Club News Sheet – No. 242 www.pattayabridge.com 24^th June 2007

Mon 18^th 1^st Chris & Per-Ake 58% 2^nd Bob & Eddie 57%

Wed 20^th 1^st Eddie & Jan 64% 2^nd Bob & Terry 60%

Fri 22^nd 1^st Bob & Dave 58% 2^nd Jan & Eddie 54%

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Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A it’s favourable vulnerability. Partner opens 1♣

and RHO overcalls 1♥, what do you do?

♠ 1072 ♠ 102

♥ QJ753 ♥ A10876 With Hand B it’s favourable vulnerability. You open 1♥ and

♦ 62 ♦ AKJ10 LHO overcalls 1♠. This is passed round to you, what do you do?

♣ K108 ♣ J4

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

♠ K72 ♠ AQJ6 With Hand D you open 1♣ and LHO overcalls 1♥. This is

♥ K1085 ♥ 9 passed round to you, what do you do?

♦ AKJ753 ♦ AK105

♣ - ♣ Q943

Hand E Hand F With Hand E RHO opens a Multi 2♦, what do you bid?

♠ J92 ♠ AKQ85 With Hand F you open 2♣ and partner responds 2♦, waiting.

♥ 4 ♥ AKQ86 (a) What do you bid?

♦ AK542 ♦ AJ (c) Suppose you choose 2♠ and partner bids a natural 3♦,

♣ 10876 ♣ 5 what do you bid now?

Hand G Hand H With Hand G you open 1♦ and partner bids 1♥, what now?

♠ AQ87 ♠ KQ986

♥ OJ54 ♥ A10975 With Hand H you open 1♠ and partner bids 2♣. You bid 2♥

♦ AK74 ♦ A8 and partner bids 3♦, 4^th suit forcing. What do you bid?

♣ 5 ♣ 4

Hand J Hand K With Hand J you are dealer at favourable vulnerability, what

do you open?

♠ 43 ♠ AJ4

♥ 43 ♥ KQ With Hand K partner opens 1♠ and you bid 2♣. Partner bids 2♥,

♦ KJ1098654 ♦ 1052 what do you bid now?

♣ A ♣ AKJ86

Hand L Hand M What do you open with Hand L?

♠ A107653 ♠ A72 With hand M: -

♥ AKQ10 ♥ 1074 (a) Partner opens a weak 2♠ and RHO doubles, what do you do?

♦ A ♦ 842 (b) Partner opens a Multi 2♦ and RHO doubles, what do you do?

♣ A8 ♣ J1095

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.

My e-mail is terry@pattayabridge.com or pattayabridge@yahoo.com

The Club Championships The current standings are: -

Gold Cup = Best 30 Silver plate = Best 10 Bronze medal = Best 5

1816.8 Janne Roos 666.8 Janne Roos 350.4 Janne Roos

1771.0 Jan v Koss 650.5 Jan v Koss 340.2 Jan v Koss

1744.5 Dave Cutler 634.5 Lars Gustaffson 336.2 Bengt Malmgren

630.9 Paul Savelkral 332.9 Paul Savelkral

627.1 Gunnar Barthel 325.6 Gunnar Barthel

Bidding Sequences Quiz All of these sequences occurred this week

N 1♥ pass 2♦ pass Is 3♥ forcing?

3♦ pass 3♥

P 1♦ pass 1♠ dbl Is 3♥ a strong hand or just competing?

2♦ 2♥ 3♦ 3♥

Q 1♦ pass 1♠ dbl Is 3♥ a strong hand or just competing?

2♦ 2♥ pass 3♥

R 1♦ pass 1♠ dbl What is the 2^nd double?

2♦ 2♥ 3♦ dbl

S 1♦ pass 1♥ pass What is 4♥, strong or shut-out?

4♥

T 2♦ dbl 2♦ is Multi, what is the double?

V 2♣ pass 2♦ pass 2♦ was waiting and the sequence is game forcing.

2♠ pass 3♦ pass What is the 4♥ bid?

