Club News Sheet – No. 237 www.pattayabridge.com 20^th May 2007

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 086 6089887

It is best to use my home number to contact me unless I am at the bridge club.

Mon 14^th 1^st Albert & Dennis 67% 2^nd Bengt & Janne 65%

Wed 16^th 1^st Phil & Kenneth 60% 2^nd Paul Sc & Sean = Bob & Jo 52%

Fri 18^th 1^st Paul Sc & Gene 64% 2^nd Dave & Hugh 60%

	to news-sheet main page
	to Pattaya Bridge home page
		to bridge conventions	to No Trump bidding

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A RHO opens a weak 2♦, what do you bid?

♠ AK987 ♠ J2 With Hand B you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♠,

♥ AJ ♥ AK102 (a) What do you bid?

♦ J2 ♦ J10 (b) Suppose you choose 2♥ and partner bids 2♠, what now?

♣ KJ32 ♣ AQ983

Hand C Hand D What do you open with Hand C?

♠ AQJ54 ♠ 10432

♥ K42 ♥ KQ92 With Hand D partner opens 1♠ and RHO doubles, what

♦ AK ♦ AQ7 do you bid?

♣ A52 ♣ 82

Hand E Hand F With Hand E partner opens 2NT, what do you bid?

♠ 10632 ♠ K6

♥ J75 ♥ Q87 With Hand F partner opens a weak 2♦ and RHO overcalls 2♥,

♦ 8764 ♦ 2 what do you bid?

♣ K4 ♣ AKQJ875

Hand G Hand H With Hand G partner opens 1♣ and you respond 1♥. Partner

then bids 1♠, what do you bid?

♠ J7 ♠ KQ

♥ AQ9632 ♥ AQ9632 With Hand H it’s the same sequence, partner opens 1♣ and you

♦ Q987 ♦ K987 respond 1♥. Partner then bids 1♠, what do you bid?

♣ 3 ♣ 3

Hand J Hand K With Hand J you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♠, what

do you bid?

♠ Q764 ♠ K1064

♥ J ♥ AK932

♦ AK ♦ - With Hand K you open 1♥ and partner responds 1♠, what

♣ A87432 ♣ AQJ7 do you bid?

Bidding Sequences Quiz All of these sequences occurred this week

L 1♠ pass 2♦ Is 3♠ invitational or forcing?

3♠

M 1♦ pass 1♠ Is 3♠ invitational or forcing?

3♠

N 1♦ pass 1♠ Is 4♠ shut-out or strong?

4♠

P 1♠ dbl 4♠ Is 4♠ shut-out or strong?

Q 1♠ dbl redbl What is redouble?

R 1♠ dbl 2NT What is 2NT?

S 1♣ pass 1♠ 2♥ is a reverse (forcing), is 2♠ forcing. I.e. does reverser

2♥ pass 2♠ promise another bid?

T 1♣ pass 1♥ 3♥ is strong, generally with a 6 card ♥ suit, but is it forcing?

1♠ pass 3♥

U 1♣ pass 1♥ 2♦ is 4^th suit forcing and 2NT promises a ♦ stop;

1♠ pass 2♦ 3♥ is strong, generally with a 6 card ♥ suit, but is it forcing?

2NT pass 3♥

The Club Championships

I have calculated the club 2007 championship standings to date and they are in the results folder and on the web. Note that all competitions, including individuals, now count towards the club championships. Nobody has yet qualified (30 results) for the Gold cup; the top 5 for the silver and bronze are currently: -

Silver plate = Best 10 Bronze medal = Best 5

650.4 Janne Roos 337.3 Janne Roos

634.5 Lars Gustaffson 336.2 Bengt Malmgren

627.1 Gunnar Barthel 332.9 Paul Savelkral

626.7 Bengt Malmgren 325.6 Gunnar Barthel

625.8 Paul Savelkral 325.6 Lars Gustafsson

Too high after a reverse Board 14 from Monday 14^th

Every E-W pair got too high on this board.

