Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 330

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My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 8^th March 2009

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Mon 2^nd N-S 1^st Bob & Robbie 59% 2^nd Eddie & Jean 55%

E-W 1^st Lars G & Johan 56% 2^nd Hans V & Linda 54%

Wed 4^th N-S 1^st Eddie & Michel 63% 2^nd Hans V & Jean 56%

E-W 1^st Paul Q & Terry Q 64% 2^nd Johan & Bob S 55%

Fri 6^th N-S 1^st Vaiur & Jenni 63% 2^nd Janne & Lars B 58%

E-W 1^st Serbi & Valli 63% 2^nd Dave H & Richard 56%

Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A everybody is vul, what do you open?

♠ 1053 ♠ A1075 Hand B is a pretty clear 1NT opening (knock off a point for

♥ KJ109754 ♥ K63 4333 but the two tens and good top cards are more than enough

♦ 4 ♦ KQ8 compensation). But, just for a change, we are playing Acol and

♣ Q4 ♣ K106 you open 1♠ (correct). Partner bids 1NT, what do you do?

Hand C Hand D With Hand C everyone is vulnerable; partner opens 1♣ (could

be short) and RHO bids 1NT. You double and LHO bids 2♣

♠ AK3 ♠ K63 (nobody ever got round to asking what it meant). Partner

♥ J3 ♥ Q86532 doubles and RHO runs to 2♦, what do you do?

♦ 832 ♦ A84

♣ K9754 ♣ J With Hand D partner opens 1♣ and you bid 1♥. Partner then

bids 3NT, what do you do?

Bidding Sequence Quiz

E 1♣ pass 1♥ pass What is the jump to 3NT (a) does it show a strong balanced hand?

3NT (b) … and if not, then what does it show (there are two options).

F 1NT pass 2♣ pass What is 3♣ - weak or strong?

2♦ pass 3♣

G 1NT pass 3♠ pass What is 3♠ - weak or strong?

Don’t Pre-empt then bid again Board 26 from Monday 2^nd

Dealer: ♠ AJ74 Table A

East ♥ A West North East South(A)

Both vul ♦ 865 - - pass 3♥ (1)

♣ J10853 pass (2) pass pass

♠ 98 N ♠ KQ64 Table B

♥ 83 W E ♥ Q62 West North East South(A)

♦ AKQ1097 S ♦ J73 - - pass 2♥ (1)

♣ A92 ♣ K76 3♦ (2) 3♥ (3) 4♦ 4♥ (4)

♠ 1053 dbl (5) all pass

♥ KJ109754

♦ 4

♣ Q4

Table A: (1) What did you open with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? With a decent 7-card suit I see nothing wrong with this ‘obvious’ 3♥ opening

(2) And West cannot really bid 4♦ and so has to pass

Table B: (1) At least two players, however, chose to open just 2♥, I don’t know why.

(2) And this enables West to come in.

(3) A weird raise.

(4) The cardinal sin – bidding again having pre-empted. His excuse was that he has 7 trumps (then why not open 3♥ I ask?)

(5) And unfortunately for South, West is one of those players who just loves doubling for penalties. He does not really have a good hand for a double, but he was playing with a beginner who had already shown values and he knew that his partner would not double; also, he doubled on principle – people should not be allowed to get away with auctions like this.

And what happened? 4♥* went -3 and 800 to E-W for the top. Another N-S pair also somehow reached 4♥ but they were not doubled. I note that one West was allowed to play in 3♦, so obviously more than one South chose not to open 3♥. The popular contract was ♦’s (3, 4 or 5) by E-W.

The bottom lines

- Don’t pre-empt then bid again.

- With a 7-card suit, then open at the three level (unless the suit is really ropey). This suit is certainly good enough for 3♥. Either way, do not bid again having pre-empted.

Raising partner’s 1NT response to 2NT Board 4 from Monday 2^nd

Raising a 1NT response to 2NT is a problem because the response has such a wide range (6-9/10). The problen is relatively rare when playing Standard American as the opener would often open 1NT. But playing Acol (Table B) it comes up much more often...

Dealer: ♠ A1075 Table A

West ♥ K63 West North East South

Both vul ♦ KQ8 pass 1NT (1) pass pass

♣ K106 pass

♠ Q N ♠ J8432 Table B

♥ A98 W E ♥ Q105 West North(B) East South

♦ J95 S ♦ A1064 pass 1♠ (1) pass 1NT (2)

♣ A97532 ♣ 4 pass 2NT (3) all pass

♠ K96

♥ J742

♦ 732

♣ QJ8

Table A: (1) Playing Standard American it’s fairly clear to open 1NT. You knock off a point for the totally flat shape but the two tens and top cards are adequate compensation and 1NT is clear.

Table B: (1) This pair play Acol and 1♠ is correct with this holding (with a 2NT response in mind if partner responds with a new suit at the two level)

(2) This is correct playing Acol as the opening 1♠ only promises 4 cards.

(3) What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz if playing a weak NoTrump? This raise to 2NT may possibly work if partner has 9-10 but it is way against the odds. You need a good 16+, preferably 17, to raise a 1NT response to 2NT (whatever system you are playing) and this hand should pass.

