Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 340

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 17^th May 2009

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

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Mon11^th 1^st Sean & Terje 63% 2^nd Dave & Terry Q 54%

Wed 13^th 1^st Paul Q & Terry Q 60% 2^nd Janne & Sally 57%

Fri 15^th 1^st Sean & Terje 65% 2^nd Dave & Paul Q 60%

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Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A partner opens 1♠, what do you bid?

♠ 1096 ♠ 10762

♥ 8752 ♥ 10 With Hand B it’s love all. LHO opens 1♥ and this is passed

♦ K4 ♦ AK1063 round to you. What do you bid?

♣ K1053 ♣ Q74

Hand C Hand D With Hand C it’s love all. RHO opens 1♥, what do you bid?

♠ AQ43 ♠ AKQ32

♥ J8652 ♥ A4 With Hand D you open 1♠ and …

♦ 7 ♦ Q1083 … (a) partner bids 1NT, what do you bid?

♣ AKJ ♣ J8 … (b) partner bids 2♠, what do you bid?

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

♠ 86 ♠ AK752

♥ AK9 ♥ 4 With Hand F partner opens 1♥ and you bid 1♠. Partner

♦ KQ752 ♦ 87 then bids 2♦, what do you do?

♣ K97 ♣ Q10752

Hand G Hand H With Hand G you open 1♥ and partner bids 1♠, what

is your rebid?

♠ Q3 ♠ K1098

♥ AQ987 ♥ AJ52

♦ AJ104 ♦ J6 With Hand H LHO opens 1♣ and partner doubles. RHO bids

♣ A6 ♣ 943 1♦, what do you do?

Bidding Sequence Quiz

J 1NT pass 3♣ What is 3♣; weak , invitational or forcing (slam seeking)?

K 1♥ pass 1♠ pass What is the upper point count (approx) for the 2♦ bid?

2♦

L 1♥ pass 1♠ pass What is the point count (approx) for the 3♦ bid?

3♦

M 1♣ 1♦ What is the upper point count (approx) for the 1♦ overcall?

Support with support Board 11 from Monday 11^th

Dealer: ♠ 854 Table A

East ♥ Q9 West(A) North East(D) South

E-W vul ♦ AJ65 - - 1♠ pass

♣ Q942 1NT (1) pass 2NT (2) dbl

3♠ (3) pass 3NT (4) all pass

♠ 1096 N ♠ AKQ32

♥ 8752 W E ♥ A4 Table B

♦ K4 S ♦ Q1083 West(A) North East(D) South

♣ K1053 ♣ J8 - - 1♠ pass

♠ J7 2♠ (1) pass 3♦ (5) pass

♥ KJ1063 3♠ (6) all pass

♦ 972

♣ A76

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this West hand A in this week’s quiz? 1NT is best if you are playing Acol, but this pair were playing Standard American and 2♠ is very clear with three trumps and a doubleton.

(2) What did you bid with this East hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? With no ♠ fit the ♠’s are likely to produce only 4 tricks and also this hand, with just 16 points, is not usually enough to make a game try opposite a 1NT response. 2♦ is best, with pass the less good alternative.

(3) West could cut his losses and pass, as he did at another table. This 3♠ is very misleading – surely it is offering a choice of games as with a hand that wants to play in a ♠ partscore West would obviously have originally responded 2♠.

(4) Seems quite clear to me opposite a presumed doubleton ♠.

Table B: (1) This West responded the obvious 2♠ which is the answer to question A.

(5) What did you bid with this East hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? This is a help-suit game try and with a known fit, this hand is worth a game try.

(6) With a bare minimum, West correctly declines.

And what happened? 3NT-1, 3♠= twice, 2NT+2

The bottom lines: -

- Support with support. Playing Standard American it is virtually always correct to support partner’s 1♥/♠ opening when holding 3-card support (note that this is different from Acol).

Dave’s Column Here is Dave’s 1^st input concerning the play of the hand.