Dealer: ♠ A95 Table A

East ♥ J8 West North East(B) South

Love all ♦ 862 - - 1♣ (1) pass (2)

♣ J10654 1♠ pass 2♥ (3) pass

2♠ (4) pass 2NT (5) pass

♠ Q87643 N ♠ J2 3♥ (6) all pass

♥ Q76 W E ♥ AK102

♦ K73 S ♦ J10 Table B

♣ J7 ♣ AQ983 West North East(B) South

♠ K10 - - 1♣ (1) 1♦ (2)

♥ 9543 1♠ pass 2♣ (7) pass

♦ AQ954 2♠ pass 3♦ (8) pass

♣ K2 3♥ (9) all pass

Table A: (1) This is best, 1NT is not a sensible option with two weak doubletons.

(2) Looks like a fairly routine 2♦ overcall to me.

(3) What did you bid with this East hand B(a) in this week’s quiz? It’s just about worth a reverse into 2♥. The two long suits are good and it has tolerance for partner’s ♠’s.

(4) This is fairly clear, showing a weak hand with six ♠’s.

(5) What did you bid with this East hand B(a) in this week’s quiz? I can see no reason for East to bid on, he has already shown around 15-18 points with 5 ♦’s and 4♥’s and is minimum with reasonable support.

(6) Whatever West does now does not matter – they’ve gone past 2♠.

Table B: (2) South sensibly decided to overcall here.

(7) I would ignore the overcall and still reverse into 2♥. This 2♣ bid does not show the strength or shape oh the hand.

(8) And for some reason East decides to press on; partner’s two ♠ bids have not improved this hand and pass is clear.

(9) If I was West I would take partner for a bigger hand and with a maximum for West’s bidding so far I would bid 3NT (and go even more down).

And what happened? Nobody stopped in 2♠. 4♠-1 was bid three times and 3♥ went two down.

The bottom lines: -

- 6-2 fits play better than 4-3 fits.

- Sequence S (1♣ - 1♠ - 2♥ - 2♠) is non-forcing.

- When you have reversed, you have said your hand unless you have significant extras. This East hand is barely worth a reverse and most certainly does not have extras.

- There is a section on the reverse on the web-site (conventions > Section 1 > The Reverse)

- Finally, a recurring theme – stay low with mis-fits; East knows it’s at best a 6-2 ♠ fit and so he should settle for 2♠.

Overcall or double? Board 8 from Monday 14^th

Most N-S pairs again got too high on this board.

Dealer: ♠ Q105 Table A

West ♥ Q9853 West North East South(A)

Love all ♦ Q75 pass pass 2♦ dbl (1)

♣ 108 pass 2♥ pass 2♠ (2)

pass 4♠ (3) all pass

♠ 642 N ♠ J3

♥ K10642 W E ♥ 7 Table B

♦ A9 S ♦ K108643 West North East South(A)

♣ Q75 ♣ A964 2♥ (4) pass pass dbl (5)

♠ AK987 pass 2NT (6) pass 3♠ (7)

♥ AJ pass pass (8) all pass

♦ J2

♣ KJ32 Table C

West North East South(A)

pass pass 2♦ 2♠ (1)

all pass

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand A in this week’s quiz? I simply cannot understand why people want to double (despite my continual writings) and thus propel themselves into unmakeable games, when they can describe their hand perfectly with a 2♠ overcall

(2) 2♠ now, having previously doubled, shows a hand too good for an immediate 2♠ overcall.

(3) And North, quite correctly, bid the hopeless 4♠.

Table B: (4) This West chose a somewhat off-beat 2♥ opener.

(5) But it mattered not to this South, who also doubled instead of bidding the obvious 2♠.

(6) With 8 points and ♥ stops, 2NT is clear here, with pass an alternative.

(7) And this South also said that he had a huge ♠ hand, which he does not.

(8) I would automatically bid 4♠ here. Perhaps that explains why I often get scores of 30% - I foolishly(?) believe my partner’s bids and bid correctly myself.

Table C: (1) Finally somebody got it right. Well done Hugh (I believe Hugh was South at table C); it seems that Hugh’s bidding has evolved from the level of ‘double with any opening hand’. Good show; maybe my continual writings do actually have some effect?

And what happened? 2♠ is the best spot and should make exactly. 4♠ went two down, serves South at Table A right.

