Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 328

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 22^nd Feb 2009

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

My MSN messenger ID is tj_quested@hotmail.com

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Mon 16^th N-S 1^st Paul Q & Terry Q 62% 2^nd Johan & Michel 59%

E-W 1^st Dave H & Per And… 60% 2^nd Ken H & Lewis S 59%

Wed 18^th N-S 1^st Tom Hanlon & Sean 62% 2^nd Brian Senior & Paul Q 61%

E-W 1^st Borge & Terje Sk 69% 2^nd Jeremy & Sally 63%

Wed evening teams 1^st Ivy & Terry Q 73% 2^nd Bengt & Eddie 52%

Fri 20^th N-S 1^st Bengt & Eddie 59% 2^nd Ian W & Johan 57%

E-W 1^st Hans V & Sally 54% 2^nd Alain & Michel 53%

Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B (a) What do you open with hand A

(b) Suppose you open 1♦ and partner bids 1♠, what now?

♠ A ♠ AK94

♥ Q102 ♥ AQ932 With Hand B it is favourable vulnerability. You open 1♥ and

♦ AJ863 ♦ A9 LHO doubles. Partner redoubles and RHO bids 1♠, what do

♣ KQJ4 ♣ 32 you do?

Hand C Hand D (a) What do you open with hand C

(b) Suppose you open 1♣ or1♦ and partner bids 1♠, what now?

♠ A ♠ 53

♥ Q974 ♥ K10 With Hand D it is favourable vulnerability. Partner opens 1♥

♦ AKJ6 ♦ KJ732 and RHO doubles, (a) what do you bid? Suppose you redouble,

♣ QJ87 ♣AQ95 LHO bids 1♠ and partner doubles then (b) what do you do?

Bidding Sequence Quiz

E 1♦ pass 1♥ pass What is the jump to 5♣?

5♣

F 1♥ dbl redbl 1♠ What is the dbl by opener, penalties or take-out?

dbl

The 2008 Club Championship Presentations

On Wednesday 18^th we had the 2008 championship presentations. It was a great success, with 12 tables turning up and two bridge internationals (Brian Senior and Tom Hanlon) attending. The Pattaya People sent a reporter to cover the event and there was an excellent buffet afterwards. After the buffet there were 8 people who stayed on for a rather hastily arranged swing teams event.

A number of people took photos and I will put pictures on the web site if anybody sends me any. If you go to pattayapeople.com there is a short video of the presentation, but I guess it’s only up there for one week

Cold for the grand Board 24 from Monday 16^th

Dealer: ♠ 10974 Table A

South ♥ QJ1085 West North East South

both vul ♦ 9 - - - pass

♣ J92 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

2NT (1) pass 4♦ (2) pass

♠ AKJ N ♠ Q3 5♦ (3) pass 6♦ (4) all pass

♥ AK94 W E ♥ 8

♦ J76 S ♦ AK108432 ‘Expert Table’

♣ K107 ♣ A43 West North East South

♠ 8652 - - - pass

♥ 732 1♣ pass 1♦ pass

♦ Q5 2NT (1) pass 4♦ (2) pass

♣ Q865 4NT (3) pass 5♣ (4) pass

5♥ (5) pass 5NT (6) pass.

7NT (7) all pass

Table A: (1) 18-19, fine.

(2) I quite like this bid, chosen by an opponent at our table. It says he had a good 6+ ♦ suit and slam ambitions if partner has decent ♦’s.

(3) This is a bit feeble, and you don’t really want to play in 5♦ at pairs scoring. See ‘Expert’ table for my choice.

‘Expert’ There are many ways to bid these hands, so let’s suppose that our experts start

Table: out as at Table A.

(3) With reasonable ♦’s (i.e.3 of them) West should ask about keycards. I prefer to play Kickback (especially when a minor suit is ‘trumps’) but we’ll keep it simple and assume that our experts play 4NT as RKCB for ♦’s.