4♥

This week’s silly double Board 9 from Monday 18^th

They keep coming, week after week, but this double is one of the silliest I’ve seen. East is obviously a fully paid up member of the ‘double to show an opening hand’ brigade and it got him way too high here

Dealer: ♠ AQJ3

North ♥ AJ942 West North East(C) South

E-W vul ♦ Q6 - 1♥ dbl (1) pass (2)

♣ 53 2♣ pass 2♦ (3) pass

3♣ (4) pass 3NT pass

♠ 5 N ♠ K72 4♣ (4) all pass

♥ Q763 W E ♥ K1085

♦ 8 S ♦ AKJ753

♣ KJ109876 ♣ -

♠ 109864

♥ -

♦ 10942

♣ AQ42

(1) What did you bid with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? This really is a terrible take-out double, with a void in one suit and just Kxx in the unbid major. A 2♦ overcall is clear; it’s a nice hand but a two level overcall is quite adequate (showing about 11-17 points).

(2) I would bid 1♠.

(3) East has problems now, this shows a hand too strong to overcall 2♦ initially.

(4) West correctly thought that it would play better in ♣’s.

And what happened? 4♣ went minus 3 so 300 away and a top for N-S even without a double by South. Other contracts were 2♦ by East and 3♠ by South making. The bottom lines.

- A TO double is short in the suit opened and playable in the other three suits unless very strong.

- Do not double ‘to show an opening hand’.

The re-opening double – part 1 Board 16 from Monday 18^th

There were a number of boards this week where a re-opening double when playing negative doubles featured.

Dealer: ♠ AQJ6 Table A

West ♥ 9 West North East South(A)

E-W vul ♦ AK105 pass 1♣ 1♥ 1NT (1)

♣ Q943 pass pass pass (2)

♠ 53 N ♠ K984 Table B

♥ 86 W E ♥ AK1042 West North(D) East South(A)

♦ J8743 S ♦ Q9 pass 1♣ 1♥ pass (1)

♣ J652 ♣ A7 pass dbl (3) all pass

♠ 1072

♥ QJ753

♦ 62

♣ K108

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? This is obviously a sound 1NT bid but I prefer the bid chosen at table B. I believe that South was hoping that East would repeat hid ♥’s.

(2) East very wisely kept quiet.

Table B: (1) Especially at this vulnerability, I much prefer this penalty pass. With these ♦’s sitting over the overcaller 1♥ doubled should net a nice score.

(3) What did you bid with this North hand D in this week’s quiz? Double is ‘automatic’ here.

And what happened? 1NT made +1 for an average. 1♥ doubled went for 800 and a huge top to N-S.

The bottom lines.

- At favourable vulnerability, look for the penalty.

- Even a 1-level double can be very lucrative when you have a stack sitting over the overcaller.

- Remember the automatic re-opening double; North’s double at (3) is a must when playing negative doubles.

The re-opening double – part 2 Board 14 from Monday 18^th

Another example from Monday

Dealer: ♠ 109543

East ♥ 532 West North East South

Love all ♦ 42 - - pass (1) 1♥

♣ 732 1♠ pass (2) pass dbl (3)

redbl (4) pass (5) pass 2♥ (6)

♠ AKQ82 N ♠ - pass pass 3♦ (7) all pass

♥ 84 W E ♥ 1096

♦ K8 S ♦ Q1097653

♣ AJ104 ♣ K65

♠ J76

♥ AKQJ7

♦ AJ

♣ Q98

(1) I would open 3♦, but it appears that nobody in the club did.

(2) This hand is not good enough for a penalty and it’s also not good enough for 2♥ now. So the way to bid a very weak hand like this with 3 card support for partner’s major is to pass and then bid 2♥ over partner’s automatic re-opening double.

(3) Automatic

(4) I guess that West thinks that he can make 1♠ redoubled?

(5) But this is wrong! North should make the same bid now as he would have made had there been no redouble. This pass shows a penalty hand and with zero points this hand is not good enough.

(6) South did not trust his partner.

(7) After 3 round of bidding East finally reveals his ♦ suit.

And what happened? 3♦ made +1 for a top to E-W, nobody else played in ♦’s. Scores were 2♠ by West =, 3♣ by West -1 and 2NT by North -1.

The bottom lines.