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t double when you have a 5 card major (simply overcall) unless VERY strong.

- Do not double “to show an opening hand” when you have a better alternative.

- Double followed by a bid shows a very strong hand.

Never deny a 4 card major Board 2 from Monday 14^th

Same old story, the ♠ fit (this time 5-4) got 2 more tricks than No trumps.

Dealer: ♠ 87 Table A

East ♥ Q108 West North East(C) South

N-S vul ♦ QJ105 - - 1♠ (1) pass

♣ Q1073 pass (2) pass

♠ 10632 N ♠ AQJ54 Table B

♥ J75 W E ♥ K42 West(D) North East(C) South

♦ 8764 S ♦ AK - - 2NT (1) pass

♣ K4 ♣ A52 3NT (3) all pass

♠ K9

♥ A963 Table C

♦ 932 West(D) North East(C) South

♣ J986 - - 2NT (1) pass

3♣ (3) pass 3♠ pass

4♠ all pass

Table A: (1) What did you open with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? It’s a good 21 points and 1♠ simply is not good enough – it may get passed out with an easy game on. 2NT is fine with a 5 card major.

(2) I would bid 2♠, but that’s no defense for East’s poor opening.

Table B: (1) Most East’s opened the sensible 2NT.

(3) What did you bid with this West hand D in this week’s quiz? Never deny a 4 card major; even though the ♠’s are 10xxx, 3NT is a terrible bid.

Table C: (1,3) This East-west pair got it right, the 2NT opening is correct, 3♣ was standard Stayman and they arrived at the top spot.

And what happened? 4♠ was only bid only once and so scored an outright top. 1♠ was not quite a bottom because one E-W pair somehow landed up in a silly 4NT minus one. According to deep Finesse, 4♠ makes exactly and 3NT goes minus one.

The bottom lines: -

- Never deny a 4 card major.

- Even if you are one of the quaint old-fashioned players who will not open 1NT with a 5-card major, a 2NT opening most certainly may contain a 5 card major - what other sensible opening is there with this East hand C?

- In fact, because 2NT very often contains a good 5 card major, there is a convention that enables responder to search for both a possible 5-3 major suit fit as well as a 4-4 fit. It’s called Puppet Stayman and enables all 4-4 and 5-3 major suit fits to be found after a 2NT opening. It’s part of the Niemeijer complex (very popular in Holland) and is written up on the web site.

Left in the Dark Board 17 from Monday 14^th

North was criticised for making an unnecessary sacrifice on this board at Table A – but he has my sympathies – his partner left him in the dark

Dealer: ♠ AKJ765 Table A

North ♥ - West North East South(D)

Love all ♦ J9865 - 1♠ dbl 4♠ (1)

♣ Q9 5♥ (2) 5♠ (3) pass pass (4)

pass

♠ Q9 N ♠ 8

♥ J10753 W E ♥ A864 Table B

♦ 4 S ♦ K1032 West North East South(D)

♣ J7643 ♣ AK105 - 1♠ dbl redbl (1)

♠ 10432 2♥ 2♠ 3♥ dbl (5)

♥ KQ92 pass 3♠ (6) 4♥ 4♠ (7)

♦ AQ7 all pass

♣ 82

‘Expert’ Table

West North East South(D)

- 1♠ dbl 2NT (1)

4♥ (8) 4♠ pass (9) all pass

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand D in this week’s quiz? This 4♠ bid is incorrect as it shows a weak pre-emptive hand with usually 5 ♠’s.

(2) It’s only 4 points but I too would bid 5♥ – assuming that partner’s double guarantees ♥’s or else a very strong hand.

(3) I was asked about this bid – South was unhappy because he wanted to double 5♥. The problem is all of South’s making – his poor bid at (1). I too would bid 5♠ with this North hand – I expect the opponents to make 11 or more tricks in ♥’s.

(4) South was unhappy, but it’s his own fault in my opinion.

Table B: (1) This South chose a much better bid for question (D), but it’s not the best bid.

Redouble here shows 10+ points and is obviously far better than 4♠.

(5) Penalties – dubious with E-W freely bidding and agreeing ♥’s and with 4 card support for partner’s 5+ card suit.