And what happened? 2NT went -2 for a clear bottom to N-S. 1NT by North was the popular contract.

The bottom lines

- You need a good 16+ to raise a 1NT response to 2NT.

- Playing Standard American the problem only occurs when opener has 15-17 but with a small singleton (so cannot open 1NT) and partner bids his singleton.

- Playing Acol the problem occurs all too often and many Acol players frequently overbid by bidding 2NT (which would be the correct bid with 15-16 had partner responded with a new suit at the two level but is incorrect over a 1NT response).

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

North South You are North declarer in 4♠. East leads the ♦Q and you

♠ A7632 ♠ K854 win with the ♦A and cash the ♠A, but North discards a ♣.

♥ J2 ♥ AK9 With two ♠’s and two ♦’s to lose, is there any hope of

♦ A43 ♦ 852 making the contract?

♣ AKJ ♣ Q107

Dave’s Column answer Board 5 from Wednesday 4^th

Dealer: ♠ A7632 West North East South

North ♥ J2 - 1♠ pass 3♠

N-S vul ♦ A43 pass 4♠ all pass

♣ AKJ

♠ QJ109 N ♠ - East leads the ♦Q, you win and play the

♥ 8764 W E ♥ Q1053 ♠A and discover the two ♠ losers. Plan

♦ K76 S ♦ QJ109 the play,

♣ 84 ♣ 96532

♠ K854

♥ AK9

♦ 852

♣ Q107

Answer: You seem to have only 9 tricks: 3 ♠’s, 2 ♥’s. 1 ♦ and 3 ♣’s. However, there is one faint chance for a tenth trick, you might just get 3 ♥ tricks. So at trick three, lead the ♥J. If East covers then wine, else let it run. Assuming East covers, return to hand with a ♣ and lead the ♥2 to the ♥9. You are lucky and make 3 ♥ tricks which enables you to discard a ♦ loser from hand.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? Seven pairs were in 4♠ and just two made it. The other two pairs were in 6♠ going down but only one was doubled.

The bottom lines: -

- This is just a 1 in 4 chance (♥Q and ♥10 both onside) but it is better than doing nothing.

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

West East You are East, declarer in 4♠ and South leads the ♦Q.

♠ J5 ♠ AK1098 You then play the ♠J and North plays low, do you finesse?

♥ K8732 ♥ A5

♦ A652 ♦ 4

♣ 105 ♣ KQJ93

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 6 from Wednesday 4^th

Dealer: ♠ 63 West North East South(F)

East ♥ QJ96 - - - 1♠

E-W vul ♦ K98 pass 1NT pass 3♣ (1)

♣ 8642 pass 3♠ pass 4♠

all pass

♠ J5 N ♠ AK1098

♥ K8732 W E ♥ A5 (1) game forcing.

♦ A652 S ♦ 4

♣ 105 ♣ KQJ93 This is the bidding from the book but I note

♠ Q742 that only 3 pairs reached 4♠.

♥ 104

♦ QJ1073

♣ A7

Playing in just 4♠, you can afford three losers. The safety play is to cash the ♠AK and, assuming that both defenders follow with low trumps, force out the ♣A. Ruff the ♦ return and lead good ♣’s. The defence will get two trumps and a ♣.

If you finesse the ♠Q at the 2^nd trick (as you would have to do if in 6♠) you will lose control. South takes the ♠Q and forces you to ruff a 2^nd ♦. You then need all of your trumps to draw the remaining trumps and you will then lose the ♣A and a fist full of ♦’s.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? Just 3 pairs out of 9 reached 4♠ and all went 2 or 3 down. 3NT was bid three times and made on one occasion when the opponents blocked the ♦ suit. The other three pairs were not in game.

The bottom lines: -

- With a 5-2 trump fit, be careful about losing control if the trumps split the likely 4-2.

Too many ♣’s? – part 1 Board 7 from Wednesday 4^th

When you’ve got the opponents on the hook, don’t let then off.

Dealer: ♠ AK3 Table A

South ♥ J3 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 832 - - - 1♣

♣ K9754 1NT dbl pass (1) all pass

♠ QJ7 N ♠ 9842 Table B

♥ Q103 W E ♥ 8743 West North(C) East South

♦ KQJ54 S ♦ 76 - - - 1♣

♣ A8 ♣ 1032 1NT dbl 2♣ (1) dbl (2)

♠ 1065 2♦ (3) 3♣ (4) pass 3♥ (5)

♥ AK95 pass 3NT (6) pass pass

♦ A109 dbl (7) all pass

♣ QJ6

Table A: (1) East really has to do something here. Redouble is a sensible option. Note that this must be SOS as North has declared that his side has the majority of the points.

Table B: (1) This East chose to bid 2♣ (take out to a major). This had not been agreed but anything is better than the pass at Table A.

(2) Presumably showing a decent hand with decent ♣’s.

(3) West now suspected that partner did not really have clubs, but either way a 2♦ bid is clear.

(4) What did you bid with this North hand C in this week’s quiz? Now this 3♣ bid, from an experienced player, I cannot understand. The opponents are on the run with a 500+ penalty on offer, so why bid? Double (penalties) or pass (forcing) are the two sensible options.