Dealer: ♠ Q1094 West North East South

North ♥ KQ65 - - - 1NT

E-W vul ♦ 3 pass 2♣ pass 2♦

♣ J864 pass 2NT pass 3NT

♠ AK65 all pass

♥ J102

♦ J65 You are West and lead the ♥J. Declarer plays the ♥Q from dummy and the

♣ K103 ♥9 from hand with partner playing a discouraging card. Declarer then plays the ♠Q from dummy, East the ♠3 and declarer the ♠8. Plan the defence.

Dave’s Column answer Board 25 from Wednesday 13^th

Dealer: ♠ Q1094 Book Auction

North ♥ KQ65 West North East South

E-W vul ♦ 3 - - - 1NT

♣ J864 pass 2♣ pass 2♦

pass 2NT pass 3NT

♠ AK65 N ♠ 32 all pass

♥ J102 W E ♥ 873

♦ J65 S ♦ 10875

♣ K103 ♣ A972 You are West and lead the ♥J. Declarer plays the

♠ J87 ♥Q from dummy and the ♥9 from hand with

♥ A94 partner playing a discouraging card. Declarer

♦ AKQ92 then plays the ♠Q from dummy, East the ♠3

♣ Q5 and declarer the ♠8. Plan the defence.

East played a discouraging ♥, there is no ♦ holding for East that would make a ♦ switch profitable for the defence at this point. The only hope is the ♣ suit. If East holds ♣Q97x or ♣A9xx, three tricks are possible.

So win with the ♠K and leads the ♣10, dummy plays low, partner plays an encouraging ♣2 and declarer wins with the ♣Q. Win the ♠ continuation and play the ♣K and another ♣ to East’s ♣A9 over dummy’s ♣J8.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 3NT-2, 3NT-1, 3NT= and 2NT+1 twice.

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 3NT. North leads the ♠6, plan the play.

♠ QJ5 ♠ A1073

♥ A74 ♥ 1092

♦ 743 ♦ AJ6

♣ AKQ3 ♣ 1075

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 8 from Wednesday 13^th

Dealer: ♠ K9864 Book Bidding

West ♥ J86 West North East South

Love all ♦ Q92 1NT pass 2NT (1) pass

♣ 62 3NT all pass

♠ QJ5 N ♠ A1073 (1) It’s totally flat, but with three tens I would

♥ A74 W E ♥ 1092 not argue with 3NT as bid at our table. 2♣

♦ 743 S ♦ AJ6 followed by 3NT if partner does not show

♣ AKQ3 ♣ 1075 ♠’s is a reasonable alternative.

♠ 2

♥ KQ53

♦ K1085 North leads the ♠6, plan the play.

♣ J984

Happy with the ♠ lead, West played low from dummy. He won with the ♠J and led the ♠Q and north covered to force dummy’s ♠A. Unfortunately, South discarding was bad news; instead of 4 ♠ winners West could cash only three and West collected only 8 tricks.

Where did West go wrong? He missed the opportunity at trick one. West’s 4^th best lead of the ♠6 gives him all the information he needs. Using the Rule of Eleven West subtracts 6 (the card led) from 11 for an answer of 5. He can see 5 cards higher than the ♠6 and so dummy’s ♠7 will win the first trick and West makes his contract with 4 ♠’s, two red aces and three ♣’s.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 3NT+1, 3NT= twice, 2NT+1 and 3NT-1. Note that whatever West does with the ♠’s, South is pseudo squeezed on the ♠ continuations with nothing to guide him, and if he discards a ♣ then declarer makes his contract of 3NT (or +1 if he got the ♠’s right).

Current Championship standings

	Gold Cup = Best 30	Silver Plate = Best 10	Bronze Medal = Best 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	1813.6 Janne Roos 1788.5 Hans Vikman	643.2 Janne Roos 639.3 Hans Vikman 631.1 Sally Watson 626.0 Paul Quodomine 615.1 Lars Broman 611.1 Bob Short 609.2 Jean Wissing 607.6 Per Andersson 603.2 Jeremy Watson 597.1 Ivy Schlageter	331.8 Janne Roos 329.0 Hans Vikman 324.5 Sally Watson 321.7 Bob Short 321.3 Jeremy Watson 321.0 Per Andersson 320.9 Paul Quodomine 318.2 Ivy Schlageter 316.1 Lars Broman 315.7 Jean Wissing

.