(6) Luckily for South, North pulled the double.

(7) It’s one level higher now, but South sensibly decided (somewhat belatedly) to show his ♠ support rather than doubling again.

Table C: (1) This is the best answer to question (D) – the Jordan 2NT showing a sound raise to 3♠ or better.

(8) A good pre-emptive bid.

(9) North can confidently bid 4♠.

(10) East could bid 5♥ but then South would be able to double for penalties.

And what happened? 4♠ was bid and made exactly at two tables (420), bid and doubled at a third (590). 5♠ went one down (-100) and 5♥ doubled would have gone for 500.

The bottom lines: -

- A direct raise to 4 of partner’s 1♥/♠ opening is weak; especially after a double.

Setting up a game force using the 4^th suit Board 25 from Wednesday 16^th

Just one pair reached the excellent 3NT on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ J8743 West(H) North East South

North ♥ K105 - pass 1♣ (1) pass

E-W vul ♦ J3 1♥ pass 1♠ pass

♣ Q84 2♦ (2) pass 2NT pass

3♥ (3) pass 3NT (4) all pass

♠ KQ N ♠ A952

♥ AQ9632 W E ♥ J (1) I prefer this to 1♦.

♦ K987 S ♦ Q1065 (2) What did you bid with this West hand H in

♣ 3 ♣ AJ97 in this weeks quiz? 3♥ is incorrect as it is

♠ 106 not forcing (and East would certainly pass!).

♥ 874 (3) This is now game forcing (having used 4^th suit)

♦ A42 (4) East begrudgingly bid game.

♣ K10652

And what happened? This was the only E-W pair to reach 3NT, making +1. Other contracts were the lower-scoring 5♦ making exactly and 2♦+1.

The bottom lines: -

- Sequence T (1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 3♥) is not forcing.

- The way to make it forcing is to bid the 4^th suit first (so sequence U).

Dave’s Column Here is this week’s Dave input involving the best play for the contract.

North South You reach a reasonable 3NT by South on the this deal, with

♠ AJ ♠ Q973 no opposition bidding, and West leads the ♠2

♥ Q ♥ AJ103 (a) Which ♠ do you play from dummy and (b) which red suit

♦ J10865 ♦ Q2 do you attack when you get the lead?

♣ AKQJ2 ♣ 874

Dave’s Column answer

Which suit to attack in No trumps? Board 23 from Wednesday 16^th

Dealer: ♠ AJ West North East South

South ♥ Q - - - pass

Both vul ♦ J10865 pass 1♦ pass 1♥

♣ AKQJ2 pass 3♣ pass 3NT

all pass

♠ 10862 N ♠ K54

♥ K752 W E ♥ 9864 The bidding seems straight forward and

♦ K3 S ♦ A974 Dave put this in as a play problem in 3NT.

♣ 1065 ♣ 93 This is, however, Pattaya bridge club and no

♠ Q973 matter how obvious it is we always get a good

♥ AJ103 number not playing in the predestined contract.

♦ Q2 This time the board was played just 3 times

♣ 874 and the other contracts were 6NT and 3♣.

I have no idea how two-thirds of the Pattaya bridge club can get into these two ridiculous contracts at either extreme, so let’s just get onto the play in the sensible 3NT.

You get a small ♠ lead, where do you win and which red suit do you attack?

The best play, I believe, is to take the ♠A at trick one and immediately lead the ♥Q. This is better than attacking ♦’s because (i) the ♦’s may not split, and (ii) You very likely have 10 tricks (3 ♥’s, 2 ♠’s and 5 ♣’s) without needing to touch the ♦’s.

Dave did not give me the analysis of this deal - he just told me that he had put it in after I had played it and to have a look at the play. He added that it’s correct to play the ♠A at trick one because otherwise you may have entry problems to the South hand. I believe that the two experts in Dave’s book went down when they played the ♠J at trick one and a ♠ was returned. East later got in with the ♦ ace and so E-W scored two ♠’s, two ♦’s and one ♥ for one down.

