make the ‘automatic’ re-opening double and the rare occasions when you should do something else.

 

 

Negative Doubles – part 2                                  Board 7 from Friday 27th

 

You do not miss your penalties when playing negative doubles. In fact, as I have often stated in the news-sheets, you sometimes get them one or two levels higher: -

 

Dealer:             ♠ AQ107                                      

South               ♥ 162                                             West(H)     North         East          South

Both vul            ♦ KQ965                                       -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ 74                                              1♣             1♦              pass (1)    pass

dbl   (2)      1♠              dbl   (3)    2♦    (4)

♠ J852                  N             ♠ 643                       2♥    (5)      3♦  (6)        dbl   (7)    all pass

♥ KQ103           W    E          ♥ AJ7                     

♦ J                          S              ♦ A1082                 

♣ AK53                                 ♣ Q82                    

                        ♠ K9                                       

♥ 9854                                                  

♦ 743                                           

♣ J1096

Two people didn’t understand what was going on in this ‘negative double’ auction: -

(1)   With 11 points and decent ♦’s, East decided to go for the vulnerable penalty rather that hope for a game contract.

(2)   What did you bid with this West hand H(a) in this week’s quiz? I think that the ‘automatic double’ is correct.

(3)   Now this is penalties. Since East did not bid on the first round but finds a double now then that indicates that he has a ♦ penalty hand and is prepared to defend 1♠ doubled.

(4)   South quite sensibly gave preference.

(5)   What did you bid with this West hand H(b) in this week’s quiz? This West fell from grace here. Partner is in doubling mode and West should simply pass.

(6)   Fortunately (for E-W) North did not understand what was going on either. He has been let off the hook but jumped right back onto a bigger one. His reasoning at the table was that South had supported ♦’s. That is not so; South simply gave preference to ♦’s over ♠’s and the only person who has shown ♦’s in this auction is East!

(7)   I was after a minnow and now I’ve caught a whale.

 

And what happened? 3♦ doubled went for 800. 3NT was bid at some other tables, some making and some going off. 2♦ doubled would have been just above average for E-W.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         Understand negative double auctions.

-         When you overcall and LHO passes and so does partner then be wary. LHO may well have a penalty hand sitting over you. And if he subsequently doubles a bid (it’s for penalties) then he most certainly has.

-     Do not bid when partner is in doubling mode.
Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:    1NT or double (negative). Unfortunately you cannot show both your 4 card ♥ suit and your great ♠ stops. I prefer 1NT but I won’t argue with double. Another reasonable option is to pass and go for the penalty when partner re-opens with a double; but I would prefer more points and/or another ♠.

Hand B:    3♦. Show the 2nd suit, game forcing. This is much better than 3NT not because you wish to play in 5♦ (unlikely) but it warns partner about the shortage/weakness in the other two suits. Partner will then bid 4♠ with three ♠’s or a good doubleton if he does not have both of the other suits well covered. And (very rarely) 5♦ may be the best spot.

Hand C:    1♦. With a shapely 9 count pass is very feeble.

Hand D:    (a)  1♠. It’s far too good for a pre-emptive 2♠ or 3♠.

(b)  Pass. You a re vulnerable against not, RHO has advertised 17+ points and LHO has 6+ with at least one ♠ stop. If you bid 3♠ then LHO will double (penalties) and you will go for a number.

Hand E:    2♥. Do not double with two suiters. Do not double 1♠ with five ♥’s. Simple. An alternative approach is to bid 2♠ (Michaels) showing ♥’s and a minor if you play them this strong (it is not my personal style).

Hand F:     Double. Apart from showing decent ♥’s, this asks partner to lead a ♥ if opener ends up as declarer.

Hand G:    Pass (playing negative doubles) and later pass partner’s expected re-opening double. 1NT or 2NT are very poor alternatives.

Hand H:    (a)  Double. ‘Automatic’ when playing negative doubles.

(b)  Pass (or double). Partner has a decent hand with good ♦’s. Any other bid (like 2♥) lets the opponents off the hook.

 

Bidding Sequence Answers

                 

J      1♣     pass   1NT   2♠          The double by opener is penalties. It most certainly is not some

        dbl                                       sort of take-out for a red suit which partner has denied.

K     1♣     1♦      pass   pass       The double by opener is ‘automatic’. Simply saying that he has

dbl                                       a normal sound opener in case partner wants to pass for penalties.    

L      1♣     1♦      pass   pass       The double by responder is penalties. He has a good ♦ holding.

        dbl     1♠      dbl                   and something in ♠’s with a decent number of points.

M    1♠      dbl     2♠                    2♠ after RHO has doubled may be very weak.

N     1♠      dbl     3♠                    3♠ after RHO has doubled is weak with 4 ♠’s.

P      1♠      dbl     4♠                    4♠ after RHO has doubled is generally weak and pre-emptive.

Q     1♠      dbl     2♠      dbl         The double by advancer asks partner to bid his best suit. It is called a Responsive double but it’s common sense really.