Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 348

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 12^th July 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

Mon 6^th N-S 1^st Jeremy & Sally 60% 2^nd Arnt & Terje 56%

E-W 1^st Janne & Paul Q 61% 2^nd Gene & Terry Q 58%

Wed 8^th 1^st Janne & Bengt 60% 2^nd Guttorm & Ivy 59%

Fri 10^th 1^st Dave & Paul Q 67% 2^nd Janne & Per-Ake 62%

	to news-sheet main page
	to Pattaya Bridge home page
	to bridge book reviews	to bridge conventions	to No Trump bidding
	to bridge CD's and computer games and software

Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A you pass as dealer and partner opens 1♠ in 3^rd

seat, what do you bid?

♠ Q94 ♠ QJ964

♥ J93 ♥ 3 With Hand B you open 1♠ and LHO overcalls 2♣. Partner

♦ QJ5 ♦ AK97 doubles (showing ♥’s) and you bid 2♦. Partner then bids 2♥,

♣ AJ53 ♣ K43 what do you do?

Hand C Hand D With Hand C it’s unfavorable vulnerability. Partner opens 1♥

and RHO overcalls 2♦, what do you do?

♠ A874 ♠ 7652

♥ 6 ♥ J With Hand D partner opens 1♣ (at least 3 ♣’s) and RHO

♦ AK975 ♦ AK5 doubles, what do you do?

♣ Q65 ♣ J10983

Hand E Hand F With Hand E it’s unfavorable vulnerability. You open 1♥ and

LHO overcalls 2♦. This is passed to you, what do you do?

♠ KJ ♠ KJ

♥ AKQ72 ♥ KJ9 With Hand F it’s unfavorable vulnerability.

♦ J4 ♦ A9872 (a) Do you open in 1^st seat?

♣ J1083 ♣ 1082 (b) Suppose you open 1♦ and partner bids 1NT, what now?

Bidding Sequence Quiz

G 1♠ 2♣ dbl pass The double promises 4+ ♥’s.

2♦ pass 2♥ What does the 2♥ bid show?

H 1♠ 2♣ pass 2♥ Is 2♥ forcing?

J 1♠ 2♣ pass 3♥ What is 3♥, pre-emptive or strong?

K 1♠ 2♣ pass 2♠ What is the 2♠ cue bid of the opponent’s suit? Is it asking for a stop or something completely different? Is it alertable?

L 1♣ dbl redbl What does redbl generally mean? Does it show ♣’s?

M 1♦ pass 2♣ pass

2NT How strong is 2NT?

N 1♦ pass 2♦ pass

2NT How strong is 2NT?

You can help to finance the Pattaya bridge club and this web site by purchasing items (not necessarily bridge) using the Amazon search boxes :

Current club championship standings

	Gold Cup = Best 30	Silver Plate = Best 10	Bronze Medal = Best 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	1843.2 Janne Roos 1815.8 Paul Quodomine 1788.5 Hans Vikman 1768.3 Sally Watson	650.3 Janne Roos 643.4 Paul Quodomine 639.3 Hans Vikman 630.2 Sally Watson 619.9 Jeremy Watson 616.8 Bob Short 615.1 Lars Broman 614.1 Ivy Schlageter 609.2 Jean Wissing 607.6 Per Andersson	334.8 Janne Roos 330.2 Paul Quodomine 329.0 Hans Vikman 324.5 Sally Watson 321.8 Ivy Schlageter 321.7 Bob Short 321.7 Jeremy Watson 321.0 Per Andersson 316.9 Terje Lie 316.1 Lars Broman

Royal Bangkok Sports Club bridge outing to Pattaya

The annual RBSC bridge outing is coming to Pattaya this year. It’s on Saturday 8^th August. There is a pairs event in the afternoon followed by a teams event in the evening. Details are on the website in the ‘Thailand Bridge’ link.

RBSC ANNUAL BRIDGE EXCURSION

HORSESHOE POINT PATTAYA

PROGRAM

SATURDAY, 8^th AUGUST 2009

1200 HOURS - CHECK-IN

1300 HOURS - REGISTRATION, Open Pairs

1400 HOURS - OPEN PAIRS STARTS

1530 HOURS - COFFEE/TEA & SNACK

1800 HOURS - END OF OPEN PAIRS

1830 HOURS - BUFFET DINNER

1900 HOURS - REGISTRATION, Swiss Team of Four

1930 HOURS - SWISS TEAM STARTS

2130 HOURS - SUPPER

2330 HOURS - END OF SWISS TEAM

TOURNAMENT FEE BAHT 500.- PER PERSON FOR 2 EVENTS INCLUSIVE OF BUFFET DINNER, BREAKS AND SUPPER.