At the one sensible table in the Pattaya bridge Club where N-S were actually in 3NT declarer won the ♠A and led the ♥Q which West won. A ♠ was led to East’s ♠K and a ♠ returned. Declarer won with the ♠Q and cashed his ♥’s and ♣’s. Declarer thus made 2 ♠’s, 3 ♥’s and 5 ♣’s for +1.

And what happens if West ducks the ♥Q at trick two? I think that declarer can scramble 9 tricks before E-W get their 5 – he has won the ♠A and the ♥Q and has 5 ♣ tricks to come, he must surely also get another ♠ and either a ♦ or the ♥A before the opponents get their 5 tricks. I would have switched to a ♦ had the ♥Q held.

So my answers are (a) the ♠A and (b) ♥’s.

With a long solid minor, think NoTrumps – part 1 Board 14 from Wednesday 16^th

Just one pair reached the excellent 6NT on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ K7532 Table A

East ♥ 752 West North East South

Love all ♦ 10532 - - 1♥ pass

♣ 10 2♦ (1) pass 3♣ (2) pass

6NT (3) all pass

♠ Q N ♠ AJ8

♥ A83 W E ♥ KQJ104 ‘Expert’ Table

♦ AKQJ76 S ♦ - West North East South

♣ A84 ♣ Q9762 - - 1♥ pass

♠ 10964 2NT (1) pass 3♦ (4) pass

♥ 96 4NT (5) pass 5♠ pass

♦ 984 7NT (6) all pass

♣ KJ53

Table A: (1) With just 3 trumps a splinter is not recommended, and lacking more sophisticated methods for the partnership, West simply bid 2♦, game forcing playing 2/1.

(2) Expert opinion differs as to whether this should show extra values when playing 2/1 (the auction is already game forcing). My opinion is that it should not and I agree with the bid – bid out your shape.

(3) But here we see the problem with West not having a forcing ♥ raise available

at (1) – he cannot ask for keycards with ♥’s as ‘trumps’ so he simply went for

the high scoring 6NT rather than 6♥.

‘Expert’ (1) Our experts play Jacoby 2NT of course, and although West is not sure that ♥’s

Table is going to be the final strain he wants to set ♥’s as trumps (temporarily) in a game forcing sequence before finding out more about partner’s hand.

(4) Showing a ♦ shortage (singleton or void). East could bid 4♣ to show a 5 card ♣ suit but this ♣ suit is rather anemic.

(5) RKCB with ♥’s as trumps.

(6) Two keycards plus the ♥Q. East actually had a choice here, he could have bid 5NT to show 2 keycards and a ♦ void, but having already shown ♦ shortage it’s best to show the trump queen.

(7) West can be pretty sure of 5 ♥’s, 6 ♦’s, 1♣ and 1♠ and so bids the grand; at teams scoring 7♥ may be better as the contract may still come home if the ♦’s don’t behave.

And what happened? The board was played 3 times; two pairs bid 6♥+1 and 6NT+1 scored a top.

The bottom lines: -

- More experienced players really should play the Jacoby 2NT convention.

- It’s virtually always best to play in a major suit 4-4 fit, but a 5-3 fit is different. With all suits well stopped a No Trump contract may well be better, especially at pairs scoring.

With a long solid minor – think NoTrumps – part 2 Board 22 from Friday 18^th

Just two pairs out of five reached the excellent 3NT on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ K6 West North(F) East South

East ♥ Q87 - - pass 2♦

E-W vul ♦ 2 2♥ 3NT (1) all pass

♣ AKQJ875

(1) What did you bid with this North hand F in

♠ A102 N ♠ QJ874 this week’s quiz? With a long solid minor

♥ A5432 W E ♥ K10 and a probable ♥ stop you should not just

♦ Q4 S ♦ K875 ‘think’ 3NT – you should bid it!

♣ 1093 ♣ 64

♠ 953

♥ J96

♦ AJ10963

♣ 2

And what happened? 3NT was bid at two tables and made exactly. There were the usual couple of players who insist upon playing in their minor and 3♣ made exactly and 4♣ went one down. One E-W pair were allowed to find 4♠ and that went just two down for an average score.

The bottom lines: -

- With a long solid minor and a (probable) stop in the opponent’s suit, bid 3NT.