(4) 3 keycards (playing 3014)

(5) Do you have the ♦ Q? The cheapest bid excluding the trump suit asks for the trump queen.

(6) Yes, but no other king. Note this response! You should say that you have the trump queen (even when you do not) if you have one more trump than partner can reasonably expect.

(7) West can count 12 tricks – 2 ♠’s, 2 ♥’s, 6 ♦’s and 2 ♣’s. The 13^th will be there if partner has a 7^th ♦ or any outside queen. In the very unlikely event that he has none of these then you may get a ♠ lead or may have to fall back on the ♠ finesse. Real expert pairs doubtless have a way to find out if partner has something extra (the ♠Q or a 7^th ♦).

And what happened? You would think that E-W would get a bad score for just 6♦+1, but no! One pair bid 7♦= and three bid 6♦ (one making only 12 tricks!) and everybody else was in 5♦ or 3NT all making 13 tricks.

The bottom lines

- A 7 card suit headed by the AK is huge, it is even huger when partner shows a balanced 18-19 points and you should be looking for the grand if all keycards are present.

- To ask for the trump queen, bid 5 of the cheapest suit over 5♣/♦ (but not the trump suit which is a sign off).

- If you don’t have the trump queen but have an extra trump, then say that you have the queen.

Exclusion Roman Keycard Blackwood Board 16 from Monday 16^th

Dealer: ♠ 86 Table A

South ♥ AQ1097 West North East South

both vul ♦ AKQ854 - - - pass

♣ - pass 1♥ (1) pass 1♠

pass 3♦ pass 3♥

♠ AJ104 N ♠ 952 pass 4NT (2) pass 5♦ (3)

♥ J42 W E ♥ 3 pass 6♥ (4) all pass

♦ 62 S ♦ J107

♣ AJ92 ♣ K86543 Table B

♠ KQ73 West North East South

♥ K865 - - - pass

♦ 93 pass 1♦ (1) pass 1♥

♣ Q107 pass 5♣ (5) dbl pass (6)

pass 5♥ (7) pass pass

dbl (8) all pass

Table A: (1) Most would open 1♦ and then bid ♥’s twice to show the strength and shape of this hand.

(2) RKCB for ♥’s, but I don’t like it for two reasons:

a. The hand has a void and you have no idea if partner’s response will include the ♣A or not.

b. The hand has a weak doubleton, a bad holding for Blackwood.

(3) One keycard.

(4) A complete gamble. He could easily find partner with the useless ♣A and be missing the ♠AK and the ♥K.

Table B: (5) This is Exclusion RKCB, showing a ♣ void, agreeing ♥’s, and asking for keycards outside ♣’s. It is obviously far better than the 4NT chosen at (2) above but still has drawback (b). A 4♣ splinter followed by 5♣ (showing a void) is probably best, but I believe that North chose Exclusion Blackwood to test his partner’s memory of their agreed conventions.

(6) One keycard playing DOPI.

(7) Perhaps North should punt 6♥ here (he is certainly knows much more than the gambler at table A).

(8) The 5♣ bid was not alerted (no need to alert above the three level) but West asked and South said that it showed a ♣ void and asked for Keycards. I guess that West thought that N-S had had a bidding misunderstanding and with two aces and a partner who had doubled during the auction West decided to double.

And what happened? Just the one pair bid the slam, which beat the score for the doubled overtrick at Table B into 2^nd place.

The bottom lines

- Do not bid Blackwood with a void – you have no idea if partner’s response includes the ace in your void suit.

A 1-level penalty – more than a slam! Board 25 from Monday 16^th

I just love doubling the opponents for penalties, even at the one level. This time we doubled them at the 1-level and missed a slam! No probblem.