A profitable 1-level non-vul penalty? Board 17 from Wednesday 13^th

Many players believe that it is not possible to get a good score from a 1-level penalty double, this board proves them wrong. It doesn’t happen that often, but with the right hand type...

Dealer: ♠ J9 Table A

North ♥ 74 West(C) North East(B) South

Love all ♦ QJ943 - pass pass 1♥

♣ 9832 pass (1) pass dbl (2) pass

pass (3) pass

♠ AQ43 N ♠ 10762

♥ J8652 W E ♥ 10 Table B

♦ 7 S ♦ AK1063 West(C) North East(B) South

♣ AKJ ♣ Q74 - pass pass 1♥

♠ K83 pass (1) pass dbl (2) pass

♥ AKQ93 pass (3) 2♦ (4) pass (5) pass

♦ 82 2♠ pass pass (6) all pass

♣ 1065

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this West hand C in this week’s quiz? Double, with 5 ♥’s is terrible of course; 1NT is ugly but 1♠ is reasonable. But easily the best bid in my opinion is pass and wait and see what happens – it’s usually best to pass when RHO opens your suit unless your hand is suitable for a 1NT overcall.

(2) What did you bid with this East hand B in this week’s quiz? You normally need more points (10+) for a take-out double but this is fine in the pass-out seat where you can double with considerably less. This double is far better than 2♦ as it’s always possible that partner has a ♥ stack (as here).

(3) Just what I wanted to hear.

Table B: (4) This North decided to rescue partner.

(5) A penalty double is pretty clear here but I guess East had no idea what was going on? I believe that he did not realize that dbl is penalties in this situation.

(6) Apparently East still had no idea what was going on? 4♠ looks right to me.

And what happened? 2NT(W)= twice, 2♠+3 and 1♥*(S)-2 twice.

The bottom lines: -

- I am not a great believer of the ‘trap pass’ but this West hand seems an excellent example. E-W can make 4♠ for 420 or 450 but best defence should net 500 for 1♥*-3.

- 4♠ is not that easy for E-W to reach and I am a believer in ‘taking the money’.

- Once partner has made a penalty double (or converted a double into penalties by passing) then all subsequent doubles are for penalties.

Paul’s Column

THREE POOR BIDS IN A ROW Board 9 from Friday 15th

West tried to blame his partner for this disastrous result when he himself had made THREE poor bids.

West(H) North East South

Dealer: ♠ A74 - 1♣ dbl (1) 1♦

North ♥ 43 1♠ (2) 2♣ 2♠ (3) 3♣

E-W vul ♦ K5 3♠ (4) 4♣ pass pass

♣ AQJ865 4♠ (5) dbl all pass

♠ K1098 N ♠ QJ53 (1) This is acceptable, but I prefer a 1♥ overcall.

♥ AJ52 W E ♥ KQ976 (2) What did you bid with this West hand H in

♦ J6 S ♦ Q74 this week’s quiz? 2♦ (pick a major) is best

♣ 943 ♣ 7 (3) Competing to the level of the Law, fine.

♠ 62 (4) Why not bid 3♥ here and show both majors?

♥ 108 (5) Two over the LAW and vulnerable against not

♦ A109832 to boot, this bid is absurd.

♣ K102

4♠* went -1 for a complete top to N-S. And at the end of the game West actually tried to blame his partner!!

THE ADVANCE BALANCE Board 7 from Friday 15th

♠ Q974 All vulnerable. You hold this hand and partner opens 1NT, you elect to pass

♥ 74 after a pass by RHO.