- Note that the 3NT bid at (1) stops E-W finding their ♠ fit.

Leading Quiz

♠ QJ9 West North East South You are North, what do you lead?

♥ 1073 - - pass pass Answer next page

♦ 532 1♠ pass 1NT pass

♣ A1082 2♠ all pass

Follow Partner’s lead? Board 2 from Friday 18^th

Bob’s sister apparently follows our news-sheets in America and asked if I could include more on defence. I generally concentrate on the bidding and Dave’s column is usually about declarer play. Why no defence? Well, maybe it’s because I’m not that good a defender, or maybe because it takes a lot of time to write up. But I did notice this appalling defense on Friday, so here goes: -

Dealer: ♠ QJ9 West North East South

East ♥ 1073 - - pass pass

N-S vul ♦ 532 1♠ pass 1NT pass

♣ A1082 DUMMY 2♠ all pass

¯

♠ K87542 N ♠ A3 There’s nothing to the bidding but what did you

♥ K65 W E ♥ 82 lead in the bidding quiz on the previous page?

♦ Q S ♦ KJ986 This North found the good lead of the ♠Q.

♣ KQ ♣ J963 His reasoning was that this cannot cost as dummy

cannot have ♠A10x or ♠K10x (he did not

♠ 106 support ♠’s) and it’s quite likely that dummy has

♥ AQJ9 two ♠’s and a doubleton elsewhere and will

♦ A1074 get a ruff unless trumps are pulled.

♣ 754

And, low and behold, North got it spot on, dummy has just two ♥’s and may manufacture a ruff there. Declarer can see that he won’t now get a ♥ ruff and should probably win with the ♠K and lead the ♦Q – then he still has the ♠A entry to the ♦’s on table.

Anyway, declarer won immediately with dummy’s ♠A. He now has two reasonable options, a ♦ or a ♥. But because of the trump lead it’s pretty obvious that he won’t get a ♥ ruff and so he led a low ♦. South rose with the ♦A and what did he do?

Let’s put it another way – what is the most ludicrous ‘line’ that South can adopt?

Did you guess it? He led the ♥A followed by another ♥! Absolutely amazing. Not only did West score his ♥ king and also score a ♥ ruff but he also go to the otherwise entry-less dummy to cash the two top ♦’s. As I said – amazing.

A trump return is totally obvious. Note that a ♣ may seem a reasonable alternative but the problem is that when partner wins the ♣ trick he does not know that you have the ♠10 and will be unwilling to lead trumps again from his ♠Jx.

And what happened? 2♠ made +1 for a top to E-W. A trump return at trick 3 would have got the contract one down for a top to N-S.

The bottom lines: -

- If dummy is threatening to ruff a suit, then lead trumps.

- If you don’t have a clue what you’re doing, then follow partner’s lead?

Is 3♠ forcing? – part 1 Board 13 from Friday 18^th

Dealer: ♠ K1064 Table A

North ♥ AK932 West North(K) East South

Both vul ♦ - - 1♥ pass 1♠

♣ AQJ7 pass 3♠ (1) pass pass (2)

pass

♠ A92 N ♠ Q5

♥ 875 W E ♥ QJ64 Table B

♦ A932 S ♦ K875 West North(K) East South

♣ 654 ♣ 64 - 1♥ pass 1♠

♠ J873 pass 4♦ (1) pass 4♠ (3)

♥ 10 all pass

♦ QJ864

♣ K103

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand K in this week’s quiz? This 3♠ bid is incorrect as it simply an invitational bid.

(2) And with his minimum South correctly passed.

Table B: (1) This North got it right. 4♦ here is a splinter agreeing ♠’s, game forcing and showing ♦ shortage (singleton or void).

(3) And with his minimum South correctly signs off in 4♠.

And what happened? 2♠(+4), 3♠(=), 4♠ (twice, = and -1) and 6♠ (-1) were the usual assortment of final contracts at the Pattaya Bridge Club. 4♠ is where you want to be.

The bottom lines: -

- Sequence M: 1♥ - 1♠ - 3♠, is invitational.

- With game values and shortage opposite partner’s suit – splinter.