Stay low on a mis-fit… Board 15 from Monday 6^th

… and do not bid NoTrumps without plenty of points to spare.

Dealer: ♠ A108 Table A

South ♥ QJ West(B) North East South

N-S vul ♦ J96 - - - pass

♣ A10976 1♠ 2♣ dbl (1) pass

2♦ pass 2♥ (2) pass

♠ QJ964 N ♠ 52 2NT (3) pass 3NT (4) all pass

♥ 3 W E ♥ K109872

♦ AK97 S ♦ Q103 Table B

♣ K43 ♣ QJ West(B) North East South

♠ K73 1♠ 2♣ dbl (1) pass

♥ A654 2♦ pass 2♥ (2) pass

♦ 54 pass (3) pass

♣ 852

Table A: (1) Promising 4 ♥’s, perhaps more but insufficient values to bid at the two level (as in this case).

(2) Showing a weakish hand with usually 6 ♥’s.

(3) What did you bid with this West hand B in this week’s quiz? It’s a misfit and bidding NoTrumps with just one ♣ stop and just 13 points is terrible.

(4) This East has the unfortunate habit of believing partner. 2NT showed a strong hand and invites game, so with 8 points and great intermediates East gladly accepted.

Table B: (3) This East got it right and stopped in the best spot.

And what happened? 3NT-3, 2♥= and loads of spurious scores in-between.

The bottom lines: -

- Stay low on misfits

- Do not try to bail out into NoTrumps on mis-fits.

A silly take-out double Board 22 from Monday 6^th

Dealer: ♠ J3 West North East South

East ♥ K76 - - pass pass

E-W vul ♦ K75 1NT pass pass (1) dbl (2)

♣ 97432 pass pass (3) pass

♠ K1095 N ♠ 64 (1) Even with 2 tens, it’s not quite enough to invite

♥ A102 W E ♥ J954 (2) Meant as take-out! I simply can’t understand

♦ A86 S ♦ QJ103 this bid, if you really want to bid, then bid 2♠.

♣ AJ6 ♣ K105 (3) With no idea what was going on.

♠ AQ873

♥ Q83

♦ 842

♣ Q8

And what happened? A ♣ was led and declarer made a complete hash of the contract, setting up North’s ♣’s for him and blocking the ♦’s for just 2 ♦ tricks having prematurely used the ♣K entry. However, he scraped home and South’s double made the day and 1NT*= was a near top. Other results were 3NT=, 1NT+2 twice, 1NT+1, 2NT= and 2♠(s)-2.

The bottom lines: -

- I cannot see how you can double a 1NT opening for take-out? Are you playable in all four of the unbid suits?

The re-opening double Board 6 from Wednesday 8^th

A low-level double can sometimes be profitable at unfavourable vulnerability even when your side has a vulnerable game.

Dealer: ♠ 964 West(C) North East(E) South

East ♥ 109854 - - 1♥ 2♦ (1)

E-W vul ♦ 6 pass (2) pass dbl (3) all pass

♣ A942

(1) I know it’s favorable vulnerability, but

♠ A874 N ♠ KJ this overcall is appalling. Pass is clear.

♥ 6 W E ♥ AKQ72 (2) What did you bid with this West hand C

♦ AK975 S ♦ J4 in this week’s quiz? You know game is

♣ Q65 ♣ J1083 on and so a negative double to show 4 ♠’s

♠ Q1032 is a possibility. But even at this vulnerability

♥ J3 it looks best to me to go for the penalty.

♦ Q10832 (3) What did you bid with this East hand E

♣ K7 in this week’s quiz? Double is automatic.

And what happened? 2♦* went -4 for 800 and a top to E-W. All other E-W’s played in 3NT with results varying from +1 to -1.

The bottom lines: -

- You need a good suit to overcall at the two level.

- Remember the automatic re-opening double when you play negative doubles.

That horrible 4333 type shape again Board 25 from Monday 6^th

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – deduct a point for 4333 type shape.

Dealer: ♠ K82 Table A

North ♥ A6 West North East(A) South

E-W vul ♦ 106432 - pass pass pass

♣ Q106 1♠ pass 3♠ (1) pass

pass (2) all pass

♠ AJ1093 N ♠ Q94

♥ 1042 W E ♥ J93 Table B

♦ AK8 S ♦ QJ5 West North East(A) South

♣ 87 ♣ AJ53 - pass pass pass

♠ 76 1♠ pass 2♠ (1) all pass

♥ KQ875

♦ 97

♣ K942

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand A in this week’s quiz? 11 points, so worth an invite? That was the majority choice and if you don’t play Drury then I guess that you have to bid 3♠ if you think that the hand is worth a limit raise opposite a 3^rd seat opener.

(2) With a balanced minimum, pass is clear; although it appears that two West’s did press on to game.