- Non-vul and with a void, I would open this East hand with 3♦, but it looks like I am in the minority. I don’t know if people passed because it’s a bit weak or because there might he a good ♥ fit with partner.

- If you pass an overcall, then partner will usually double; if RHO redoubles then ignore it and make the same bid as you would have with no redouble. So pass at (5) shows a ♠ penalty hand.

The re-opening double – part 3 Board 3 from Wednesday 20^th

Apparently this South does not have a clue how to play negative doubles.

Dealer: ♠ KQ75

South ♥ QJ2 West North East South(B)

E-W vul ♦ 7543 - - - 1♥

♣ AK 1♠ pass (1) pass 2♦ (2)

pass 3NT (3) all pass

♠ AJ963 N ♠ 84

♥ 4 W E ♥ K953

♦ Q92 S ♦ 86

♣ Q1082 ♣ 97653

♠ 102

♥ A10876

♦ AKJ10

♣ J4

(1) This is another classic penalty pass hand (I did not have room in this week’s quiz). Pass (and pass partner’s automatic re-opening double) is obviously correct, especially at this vulnerability.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand B in this week’s quiz? This South later explained that he did not understand the re-opening double. There are two solutions – either read up on it (it appears in just about every news-sheet and is clearly written up on the web) – or do not play negative doubles. I personally will not voluntarily partner anybody who wants to play negative doubles but does not understand the re-opening double.

(3) North thumped the 3NT card on the table, exclaiming another 1100 down the drain.

And what happened? 3NT made +2 for about average. 1♠ doubled probably makes about 3 tricks so it would indeed have been 1100 away.

The bottom lines.

- At favourable vulnerability, look for the penalty.

- Even a 1-level double can be very lucrative when you have a stack sitting over the overcaller.

- Remember the automatic re-opening double; South’s double at (2) is a must when playing negative doubles.

- If you are intellectually challenged and incapable of understanding the re-opening double, then don’t play negative doubles.

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

West East You are East, playing in 6♥. You win the trump lead and play a

♠ 4 ♠ AKQ85 ♣ to the ♣K and ♣A. Back comes a trump, how do you continue?

♥ J102 ♥ AKQ86

♦ Q98652 ♦ AJ

♣ KQ8 ♣ 5

Dave’s Column answer Board 14 from Wednesday 20^th

Dealer: ♠ 93 West North East(F) South

East ♥ 73 - - 2♣ pass

love all ♦ K107 2♦ (1) pass 2♠ (2) pass

♣ A107643 3♦ pass 4♥ (3) pass

5♣ (4) pass 5♥ (5) pass

♠ 4 N ♠ AKQ85 pass (6) pass

♥ J102 W E ♥ AKQ86

♦ Q98652 S ♦ AJ Dave put this hand in as a play problem in 6♥,

♣ KQ8 ♣ 5 but at Pattaya bridge club we rarely get many

♠ J10762 ending up in Dave’s predestined contract.

♥ 854 The board was played 4 times and the final

♦ 43 contracts were 6♥-2, 5♥=, 4♥+2 and 6♠-1.

♣ J92 Let’s start with an explanation of this strange auction: -

(1) This E-W pair play 2♦ waiting and game forcing (2♥ is the negative).

(2) What did you bid with this East hand F(a) in this week’s quiz? You always bid 5-5’s from the top down and 2♠ is correct, although I understand one player did bid 2♥.

(3) What did you bid with this East hand F(b) in this week’s quiz? 3♥ is correct and game forcing. 4♥ is totally unnecessary and confusing if partner takes your bids seriously.

(4) I was West and indeed confused. 3♥ would be natural and game forcing so 4♥ (sequence V) is a splinter agreeing ♦’s. I had no ace to cue bid and so cue bid the ♣K.

(5) Now I went into a huddle. This 5♥ bid, a cue bid of a splinter bid, shows a void. If I were playing with Lewis then I would trust him explicitly and bid 7♦. But I was playing with an unfamiliar partner, I had trusted him last go but now it looked best to back down and to assume that he actually had ♥’s. I would, of course, have apologized profusely if he ended up as declarer in 5♥ with a 3-0 fit with 7♦ cold.