- If you do not play splinters, then 4♠ at (1) shows a strong hand.

Is 3♠ forcing? – part 2 Board 15 from Friday 18^th

Dealer: ♠ A1032

North ♥ A32 West North East South(J)

N-S vul ♦ Q7 - pass pass 1♣

♣ J965 pass 1♠ pass 3♠ (1)

pass 4♠ (2) all pass

♠ 95 N ♠ KJ8

♥ KQ5 W E ♥ 1098764

♦ 86542 S ♦ J1093

♣ KQ10 ♣ -

♠ Q764

♥ J

♦ AK

♣ A87432

(1) What did you bid with this South hand J in this week’s quiz? This is only in the quiz because one player bid 3♠ with this hand (meant as invitational), but also bid 3♠ (forcing) with Hand K on the previous page! Obviously you can’t have it both ways, and 3♠ in this sequence is invitational. This is a nice South hand and well worth 3♠ but no more.

(2) And North has a very sound 4♠ bid.

And what happened? Unfortunately the cards lay badly for N-S, 4♠ was bid twice and went one down. 4♠ seems obvious, but there were the usual spurious final contracts of 3♠ (-1 and +1) and 5♠ (-2).

The bottom lines: -

- Sequence M: 1♣ - 1♠ - 3♠, is invitational.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2♠. With a 5 card ♠ suit this is very clear. Double is a very poor choice that is likely to get your side too high.

Hand B: (a) 2♥, as reverse showing around 15-18 points. It’s marginal – the hand is only just about worth a reverse, but I don’t see any other real alternative.

(b) Pass, you have already bid your hand. 2NT is a poor bid with nothing in ♦’s and it’s a mis-fit (stay low in the presumed 6-2 fit).

Hand C: 2NT. Don’t worry about having a 5 card major. 1♠ is a poor opening as it may get passed out with game on (it did!)

Hand D: 2NT, the Jordan 2NT showing a sound raise to 3♠ or better. Redouble, showing 10+ points is a reasonable alternative. The direct 4♠ is not a reasonable alternative as it shows a weak hand.

Hand E: 3♣, Stayman. 3NT is a very poor bid – never deny a 4 card major.

Hand F: 3NT. You have a probable ♥ stop so don’t mess about bidding ♣’s. Although 3♣ is forcing it is a poor bid because (i) it may allow the opponents to find their ♠ fit, and (ii) you may well miss a making 3NT.

Hand G: 3♥, invitational and showing a good 6 card ♥ suit.

Hand H: 2♦, 4^th suit forcing, to be followed by 3♥. As we saw in the previous hand a direct 3♥ bid is not forcing and the way to make it forcing is to go via the 4^th suit.

Hand J: 3♠. It’s not good enough for a 3♥ splinter and really is too good for a simple 2♠.

Hand K: 4♦. A splinter agreeing ♠’s, showing ♦ shortage and slam interest. If you do not play splinters then 4♠ is best – that shows a strong hand, about 18-19 points.

Bidding Sequences Quiz All of these sequences occurred this week

L 1♠ pass 2♦ 3♠ is forcing over partner’s two level response.

3♠

M 1♦ pass 1♠ 3♠ here is invitational, around 15-17 with 4 card ♠ support.

3♠

N 1♦ pass 1♠ 4♠ is strong, around 18-19 with 4 card ♠ support. If you play

4♠ splinters the bid denies shortage elsewhere.

P 1♠ dbl 4♠ This jump to 4♠ is weak and pre-emptive.

Q 1♠ dbl redbl redouble shows 10 + points, often with a mis-fit for partner.

R 1♠ dbl 2NT The Jordan 2NT, showing a sound raise to 3♠ or better.

S 1♣ pass 1♠ 2♠ is not forcing, it shows a weak hand with 6 ♠’s and

2♥ pass 2♠ the reverser may well pass.

T 1♣ pass 1♥ 3♥ is not forcing, it’s invitational.

1♠ pass 3♥

U 1♣ pass 1♥ This 3♥ bid is forcing; the previous sequence T is invitational

1♠ pass 2♦ and to make the 3♥ bid (game) forcing you introduce 4^th suit

2NT pass 3♥ forcing first.