Table B: (1) Just have another look at those ‘11 points’. The hand is totally flat 3334 with just three trumps and a fistful of quacks. I bid just 2♠ and that is my answer to question A although I realize that most will disagree and go down in 3♠. If you play Drury then I would bid 2♣ as it’s still possible to stop in 2♠ if partner is minimum; but it’s close between a Drury 2♣ and a simple 2♠.

And what happened? 4♠-3, 4♠-2, 3♠-1 twice, 2NT-1 and 2♠= twice.

The bottom lines: -

- Deduct a point for the infamous 4333 type shape, and also downgrade a hand with lots of quacks.

- It is interesting to note that the only other East to stop in 2♠ was my usual Wednesday bidding partner, Paul Q, but he and his partner were playing Drury.

- The Drury convention is described on the website.

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

West East You are East, declarer in 4♥. South plays the ♠A,K and

♠ 82 ♠ Q7 continues with a ♦, plan the play.

♥ 6 ♥ AKJ10843

♦ AKQ ♦ J105

♣ AJ98752 ♣ 6

Dave’s Column answer Board 23 from Wednesday 8th

Dealer: ♠ J103 Book Auction

South ♥ 2 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 86432 - - - 1♠

♣ Q1043 2♣ pass 4♥ (1) all pass

♠ 82 N ♠ Q7 (1) Some may play this as a splinter agreeing ♣’s

♥ 6 W E ♥ AKJ10843

♦ AKQ S ♦ J105

♣ AJ98752 ♣ 6

♠ AK9654 South starts with the ♠A,K and switches to the ♦9.

♥ Q975 Plan the play.

♦ 87

♣ K

The problem is recognizing that there is a problem. After winning the ♦ switch it seems routine to play ♥A,K and continue with a ♥ honor. But that is not good enough when South turns up with ♥Q975. If ♥’s had been 3-2 it would all be over but the 4-1 break meant minus one: South took the ♥Q and exited with the ♣K. That left declarer in dummy and whether a ♦ or a ♣ came next South’s ♥9 will score for the setting trick.

To guard against this possibility, declarer should cash the ♣A after winning the ♦ switch. Then comes the ♥A,K,J on which dummy’s ♦A,K are discarded. South wins the 3^rd ♥, but any return gives East the lead and he can draw the last trump. East’s ♦J,10 meant that he could afford to jettison the high ♦’s from dummy.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 4♥ was bid only twice and made both times. Other contracts were pretty random: 3NT -3, 6♥-2 and 4♠*(S)-2 and -3.

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

West East You are East, declarer in 6♠ after North has opened with.

♠ 5 ♠ AKQ108743 a 3♦ pre-empt. South leads the ♥Q, you win and draw

♥ A109 ♥ K trumps in three rounds – South having a singleton ♠.

♦ 9532 ♦ KQ Plan the play.

♣ Q10432 ♣ A7

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 24 from Wednesday 8^th

Dealer: ♠ J92 Book bidding

South ♥ 43 West North East South

Both vul ♦ AJ108764 - 3♦ 4NT(1) pass

♣ 6 5♦ pass 6♠ all pass

♠ 5 N ♠ AKQ108743 (1) A 4NT bid after a pre-empt is used by some

♥ A109 W E ♥ K to show an extreme two suiter. Showing a

♦ 9532 S ♦ KQ strong hand with both minors with 4NT is

♣ Q10432 ♣ A7 sensible after a major suit pre-empt, but

♠ 6 appeals less for a major-minor two suiter

♥ QJ87652 after a three level per-empt. Anyway, this

♦ - book auction assumes that 4NT is simple

♣ KJ985 Blackwood.

South leads the ♥Q. You win and draw trumps in three rounds, South holding a singleton ♠ Plan the play.

The lead makes it clear that South is void in ♦’s. Declarer wins the ♥K and draws trumps in three rounds. When North follows to three ♠’s, you can place North with 7 ♦’s, 3 ♠’s and at least one ♥.

You have to try to dispose of your ♦’s and there is no immediate access to dummy. No problem. Just enlist the aid of the opposition.

After drawing trumps, continue with the ♣A and another ♣ (playing the ♣Q if South plays low). This would fail only if North started with ♣Kx. When South takes the ♣K he has to surrender the lead to dummy and East’s two ♦’s are discarded on the ♥A and ♣Q.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 4♠+2 twice, 4♠+1 three times and 5NT=.