Anyway, enough of the silly bidding, how do you play the hand in 6♥ after the start given overleaf? Here’s Dave’s input: -

If ♠’s break 4-3, one ruff will suffice to establish the suit. Suppose you win the 2^nd trump, cash the ♠A and ruff a ♠. Since you are hoping for a 4-3 ♠ break you discard the ♦J on the ♣Q. You then return to hand with the ♦A and draw the outstanding trump. Disappointment is in store. When you test the ♠’s they break 5-2 and you are going down. What went wrong?

There was only one entry to dummy – a ♠ ruff – and when you reached dummy you needed to know if the ♠’s were breaking. So, the best way was to cash two rounds of ♠’s before taking a ♠ ruff. When the 5-2 break comes to light you can the discard a ♠ on the ♣Q and take the ♦ finesse for the contract.

The bottom lines: -

- In declarer play, combine you chances.

- An unnecessary jump in the middle of a game forcing auction is a splinter.

- Trust partner – maybe, but only so far?

Trust partner? Board 2 from Monday 18^th

Here is another example of a player making a silly bid. Had I been his partner I would have trusted his bid and ended up in a hopeless slam. That’s my problem – I believe my partner’s bids and it also explains why I often get 35% when partnering poor players. The individual lucked out on this deal as his partner simply did not believe him.

Dealer: ♠ Q5

East ♥ KQJ96 West North East South(E)

N-S vul ♦ Q10 - - 2♦ (1) dbl (2)

♣ AQ53 2♠ (3) 3NT (4) all pass

♠ A7 N ♠ K108643

♥ A8753 W E ♥ 102

♦ J97 S ♦ 863

♣ J92 ♣ K4

♠ J92

♥ 4

♦ AK542

♣ 10876

(1) The dreaded Multi, this time a weak two in ♠’s.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand E in this week’s quiz? Dbl is totally absurd of course and pass obvious. South apparently meant is as lead directing. Total twaddle.

(3) Showing a hand willing to compete to 3♥ or more if partner has a weak ♥ hand. It does not show points, only ♥’s, and I would make the same bid without the two aces.

(4) North asked the meaning of the 2♠ bid and was told that it contained some values and a willingness to compete in ♥’s. I only agree with the latter ½ of this statement. Anyway, North decided that partner probably did not have the 16+ points that a double of the Multi on the first round should show and so chickened out in 3NT. I would have bid 6NT, but then trusting partner is one of my problems.

And what happened? 3NT made +1 for a top; lucky South had the ♠Jxx, but I suppose he took that into account when he doubled 2♦?

The bottom lines.

- I have recently written up the defence to the Multi 2♦

(Conventions > section 3 > Defence to the Multi 2♦)

- This South obviously has as much respect for my writings/bidding as I have for his bidding.

The disappearing trump trick Board 4 from Wednesday 20^th

How many trump tricks would you expect South to make on this deal? Two? Read on.

Dealer: ♠ - West North East South

West ♥ K97432 1NT (1) 2♥ (2) 3♥ (3) pass

both vul ♦ AJ76 3♠ pass 4♠ dbl (4)

♣ K102 all pass

♠ Q754 N ♠ AK98 (1) With good honours in both doubletons I

♥ A6 W E ♥ Q10 think that a 1NT opening is fine

♦ K8 S ♦ Q10543 (2) Multi Landy – showing 5 ♥’s and a 4/5 card

♣ AQ985 ♣ 73 minor. 2♦ (so a single suited ♥ hand) is the

♠ J10632 alternative.

♥ J85 (3) Stayman. After an overcall, a cue bid of the

♦ 92 overcalled suit is Stayman.

♣ J64 (4) Presumably saying what he thought of

West’s prowess as a declarer?

Onto the play. North led the ♣2 and West won South’s ♣J with the ♣Q. A low ♠ to the ♠A revealed the 5-0 trump split and a low ♦ was led to West’s ♦K and North’s ♦A. At this juncture North decided to test declarer by offering him an overtrick by leading a low ♥. But declarer did not think that North would be leading away from the ♥K into a strong No Trump opener who probably has the ♥A and so declarer got it wrong by playing the ♥10 (assuming

North had the ♥J), West won South’s ♥J with the ♥A.