♦ 10863

♣ K75

LHO competes with 2♦, Multi-Landy showing a long (6+) major and partner passes. You are reasonably certain LHO has hearts and intends to pass his partner’s forced 2♥ call but you have a smattering of points opposite a known strong hand, two 4 card suits, and interest in pushing them up a level. You also have some support for either minor. Do you go quietly? At Matchpoints? HELL NO! But the auction is still live! And 2♥ is likely to be passed out!

The answer is an advance balance. Having denied game interest or 5+ spades (no transfer) with your former pass a 2♠ bid is quite descriptive. You want partner to know you have 5-7 hcp with heart shortage. There is an advantage to playing 2♠ at this point as showing 4 spades and the aforementioned values, and double as showing 3 spades and at least 4-4 in the minors. Partner may have opened 1NT with 5 ♠’s and may also want to pass the double for penalty. The real payoff comes when LHO gets aggressive and competes to THREE ♥ over 2♠ which is what happened at our table with: ♠Kx ♥Q98632 ♦A7 ♣Q106. Now opener (the NT hand) dropped the ball. Holding ♠AJ86 ♥AKJ5 ♦KJ ♣842 he failed to go for the penalty (it could have been 800 if doubled) and raised an obvious limited advance balance to 3♠. It made exactly, and with good play could have made 4, for a good result but if partner gives a very exact description of his/her hand act accordingly! A double here by opener was virtually automatic! The 800 available vs 140/170 should reward enterprise.

Moral? Don’t automatically go quietly if the opponents compete! There IS a risk factor but the rewards often outweigh it.

< end of Paul’s column>

Another Advanced Balance Board 11 from Friday 15^th

Actually there was another very similar advanced balance by another player on this deal.

Dealer: ♠ 10853 West North East South

South ♥ Q - - - 1NT (1)

E-W vul ♦ K1063 pass pass 2♦ (2) pass

♣ KJ42 2♥ 2♠ (3) pass (4) 2NT (5)

all pass

♠ 7 N ♠ KQJ964

♥ 107542 W E ♥ KJ9 (1) Playing a weak NoTrump. I guess that this is

♦ Q982 S ♦ 54 another clash of styles as I consider this hand

♣ A8 ♣ 73 far too strong for a weak NT. Apparently South

♠ A2 deducted for 3 aces whereas I would do the opposite

♥ A63 and I also like that fairly robust 5-card ♣ suit.

♦ AJ7 (2) Single suited major playing Multi Landy.

♣ Q10965 (3) South bid 2♠ now for exactly the reasons explained above.

(4) double is the alternative

(5) As it’s 4-2 ♠ fit, South removed to 2NT, 3♣ is safer.

And what happened? 2NT made +3, but N-S got a near bottom as at most other tables South opened a strong NT and 3NT made +1 twice and = once. It needs a ♥ lead (not a ♠) to beat 3NT.

Double a cipher bid for a lead Board 3 from Friday 15^th

Dealer: ♠ AK107 Table A

South ♥ AQ West North East South

E-W vul ♦ A1097 - - - pass

♣ QJ7 pass 2NT pass 3♣

pass (1) 3♠ pass 4♣ (2)

♠ Q63 N ♠ J5 pass (3) 4NT pass 6♠

♥ 10986 W E ♥ 543 all pass

♦ 632 S ♦ J54

♣ AK8 ♣ 109643 Table B

♠ 9842 West North East South

♥ KJ72 - - - pass

♦ KQ8 pass 2NT pass 3♣

♣ 52 pass (1) 3♠ pass 4♠ (2)

all pass

Table A: (1) Double here is a possibility but it may imply longer ♣’s.

(2) Apparently asking for aces – I don’t like this bid at all, the ♣’s may be wide open and the trump suit is hardly slam quality. This bid chosen at table B is far superior.

(3) Now that the opponents are looking for slam West must double here for a ♣ lead.

Table B: (2) This South chose not to investigate slam – very wise.