Dealer: ♠ AK94 Table A

North ♥ AQ932 West North East South

E-W vul ♦ A9 - 1♥ pass (1) 2♦

♣ 32 pass 2♠ pass 3NT

all pass

♠ 1072 N ♠ QJ86

♥ 87654 W E ♥ J Table B

♦ 864 S ♦ Q105 West North(B) East South(D)

♣ 86 ♣ KJ1074 - 1♥ dbl (1) redbl (2)

♠ 53 1♠ (3) dbl (4) pass pass (5)

♥ K10 pass

♦ KJ732

♣AQ95

Table A: (1) Pass is probably wise at this vulnerability – dbl and 2♣ are alternatives but you may run into trouble as at Table B.

Table B: (1) This double looks fairly reasonable, with 10 points, good intermediates, 4 ♠’s and shortage in the suit bid. Pass (probably best) and 2♣ are alternatives.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? Any two-level bid is weak and redouble is very clear – showing the majority of the points and often shortage in partner’s suit.

(3) Normally a bid here should be a 5-card suit, but West obviously wants to play at the one level in ♠’s and so this bid is fine.

(4) What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz? Double (penalties) is pretty clear, especially at this vulnerability – a penalty is usually what partner has in mind when he redoubles.

(5) What did you bid with this South hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? South knows that N-S have values for game – but look at the vulnerability! This is a situation where you trust partner and go for the penalty.

And what happened? One N-S pair bid to 6NT and made 1020, However 1♠* went -4 (this was under dispute as one player thought it was -5, but he settled for -4 to save time) and the 1100 penalty was more than the slam! Most N-S pairs bid to 3NT with all making with various numbers of overtricks.

The bottom lines

- Don’t listen to people who say you should not double 1-level contracts for penalties.

- Of course most doubles at the 1-level are for take-out, but not after a redouble.

Interfering with their strong 2♣ opening Board 28 from Monday 16^th

Dealer: ♠ - Table A

West ♥ KJ8764 West North East South

N-S vul ♦ A9864 pass pass 2♣ pass

♣ J6 2♦ pass 2♠ pass

4♠ (1) all pass

♠ K53 N ♠ AQJ87642

♥ 1092 W E ♥ A3 Table B

♦ 1073 S ♦ Q2 West North East South

♣ 10932 ♣ A pass pass 2♣ pass

♠ 109 2♦ 2♠ (2) 4♠ 5♣ (3)

♥ Q5 pass 5♦ 5♠ (1) all pass

♦ KJ5

♣ KQ8754

Table A: (1) Fast arrival, this totally flat hand is not really interested in slam.

Table B: (2) This is a conventional bid (TWERB) that is usually used over a strong 1♣ and 1♦ response but is also applicable over 2♣ and 2♦. It shows the next suit up (♣’s) or both of the suits above that (so ♦’s and ♥’s here).

(3) With excellent ♦’s and the useful ♥Q South bids. 5♣ here shows a willingness to play in ♣’s if that is partner’s suit or else to play in a red suit (♦’s).

(4) And that pushed West one too high, but note that 5♦ makes!

And what happened? Five East’s were left to play peacefully in 4♠. One stopped in 3♠+1 and two were pushed into 5♠-1.

The bottom lines

- Don’t be afraid to interfere over their strong 1♣ or 2♣ if you have a shapely hand.

- The TWERB convention is written up on the website:

- Conventions > Section 2 > TWERB.

Dave’s Column Here is Dave’s input about the play of the hand.

North South West North East South

♠ 63 ♠ K7 - 1♦ 1♠ 2♥

♥ A83 ♥ KQ1075 pass 3♥ pass 3♠ (1)

♦ KJ983 ♦ A106 pass 4♣ (1) pass 4NT

♣ AQ5 ♣ KJ7 pass 5♥ pass 6♥

all pass (1) = cue bid

West leads the ♠2 to East’s ♠A and East returns the ♠Q to your ♠K. You cash the ♥K and lead another trump to the ♥A, West discarding.

Review the bidding and play so far and choose your play in the ♦ suit. Do you finesse against East or West, or do you expect the ♦Q to drop?