(5) With everybody showing something in ♣’s South had no idea what was going on (she has my total sympathy). The 3♥ bid chosen seems sensible to me.

(6) I can’t quite see the ♦ stop, but then my eyesight is failing.

(7) With presumably 4 ♦ tricks and a ♣ entry West doubles to ensure that partner leads a ♦ (and also to get the extra hundred of course). But I’m sure that the main reason is that a penalty double is this West’s favorite bid.

And what happened? 1NT* by West at table A went for 1400. 2♦* would have gone for 500 as it did at another table. But 3NT* by North at table B went -1 for 200 and a top to E-W. Looks like a lot of tricks depend upon the opening lead! - At table a West has discard problems when the ♣’s were run and he emerged with just two tricks, whereas West at table B made the obvious 5 tricks on a ♦ lead.

The bottom lines

- Don’t bid a dodgy 3NT if you have vulnerable opponents on the run – go for the penalty.

Too many ♣’s? - part 2 Board 25 from Wednesday 4^th

Dealer: ♠ J1042 West North East(D) South

North ♥ A4 pass pass (1) pass

E-W vul ♦ J63 1♣ pass 1♥ pass

♣ 10864 3NT (2) pass pass (3) all pass

♠ Q85 N ♠ K63 (1) This East quite correctly likes a better suit

♥ 9 W E ♥ Q86532 for a vulnerable 2♥ pre-empt in second seat.

♦ K97 S ♦ A84 (2) Perhaps a bid of an overbid, but it does show

♣ AKQ976 ♣ J a good hand with a good long minor.

♠ A97 (3) What did you bid with this East hand D in

♥ KJ107 this week’s quiz. Pass is clear, 4♥ is totally

♦ Q1052 wrong as explained below.

♣ 53

A jump rebid to 2NT is a balanced 18-19. So the double jump 3NT rebid is something else. It can be one of two hand types:

(a) A good hand with a good long minor (as in this case although most would like the hand to be somewhat stronger).

(b) A 20-21 point hand which was unable to open 2NT because of a severe shortage (obviously ♥’s in this case).

So, either way, it would be sheer folly for East to bid 4♥.

And what happened? Actually, at Table B East knew exactly what was going on and when he tabled his hand he said ‘this is a good card’ as he laid down his singleton ♣J. How right he was.

3NT was bid on 3 out of 9 occasions and either made or made +1.

The bottom lines

- When partner makes a double jump rebid to 3NT, then that is where he wants to play unless you have values to go to slam. Do not rebid a 6-card major.

Gold Cup = Best 30	Silver Plate = Best 10	Bronze Medal = Best 5
Current standings 7-March-2009	619.5 Janne Roos 607.6 Hans Vikman 603.2 Paul Quodomine 601.1 Sally Watson 585.3 Bob Short 581.9 Johan Bratsberg	323.0 Janne Roos 321.3 Hans Vikman 316.7 Sally Watson 312.0 Bob Short 311.6 Paul Quodomine 305.0 Derek & Gerard 304.2 Lars Broman 303.9 Per-Ake Roskvist 302.9 Eddie Richart 300.5 Jeremy Watson

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 3♥. With excellent intermediates in the suit this seems pretty clear to me. 2♥ is chicken.

Hand B: Pass. You need a much better hand (very good 16+, preferably 17-18) to raise a 1NT response to 2NT. Raising a 1NT response to 2NT with 15-16 is a common mistake made by many Acol players.

Hand C: Pass (forcing) or double. I don’t mind either; but to bid anything (like 3♣) simply lets the vulnerable opponents off the hook when game by your side is by no means certain.

Hand D: Pass. Partner is NOT inviting you to bid on – he does not have ♥’s. He either has a big hand with a good long ♣ suit or else he has 20-21 with ♥ shortage.

Bidding Sequence Answers

E 1♣ pass 1♥ pass (a) No. It does NOT show a strong balanced hand.

3NT (b) It is either a good hand with a good long ♣ suit or else a 20-21 point hand with 4144 type shape (♥ shortage).

With a balanced 20-21 partner opens 2NT and with a balanced 18-19 he jump rebids 2NT, therefore the double jump to 3NT is ‘spare’ and has one of the two above meanings. If the 3NT response is at the two-level – say 1♥ - 2♣ - 3NT, then this 3NT bid has to encompass all of the possible meanings (18-19, 20-21 with shortage, or long suit) although some players do play a broad range (forcing) 2NT response (12-14 or 18+) over a two-level response.

F 1NT pass 2♣ pass This is absolutely up to partnership agreement. Popular

2♦ pass 3♣ treatments are weak or else strong and asking about opener’s shape (often looking for a minor suit slam).

G 1NT pass 3♠ pass This is again up to partnership agreement. In SAYC it’s inviting a ♠ slam but that is by no means that popular. With my last two partnerships they played it as 5-5 in the majors and forcing (although I don’t like this treatment either). Whatever you agree you play it as, it’s a strong bid. In the No Trump bidding book it is used as a splinter (♥ shortage).