And what happened? Actually, at both of these tables East had no idea what to lead and chose the disastrous ♠J which gave declarer 12 tricks when a ♣ lead would provide two ♣ tricks with probably a ♠ to come. Other results were 4♠+1 and 3NT+2. The bottom lines: -

- The double of a cipher bid (such as a transfer, Stayman or Gerber) shows a good holding in the suit and asks for that suit to be led.

Different Styles – part 1 Board 21 from Friday 15^th

A few of the club’s top players ended up in unfamiliar partnerships on Friday, and some differences in style proved costly.

Dealer: ♠ A3 Table A

North ♥ J8 West North East(E) South

N-S vul ♦ 109 - 1♣ dbl (1) 1♥

♣ AQJ5432 1♠ (2) 2♣ pass (3) 2♥

2♠ (4) 3♣ pass 3NT

♠ J109542 N ♠ 86 all pass

♥ 43 W E ♥ AK9

♦ J84 S ♦ KQ752 Table B

♣ 108 ♣ K97 West North East(E) South

♠ KQ7 - 1♣ 1♦ (1) 1♥

♥ Q107652 pass 2♣ pass 3♥

♦ A63 all pass

♣ 6

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand E in this week’s quiz? This is the first example of differing styles. This East believes that a simple 1♦ overcall is limited to about 13-14 points and that with a stronger hand you should double. I don’t like this style at all and my overcalls can be up to a poor 17. I much prefer table B’s bidding.

(2) A bit light for a free bid but in West’s style partner has promised ♠’s or a very big hand.

(3) Now I don’t understand this, the ♦ suit never got a mention. Surely a 2♦ bid now is consistent with this style of bidding? But then it’s a style that is alien to me.

(4) Still under the impression that partner has ♠’s.

Table B: (3) This East chose the fairly obvious 1♦ overcall. 1NT is also possible (far better than double) but I slightly prefer 1♦ as the ♣ stop is tentative and the hand is absolutely minimum for a 1NT overcall.

And what happened? West at Table A did not find the ♦ lead to set the contract (why should he?). East later commented that as he did not support ♠’s he must have ♦’s. I see no logic in this argument whatsoever; especially as he declined to bid the suit at (3) and as far as West was concerned they were playing normal take-out doubles (playable in the other three suits) and partner had at least three ♠’s. Other results were 4♣*-2, 3♠-1, 3♥+1 and 3♥-1.

The bottom lines: -

- I (and as far as I know, most bridge players) play that a take-out double is playable in the other 3 suits unless very strong (good 17+) and that an overcall can be up to 16 or 17 points. This works out fine if you play the Unassuming Cue bid.

- I personally feel that to double 1♣ with just 5 cards in the majors and only 15 points is terrible, but I guess it’s a matter of style?

- Incidentally, if the opening bid was 1♥ then I would bid 1NT with the East hand and if the opening bid was 1♠ then I would double.

Next we have a different pair with clashing styles: -

Different Styles – part 2 Board 8 from Friday 15^th

N-S at Table A missed an easy game, who would you blame?

Dealer: ♠ Q3 Table A

West ♥ AQ987 West North(G) East South(F)

Love all ♦ AJ104 pass 1♥ pass 1♠

♣ A6 pass 2♦ (1) pass pass (2)

pass

♠ J104 N ♠ 986

♥ 1052 W E ♥ KJ63 Table B

♦ K632 S ♦ Q95 West North(G) East South(F)

♣ K84 ♣ J93 pass 1♥ pass 1♠

♠ AK752 - 2♦ (1) pass 2♠ (2)

♥ 4 pass 3♣ (3) pass 3NT (4)

♦ 87 all pass

♣ Q10752

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand G in this week’s quiz? A jump to 3♦ is game forcing and this hand is not good enough, so 2♦ is clear to me.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand F in this week’s quiz? This is the second example of differing styles. This South believes that a simple 2♦ rebid by partner at (1) is limited to about 14 points and that with a stronger hand North should jump to 3♦, so he passed. I don’t like this style at all and would bid as table B.