Dave’s Column answer Board 1 from Wednesday 18^th

Dealer: ♠ 63 West North East South

North ♥ A83 - 1♦ 1♠ 2♥

Love all ♦ KJ983 pass 3♥ pass 3♠ (1)

♣ AQ5 pass 4♣ (2) pass 4NT

pass 5♥ pass 6♥

♠ 10852 N ♠ AQJ94 all pass

♥ 4 W E ♥ J962

♦ Q754 S ♦ 2 (1) A cue bid, I guess it’s up to you if you

♣ 10962 ♣ 843 cue bid a 2^nd round control before a 1^st

♠ K7 round control (4♦) but it saves space and

♥ KQ1075 this is the bidding from the book.

♦ A106 (2) A cue bid.

♣ KJ7

Answer: You continue with drawing trumps, finessing East’s ♥J.

Are you ready to play the ♦ suit? Should you play low to dummy’s ♦K expecting East to hold the ♦Q because of his overcall? Or should you first cash the ♦A and finesse against West, expecting West to have greater length in ♦’s?

There is no need to guess. First you should cash three rounds of ♣’s. When both defenders follow suit you know what to do. East has at least 5 ♠’s, 4 ♥’s and 3 ♣’s. Therefore he can have no more than one ♦. After cashing the ♦A you make the slam, taking the marked finesse against West’s ♦Q.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? Four out of 12 bid the slam, two made it and two made +1. The other 8 contracts were the usual spurious ones such as 3NT, 4♥ and 4♠*(E).

The bottom lines: -

- When in search of an elusive queen, don’t commit yourself too early. Look for more information first and get a (partial) count on the hand.

Dave’s 2^nd Column Here is Dave’s 2^nd input about the play of the hand.

West East You are West, declarer in 6♥. North leads the ♠10 and

♠ 73 ♠ AKJ2 you win with the ♠A and draw trumps in four rounds

♥ AKQJ964 ♥ 2 (North had ♥ 10873). Plan the play.

♦ 84 ♦ AQ63

♣ 63 ♣ AQ97

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 2 from Wednesday 18^th

Dealer: ♠ 1098 West North East South

East ♥ 10873 - - 1♣ pass

N-S vul ♦ J95 4♥ pass 6♥ all pass

♣ 843

♠ 73 N ♠ AKJ2 This is the bidding from the book.

♥ AKQJ964 W E ♥ 2

♦ 84 S ♦ AQ63

♣ 63 ♣ AQ97

♠ Q654

♥ 5

♦ K1072

♣ KJ102

Declarer discarded two ♦’s and a ♣ from dummy as he drew trumps, and South also threw two ♦’s and a ♣. Declarer then cashed the ♠K and ruffed a ♠. When the ♠Q did not drop declarer tried the ♦ finesse. South won and returned the ♠Q which declarer ruffed. Declarer then tried the ♣ finesse and when that also lost he was one down.

How should West have played the hand?

Although he has many options he has an easy 100% play for the contract:

He takes the first ♠, draws trumps and then leads a ♣ to dummy’s ♣9 (if North covered with the ♣10 or ♣J then dummy plays the ♣Q).

When South wins, he must concede the slam, any return gives declarer a free finesse and his 12^th trick.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 7NT-2, 7NT-1, 6NT+1, 6NT=(twice), 6♥=(three times), 6♥-1(3 times), 4♥+2 and 4♥+1.

Open 1NT with a singleton – part 1 Board 17 from Wednesday 18^th

Opening 1NT with a singleton (ace or king) is allowed. It came up twice this week, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Dealer: ♠ Q9542 Table A

North ♥ A85 West North East South(A)

Love all ♦ K - pass pass 1♦ (1)

♣ 8763 1♥ 1♠ pass 2♣ (2)

pass pass (3) all pass

♠ K1076 N ♠ J83

♥ KJ973 W E ♥ 64 Table B

♦ 104 S ♦ Q9752 West North East South(A)

♣ A2 ♣ 1095 - pass pass 1NT (1)

♠ A 2♣ (4) dbl (5) 2♦ (6) dbl (7)

♥ Q102 2♥ dbl (8) all pass

♦ AJ863

♣ KQJ4

Table A: (1) What did you open with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? 1♦ seems pretty clear, but then what do you bid when partner responds 1♠? 1NT, 2♣ and 2♦ are all underbids; 2NT and 3♣ are overbids. There is no good rebid.