Dealer: ♠ - Declarer then exited with a ♥ to North’s ♥K, won

West ♥ 974 the ♣ return with the ♣A and ruffed a ♣. He then

both vul ♦ J led to the ♦Q and ruffed a ♦.

♣ - This was the 4 card ending and South stated that

he had two of the remaining tricks, so one down.

♠ Q7 N ♠ K9 Normally after somebody has made an incorrect claim,

♥ - W E ♥ - the director should be called. The director was actually

♦ - S ♦ 105 at the table but he did not want to waste everybody’s

♣ 98 ♣ - time and so simply ignored South’s remark.

♠ J1063 He led a ♣ which he ruffed with the ♠K, South

♥ - underruffing perforce. A ♦ was led from dummy and

♦ - maybe South was regretting his words and double?

♣ - It does not matter what he does, but he ruffed

with the ♠10 which West over-ruffed. The ♣9 was

ruffed with the ♠9 and overruffed with the ♠J. West’s remaining card was the ♠7 which beats the ♠6

And what happened? 4♠ doubled making scored a top (790) to E-W. West simply said to South “looks like you don’t get two ♠ tricks, eh?” North was not impressed (with anybody). He suggested that having got the ♥’s wrong, declarer could have safely finessed the ♦J. That statement is untrue and the location of the ♦J is irrelevant anyway as declarer has just one ♠ to lose from there on. The bottom lines: -

- A penalty double of a freely bid game with three points is pushing it.

- Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.

- Intermediates are sometimes very important, especially in the trump suit. The ♠ 9 and 7 were key cards.

- Even the worst of declarers sometimes pulls a rabbit out of the hat?

A classic splinter by opener Board 7 from Wednesday 20^th

Just one pair out of 4 found the excellent slam on this deal.

Dealer: ♠ 9653 Table A

South ♥ 102 West(G) North East South

Both vul ♦ Q - - - pass

♣ AK9832 1♦ pass (1) 1♥ pass

4♥ (2) pass pass (3) pass

♠ AQ87 N ♠ K42

♥ OJ54 W E ♥ AK763 Table B

♦ AK74 S ♦ J5 West(G) North East South

♣ 5 ♣ Q74 - - - pass

♠ J10 1♦ pass (1) 1♥ pass

♥ 98 4♣ (2) pass 4NT (4) pass

♦ 1098632 5♠ (5) pass 6♥ (6) pass

♣ J106

Table A: (1) A weak 3♣ is a possible alternative.

(2) What did you bid with this West hand G in this week’s quiz? The hand is worth game and possibly slam opposite a suitable hand. 4♥ here shows a good hand, about 18-19 points, but the bid is not as good as the bid chosen at table B.

(3) East should probably look for slam, but there are the ♣AK off the top if partner does indeed have a balanced hand!

Table B: (2) This is the best bid. It shows a hand with 4 cards ♥ support, ♣ shortage and interest in slam.

(4) Partner’s 4♣ splinter is much more informative that the 4♥ bid at table A. With the knowledge that there is just one ♣ loser at most (it may be a void) East looks for slam. He has no ace to cue bid (4♥ is a sign-off) and so RKCB is best

(5) Two keycards and the ♥Q. If West had a ♣ void he would bid 5NT to show 2 keycards and a void. 5♦ by East would then enquire about the ♥Q on the way to the grand slam.

(6) East can confidently bid the small slam, fairly sure that there is just the one ♣ loser.

And what happened? Everybody made the obvious 12 tricks.

The bottom lines.

- Splintes are fun, and they also accurately describe your hand!

- Splinters may be made by either opener or responder. A splinter is an unnecessary jump, it agrees partner’s last bid suit and shows shortage (singleton or void) in the suit bid.

- It’s best not to splinter with a singleton ace (partner will devalue the king) and you should treat such a hand as balanced.

- When partner’s response to RKCB says nothing about the trump queen, then the next available bid (not trumps or NoTrumps) asks about the trump queen.

Understanding 4^th suit forcing Board 11 from Friday 22^nd

An easy 6♠ slam (+1) was missed on this board; what went wrong at Table B?