Table B: (2) This South chose the fairly obvious 2♠ rebid in answer to question F. Pass does not appeal as it may be a 4-2 fit in a low scoring minor suit contract. 2♠ has the advantages that it shows the good 5-card suit and gives partner the opportunity to try for game should he have 15-17 points or so. Good bid.

(3) North could bid 2NT as a try now, but I prefer 3♣ - 4^th suit forcing. I play 4^th suit forcing as generally game forcing but having already made a passable bid and thus limiting the hand, this bid is not game forcing but game invitational and North should pass any 3♦/♥/♠ bid from South. Bidding the 4^th suit (rather than 2NT) is also preferable as it protects partner’s ♣ holding.

(4) South has an obvious 3NT bid.

And what happened? Table A was the only one not to bid game. Results were 3NT+2, 3NT+1 twice, 4♠-2 (although Deep finesse says it makes +1) and 2♦+2.

The bottom lines: -

- Sequences like sequence K (1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦) may be as strong as 17 points. I.e. not enough to force to game opposite a 1-level response.

Different Styles – part 3 West hand 23 from Friday 15^th

♠ A2 What would you open with this hand if playing Acol (4 card majors and a

♥ Q964 weak No Trump). A few players at the club (Sean Burgess and the Watsons)

♦ KQJ say that they play Acol. This is debatable, as with this hand they open 1♣

♣ KJ97 whereas the correct Acol opening is 1♥ - Acol is a four card major system

and you should open a 4 card major in preference to a 4-card minor. For the sake of the unbelievers (it’s difficult to comprehend I know, but not everybody believes what I say) I’ll quote from the ‘Basic System’ for the Bidding Competition of the BRIDGE magazine – now the UK’s only bridge magazine. The very first line reads “Natural, 4-card majors with a major bid before a minor (♣’s before ♦’s and ♥’s before ♠’s)…”

Acol is defined as a four card major system and a main point of the system is to get your major in quickly, and the recommended method is to open the major if your rebid is NoTrumps (15+). Of course with a 5-card minor you bid the minor first, so the sequence 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ … promises a 5-card ♣ suit. The only exceptions are 4441 and 4414 where some would open the minor.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2♠. Show partner that you have ♠ support. 1NT, with three trumps and an outside doubleton is a very poor bid.

Hand B: Dbl. This hand is easily strong enough in the balancing seat and dbl is much better than 2♦ as partner may be sitting there with a ♥ stack.

Hand C: Pass. With length in RHO’s suit it’s usually best to pass. 1♠ would be my second choice and double is terrible with 5 ♥’s. 1NT does not appeal to me either.

Hand D: (a) 2♦, this hand is not good enough for a game try (2NT) with no ♠ support opposite.

(b) 3♦, a help-suit game try. With at least 3 ♠’s opposite this hand should produce 5 ♠ tricks and is worth a game try.

Hand E: 1♦ or possibly 1NT. Dbl, with just five cards in the majors and three in the suit opened is terrible in my opinion.

Hand F: 2♠. With 9 points you have to make another bid (partner may have 16 or so points) and this ♠ suit is certainly good enough to bid again.

Hand G: 2♦, the hand is not good enough for a game forcing 3♦ and with 8 or more points partner will make another bid.

Hand H: 2♦, pick a major. 1♠ (with the intention of bidding ♥’s later if you get a chance) is a poor second choice.

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answers

J 1NT pass 3♣ 3♣ here is up to partnership understanding. Some play it as a slam try, some as weak and 5-5 in the minors and in SAYC it is invitational to 3NT showing a 6 card suit with two honours.

K 1♥ pass 1♠ pass The upper limit is around 17, i.e. not good enough for a

2♦ game forcing 3♦.

L 1♥ pass 1♠ pass This 3♦ is game forcing and should be around 18, maybe

3♦ less with good shape and/or decent ♠’s.

M 1♣ 1♦ Most play it as around 16-17 points and double with more. This is clearly stated as the SAYC norm.