(2) This is the best of the evils, but you may well miss game.

(3) Some North’s passed here and some bid 3♣.

Table B: (1) This is the alternative opening for question A – get the balanced nature and strength of the hand off you chest with your opening bid.

(4) Both majors.

(5) North had a conventional means (Lebensohl) to show an invitational hand with 5 ♠’s, but with West showing at least 4 ♠’s he decided to simply show values.

(6) Presumably natural.

(7) Penalties – showing ♦’s.

(8) With now an obvious lead (♦K) North went for the penalty.

And what happened? 2♥* was -4 and an 800 top for N-S. A few N-S’s were in game, sometimes making and sometimes going down but many were in a partscore.

The bottom lines

- Opening 1NT with a singleton (A or K) tells you partner your values immediately and in this case facilitated a good penalty.

Open 1NT with a singleton – part 2 Board 19 from Friday 20^th

But opening 1NT with a singleton (ace or king) does not always work out well:

Dealer: ♠ Q86 Table A

South ♥ AKJ2 West(C) North East South

E-W vul ♦ 8743 - - - pass

♣ 65 1♦ (1) pass 1♠ pass

2♣ (2) all pass

♠ A N ♠ 107542

♥ Q974 W E ♥ 86 Table B

♦ AKJ6 S ♦ 10 West(C) North East South

♣ QJ87 ♣ K10942 - - - pass

♠ KJ93 1NT (1) pass 2♥ (3) pass

♥ 1053 2♠ all pass

♦ Q952

♣ A3

Table A: (1) What did you open with this West hand C in this week’s quiz? 1♦ seems OK, but then what do you bid when partner responds 1♠? 1NT, 2♣ and 2♦ are all underbids; 2NT and 3♣ are overbids. It’s much the same if you open 1♣. There is no good rebid.

(2) This is the best of the evils, it implies 5♦’s and also does not show the strength of the hand.

Table B: (1) This is the alternative opening for question C – get the balanced nature and strength of the hand off you chest with your opening bid.

(3) Unfortunately this is the downside of opening 1NT with a singleton – partner transferring and leaving you there.

And what happened? 2♠-1 was a disaster, with most pairs playing nicely in a ♣ partscore

The bottom lines

- Opening 1NT with a singleton (A or K) tells you partner your values immediately but in this case facilitated a miserable score in a 5-1 fit.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: (a) 1NT. Of course you can open 1♦ if you prefer.

(b) I don’t know. I guess that 2♣ is the lesser of the evils. 1NT is an underbid and 2NT is an overbid as is 3♣.

Hand B: dbl, penalties.

Hand C: (a) 1NT. Of course you can open 1♣ or 1♦ if you prefer.

(b) I don’t know. 1NT is an underbid and 2NT is an overbid. If you opened 1♣ then a reverse into 2♦ (or 2♥) would show the values but imply a 5-card ♣ suit. If you opened 1♦ then 2♣ or 2♥ are possible but both of these imply a 5-card ♦ suit.

Hand D: (a) redouble. Any 2-level bid is weak.

(b) pass. Partner’s double is penalties and you have no reason to remove it.

Bidding Sequence Answers

E 1♦ pass 1♥ pass 5♣ is Exclusion RKCB agreeing ♥’s, showing a ♣ void and

5♣ asking for keycards outside the ♣ suit.

F 1♥ dbl redbl 1♠ Opener’s dbl is penalties, he has good ♠’s.

dbl