Dealer: ♠ AJ4 Table A

South ♥ KQ West North(K) East South

Love all ♦ 1052 - - - 1♠

♣ AKJ86 pass 2♣ pass 2♥

pass 4NT (1) pass 5♣ (2)

♠ 1073 N ♠ 52 pass 6♠ all pass

♥ 8642 W E ♥ J3

♦ K743 S ♦ QJ96 Table B

♣ 103 ♣ Q9752 West North(K) East South(H)

♠ KQ986 - - - 1♠

♥ A10975 pass 2♣ pass 2♥

♦ A8 pass 3♦ (1) pass 3♥ (3)

♣ 4 pass 4♠ (4) all pass

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand K in this week’s quiz? Using Blackwood works here as partner has two aces; but Blackwood is not usually a good bid with a wide open suit as the opponents may have two ♦’s off the top if you get a response with one ace missing.

(2) 3 keycards.

Table B: (1) This North had the answer! The best bid 3♦, 4^th suit forcing. If partner has a ♦ stop he will bid 3NT and you can then comfortably bid the ♠ slam.

(3) What did you bid with this South hand H in this week’s quiz? 4^th suit forcing asks you to clarify your hand, and showing a stopper in the 4^th suit is always the top priority. This South decided to show his 5^th ♥ – that would be correct if he did not have a ♦ stop.

(4) North confidently bid just 4♠, in the full knowledge that there were probably two ♦ losers off the top and the rest of the field would be going down in slam.

And what happened? The rest of the field all bid and made slam with an overtrick.

The bottom lines.

- The 1^st priority in responding to 4^th suit forcing is to show a stop in the 4^th suit.

- It is usually unwise to bid Blackwood with a weak suit.

Understanding the Multi Board 1 from Friday 22^nd

My advice is, if you don’t fully understand the Multi 2♦ – then don’t play it!

Dealer: ♠ QJ10986 Table A

North ♥ A65 West North East South(M)

Love all ♦ K10 - 2♠ pass 3♠ (1)

♣ 63 dbl pass 4♣ pass

pass pass

♠ K N ♠ 543

♥ J986 W E ♥ KQ2 Table B

♦ AQ765 S ♦ J93 West North East South(M)

♣ A72 ♣ KQ84 - 2♦ (2) pass pass (3)

♠ A72 dbl pass 3♣ pass (4)

♥ 1074 pass pass

♦ 842

♣ J1095

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand M(a) in this week’s quiz? One should always raise a pre-empt with 3 card support and 3♠ is clear. This had the effect of pushing E-W too high and is what pre-empting is all about.

Table B: (2) The dreaded Multi 2♦.

(3) What did you bid with this South hand M(b) in this week’s quiz? Exactly the same applies when playing the Multi 2♦ - South must raise the pre-empt and 3♥ (showing 3 card support for both majors) is correct. The opponents would then have got too high in 4♣.

(4) North suggested that South should raise the pre-empt with 3♠. That’s reasonable I suppose but not of much value once both opponents have got a bid in. It’s obviously far more effective to bid 3♥ at (3).

And what happened? 3♣ was just one down for a good score to E-W. 4♣ was two down for a good score to N-S.

The bottom lines.

- If you insist upon playing the Multi – then understand it!

- The 3♥ bid opposite partner’s Multi 2♦ is clearly written up in the page on the Multi in the conventions folder and on the web (Conventions > Section 1 > Multi 2♦).

- When partner pre-empts, always raise the pre-empt when holding 3 card support.

Understanding Pre-empting Board 3 from Friday 22^nd

I’ve said it numerous times in the news-sheets – pre-empt to the limit first go and never bid again. This South took the club record when he bid 3 times without a squeak from partner – the last time at the six level!

Dealer: ♠ J109875

South ♥ J9 West North East South(J)

E-W vul ♦ 32 - - - 3♦ (1)

♣ QJ5 3NT pass 4♥ 5♦ (2)

5♥ pass pass 6♦ (3)

♠ AK N ♠ Q62 dbl all pass

♥ A87 W E ♥ KQ10652

♦ AQ S ♦ 7

♣ K109763 ♣ 842

♠ 43

♥ 43

♦ KJ1098654

♣ A

(1) What did you open with this South hand J in this week’s quiz? Especially at this vulnerability I would open 5♦. 4♦ is a bit feeble (and I like to play that as Namyats anyway). This 3♦ bid is simply pathetic.