A silly redouble Board 4 from Friday 10^th

Dealer: ♠ 108 Table A

West ♥ 109862 West(D) North East South

both vul ♦ 10976 pass pass 1♣ dbl

♣ AK redbl (1) 1♥ pass pass

2♣ (2) 2♥ 3♣ 3♥

♠ 7652 N ♠ AQ93 all pass

♥ J W E ♥ A75

♦ AK5 S ♦ Q2 Table B

♣ J10983 ♣ 7652 West(D) North East South

♠ KJ4 pass pass 1♣ (1) dbl (2)

♥ KQ43 1♠ (1) 2♥ 2♠ 3♥

♦ J843 3♠ all pass

♣ Q4

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this West hand D in this week’s quiz? 9 points is enough for a redouble, but it generally shows shortage in partner’s suit and a desire to defend a doubled contract. With 5 cards in partner’s suit this hand certainly cannot defend a low level contract and I don’t like this redouble at all.

(2) West has a 2^nd chance to mention his ♠’s but failed to do so.

Table B: (3) This West got it right by simply bidding his ♠ suit, and this is my answer to question D

And what happened? 3♥(N)= twice, 3♠(W)= and 2♠(W)+1.

The bottom lines: -

- Redouble shows the balance of power, generally short in partner’s suit and looking for a penalty.

Is it an opener? Board 6 from Friday 10^th

It’s not often that we get a pass-out on Monday or Friday as the dealing program is set to give at least one player 12 or more points. Surprisingly three out of four tables passed this one out, so I thought I’d have a look at it.

Dealer: ♠ Q92 Table A

East ♥ Q432 West North East(F) South

E-W vul ♦ QJ5 - - pass (1) pass

♣ KJ7 pass pass

♠ A83 N ♠ KJ

♥ A85 W E ♥ KJ9 Table B

♦ 643 S ♦ A9872 West North East(F) South

♣ Q653 ♣ 1082 - - 1♦ (1) pass

♠ 107654 1NT pass 2♦ (2) all pass

♥ 1076

♦ K10

♣ A94

Table A: (1) Did you open this East hand F(a) in this week’s quiz? It is 12 points but the ♠KJ doubleton is bad. However, this is offset by a 5-card suit with excellent intermediates and intermediates in ♥’s and ♣’s. Perhaps the over-riding fact is that it conforms with the rule of 20.

Table B: (1) This East got it right by simply opening 1♦ and I totally agree and this is the answer to question F(a).

(2) What did you bid with this East hand F(b) in this week’s quiz? Partner’s 1NT response has denied a 4-card major and so 2♦ will normally be much safer than 1NT, especially as the opening lead may well come up to one of the major suit tenaces.

And what happened? Pass out 3 times, 2♦+1 for a clear top.

The bottom lines: -

- Upgrade for good intermediates, especially in a long suit.

- Downgrade for a holding such as KJ doubleton

- Obey the rule of 20

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2♣ - that is if you play Drury. Otherwise it’s a toss up between 2♠ and 3♠. In my opinion this hand, with its 3334 shape and loads of quacks is not worth an invitational 3♠ opposite a 3^rd seat opener and so, with a partner not playing Drury, I bid 2♠ which was passed out and made exactly.

Hand B: pass. Partner has heard that you have ♠’s and ♦’s. He has a weak hand with probably six ♥’s and wants to play there. It’s a mis-fit, so DO NOT bid NoTrumps.

Hand C: pass, and pass partner’s re-opening double. You probably have a vulnerable game but maybe not (one did go down) and you may well get 800 (you did),

Hand D: 1♠. Redouble is a very poor bid with 5 cards in partner’s suit.

Hand E: double, automatic. Trust partner, he can see the vulnerability as well as you can and if he thinks it’s best to go for a penalty then trust him.

Hand F: (a) 1♦. The ♠KJ are bad, but the hand has great intermediates and conforms with the rule of 20.

(b) 2♦. Partner has denied a 4-card major so 2♦ should be safer, especially with any major suit lead coming up to your tenaces.

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answers

G 1♠ 2♣ dbl pass The double promises 4+ ♥’s

2♦ pass 2♥ The 2♥ bid shows a weak hand with 5, probably 6, ♥’s and a desire to play in 2♥.

H 1♠ 2♣ pass 2♥ Most play this as constructive but non forcing

J 1♠ 2♣ pass 3♥ This is up to partnership understanding, weak or strong. If you play sequence H as forcing then this is clearly pre-emptive.

K 1♠ 2♣ pass 2♠ The 2♠ cue bid of the opponent’s suit is generally played as the unassuming cue bid, usually showing a sound raise to three or better of partner’s suit. Cue bids of opponent’s suit do not need alerting.

L 1♣ dbl redbl redbl shows 9+ points and generally shortage in partner’s suit and looking to defend a doubled contract.

M 1♦ pass 2♣ pass

2NT 2NT here is 12-14, partner has promised 10+ for his 2♣ bid.

N 1♦ pass 2♦ pass

2NT 2NT here is 18-19, partner has only promised 6-9 for his 2♦ bid.