(2) What he should have opened last go. But it’s of no use now as the silly opening has allowed the opponents to exchange information.

(3) To quote North, who perhaps is even more emphatic about expressing his opinions than myself: ‘No matter what the outcome – that bid is Totally, TOTALLY ridiculous’.

And what happened? 6♦ doubled was 1100 away for a ‘totally’ deserved clear bottom.

The bottom lines.

- When you pre-empt, decide how high you want to go and bid at that level and never bid again unless forced/invited by partner.

- It appears that this South clearly has little comprehension of pre-empting, and I would suggest that he partnered the South from the previous page – but they are the same person!

The 2♣ opening Board 15 from Friday 22^nd

Dealer: ♠ KJ West North East South(L)

South ♥ J94 - - - 1♠ (1)

N-S vul ♦ 10742 all pass

♣ 10743

(1) What did you open with this South hand L in

♠ 942 N ♠ Q8 this week’s quiz? It’s far too good for 1♠ which

♥ 8762 W E ♥ 53 stands a real chance of being passed out. This

♦ KQ8 S ♦ J9653 hand is 10 playing tricks and is easily worth

♣ J62 ♣ KQ95 a 2♣ opener.

♠ A107653

♥ AKQ10 And what happened? Two out of four played in

♦ A the ultra safe 1♠ making 12 tricks.

♣ A8

Nearly an adjusted board Board 6 from Monday 18^th

An adjusted score was avoided at this table as I happened to be kibitzing and sorted out the situation before it got too far.

Dealer: ♠ 865 1^st attempt

East ♥ AQ4 West North East South

E-W vul ♦ 975 - - 1♦ 3♦ (1)

♣ K643 pass (2) …

♠ A942 N ♠ K 2^nd attempt

♥ KJ9653 W E ♥ 10872 West North East South

♦ J3 S ♦ AKQ42 - - 1♦ 3♣ (1)

♣ 5 ♣ Q82 3♥ 3♠ pass (3) pass

♠ QJ1073 4♥ (4) all pass

♥ -

♦ 1086

♣ AJ1097

1^st go: (1) This N-S pair play some sort of two-suited overcall system and the bid was alerted.

(2) West asked what 3♦ was and was informed that it showed ♥’s and ♠’s. Obviously he passed. But the gestures by South made it clear to all present that he had made the wrong bid. I happened to be watching and I like the easy solution. Rather that award E-W an adjusted score I simply told West and South to take their bids back and for South to make the correct bid.

2^nd go: (1) 3♣ apparently showed ♣’s and ♠’s in their system

(3) With 4 ♥’s East should obviously bid 4♥.

(4) Luckily for East, his partner found the best spot all by himself.

And what happened? Everybody was in 4♥, either making or making +1 but for some reason it was doubled at two tables.

The bottom lines.

- Know your system?

Double and bid again – strong or competing? Board 5 from Monday 18^th

Dealer: ♠ AJ3

East ♥ K West North East South

N-S vul ♦ KJ10875 - 1♦ pass 1♠

♣ J64 dbl (1) 2♦ 2♥ (2) 3♦

pass (3) pass pass

♠ Q N ♠ 109862

♥ 109862 W E ♥ AQ75

♦ A94 S ♦ 63

♣ K985 ♣ 32

♠ K754

♥ J43

♦ Q2

♣ AQ107

(1) A bit light for a double (especially in the Sandwich seat) but it does have nice shape and intermediates and the vulnerability is favourable.

(2) A free bid, so showing around 6-9 points and 4 ♥’s.

(3) West decided to pass because he thought that double and bid again shows a strong hand. But that’s not so when competing and I discuss it further below. West has 5 ♥’s and so the Law says to compete with 3♥. There’s no danger – N-S are both limited and E-W are non-vul.

And what happened? 3♦ made +2 for a top to N-S. All other N-S’s bid too high and went down. The bottom lines.

- Obey the law in competitive situations.

- A 3♥ bid at (3) (sequence P) does not show a big hand. West has already shown his two-suiter and if he wants to make a game try he should double (sequence R). Had South passed then 3♥ would indeed be showing a big hand and inviting game (sequence Q).

Bidding Sequences Quiz Answers

N 1♥ pass 2♦ pass 3♥ is invitational with 3 ♥’s. It’s only forcing if you play

3♦ pass 3♥ two-over-one; OK Kenneth?

P 1♦ pass 1♠ dbl 3♥ is just competing double would show a strong hand).

2♦ 2♥ 3♦ 3♥

Q 1♦ pass 1♠ dbl 3♥ here is a strong hand and inviting 4♥.

2♦ 2♥ pass 3♥

R 1♦ pass 1♠ dbl The 2^nd dbl here is a strong hand and inviting 4♥.

2♦ 2♥ 3♦ dbl

S 1♦ pass 1♥ pass 4♥ is strong; 18-19 points with no shortage (else splinter).

4♥

T 2♦ dbl The direct double of a Multi is best played as 16+ points.

V 2♣ pass 2♦ pass 2♦ was waiting and the sequence is game forcing.

2♠ pass 3♦ pass The 4♥ bid is an unnecessary jump and so a splinter agreeing

4♥ ♦’s and showing ♥ shortage.
Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: Pass, and pass partner’s subsequent automatic double for penalties. Especially at this vulnerability, going for the penalty is better than 1NT.

Hand B: Dbl. Partner almost certainly has a ♠ stack and you will get a very juicy penalty. If you chose 2♦ then read up on the ‘automatic re-opening double’ or else do not play negative doubles.

Hand C: 2♦. Double, with just 3 ♠’s and a void in ♣’s is terrible. The hand is not good enough to double and then bid ♦’s which shows a very strong hand.

Hand D: Dbl – ‘automatic’. You are playing negative doubles and partner is very likely to have a penalty hand.

Hand E: Pass. Yes I know it’s totally obvious – so why is it in the quiz? Because one player actually doubled “for a lead”. The direct double of a Multi 2♦ shows 16+ points.

Hand F: (a) 2♠, always bid 5-5 top down.

(b) 3♥, the sequence is game forcing and so there is absolutely no need to bid 4♥.

Indeed, I take a 4♥ bid as a splinter agreeing ♦’s and showing ♥ shortage.

Hand G: 4♣, a splinter agreeing ♥’s and showing ♣ shortage.

Hand H: 3NT. The first priority in responding to 4^th suit forcing is to show a stopper in the 4^th suit. 3♥, to show a 5^th ♥ and thus the shape is incorrect as it denies a ♦ stop.

Hand J: 5♦. With this excellent 8 card ♦ suit 3♦ is far too feeble. It’s a 6 loser hand and at this vulnerability the Rule of 2,3,4 says to bid 5♦. The theory being that partner provides just one trick and you assume that the opponents have a vulnerable game (600+). So you expect to make 8 tricks and can afford to go 3 down doubled (500) and so should open 5♦. If partner does not have a trick (as in this case) then the opponents have slam. If you are a chicken, then open just 4♦. I don’t know the word for a 3♦ opening, what is something that has not yet developed into a chicken egg?

Hand K: 3♦, 4^th suit forcing. You have values for a 6♠ slam but Blackwood is not usually a good idea with a weak suit. So bid 3♦, the 4^th suit, and partner will bid 3NT if he has the ♦A or the ♦K and you can then bid the slam with the knowledge that there are not two ♦ losers off the top.

Hand L: 2♣. This hand is 10 playing tricks and well worth your strongest bid. It is generally accepted that you should open 2♣ when 1 trick short of game (and I like at least 16 points). This hand easily qualifies.

Hand M: (a) 3♠, raise the pre-empt immediately.

(b) 3♥, raise the pre-empt immediately. You don’t know which major partner has but with 3 cards in each you don’t care. Pass is the lazy bid of somebody who does not understand the basics of pre-empting and/or the Multi 2♦. This 3♥ bid is written up on the sheet on the Multi Two Diamonds and is in the conventions folder and on the web.

Bidding Sequence Answers are on the previous page