Our website is www.pattayabridge.com                             Club News Sheet – No. 268

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com                                 

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880                   23rd Dec 2007

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 17th  N-S     1st    Paul K & Sean               63%       2nd    Gun & Lennart K                 54%

E-W     1st    Arnt & Terje                  64%       2nd    Hans V & Lars B                 57%

Wed 19th N-S     1st    Gun & Lennart K           61%       2nd    Paul K & Sean B                  59%

                E-W     1st    Dave & Terry                 66%       2nd    Derek & Gerard                   62%

Fri    21st  N-S     1st    Gun & Lennart K           55%       2nd    Arnt & Frode                       51%

                E-W     1st    Dave & Royd                 61%       2nd    Jan & Kaare                         58%

                           

Bidding Quiz                           Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

                             

Hand A           Hand B           With Hand A partner opens 1 and RHO overcalls 2 (weak),

K82              AQ10763     what do you bid?      

AK973         9763            

854               Q6                With Hand B LHO opens 1 and partner overcalls 1, what do

87                10                you bid?

 

Hand C           Hand D           With Hand C everybody is vulnerable. Partner opens 1 and RHO doubles, what do you do?

A984            AQ10                                  

6                   5                  

KQ96           KQJ106        With Hand D it’s favourable vulnerability. You open 1 and

AQ52           J1095           LHO overcalls 2. This is passed to you, what do you do?

 

 

Hand E            Hand F            With Hand E RHO opens 1 and LHO raises to 2. This is

passed round to you, what do you do?

A63              973

9732             Q1074          With Hand F partner passes and this is passed round to LHO

A952            AK5             who opens 1 in 4th seat. RHO bids 1 and this is raised to 2

92                QJ3              by opener. Partner doubles; what do you do?       

 

Bidding Sequence Quiz

 

G     1      pass   2      pass  

pass   dbl                              How strong is dbl?

 

Leading Problem                         You are North, what do you lead against 2 doubled?

 

A984            West      North(A)    East          South              

6                   -             -                 -               1 

KQ96           dbl         redbl          pass         pass          

AQ52           2          dbl             all pass

                       


The Club Championships

                         

It’s all very close with just one more week to go, this week the Gold Cup race was again very entertaining. Jan attempted to stop his slide by playing with a professional twice; on Wednesday they were thrashed by Dave and the local beach bum and on Friday Dave again beat Jan and his professional when Dave was in harness with the partner that Jan dumped in favor of a professional. These two results by Dave not only give him a comfortable cushion against Jan and any professional partner he may get, but also put Dave ahead of Lewis who is not playing any more this year. Perhaps we will be seeing Norwegian champion Geir Helgemo at the club this week?

 

 

Gold Cup = Best 30

Silver Plate = Best 10

Bronze Medal = Best 5

 

1

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5

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1860.4 Dave Cutler

1855.6 Lewis Berg

1847.5 Jan v Koss

1833.8 Paul Savelkral

1816.8 Janne Roos

1806.4 Lars Gustaffson

1770.0 Bob Pelletier

1748.7 Ivy Schlageter

1747.1 Wolfgang Foitik

1734.4 Sally Watson

 

 

670.5 Lewis Berg

666.8 Janne Roos

658.9 Dave Cutler

655.2 Jan v Koss

647.8 Lars Gustaffson

645.3 Paul Savelkral

644.1 Bengt Malmgren

643.7 Terje Lie

634.5 Derek & Gerard

627.1 Gunnar Barthel

 

 

350.4 Janne Roos

346.0 Lewis Berg

343.2 Bengt Malmgren

341.1 Jan v Koss

336.7 Paul Savelkral

335.2 Dave Cutler

333.4 Terje Lie

332.5 Lars Gustafsson

331.8 Derek & Gerard

325.6 Gunnar Barthel

 

 

 

Bridge Cryptogram                            Each letter denotes a specific letter in the alphabet.

 

 

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Qui Culpa?                                                           Board 5 from Monday 17th 

 

N-S missed a comfortable 4 (or 4), who would you blame?

 

Dealer:             AQ10763                                   Table A

North               9763                                           West          North(B)    East            South

N-S vul            Q6                                              -                 pass (1)      1             1

                        10                                              pass           2    (2)      pass           pass   (3)

pass

54                      N             K82                     

J4                  W    E          Q10                      Table B

532                    S              10874                  West          North(B)    East            South

QJ8532                              AK76                  -                 pass (1)      1             1

                        J9                                               pass           2   (2)      pass           4      (4)

AK852                                       all pass

AKJ9                                         

94                                                     

 

Table A:     (1)  A weak 2 is a possible opener with this hand, presumably this North belongs to the school who do not pre-empt with a side 4-card major. I have no problems either way and would not argue with a 2 opening especially as the ’s are so weak and the suit is reasonable.

(2)   What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz? With four ’s and great shape this simple raise is too timid.

(3)   I think that this hand is probably worth a try (with 3).

Table B      (1)  This North also decided not to open.

                  (2)  And this is what I probably would have bid, an Unassuming cue bid, showing a sound raise to 3. However, this would probably not be the choice of an expert (who would bid 3 to show a sound raise with 4 card support).

(4)   Either way South now has an easy 4 bid.

 

And what happened? 2 made +3 for a bottom, with everybody else making 4+1.

The bottom lines: -

-         Upgrade a hand with 4-card support for partner.

-         Remember the Unassuming Cue bid, showing a sound raise to three of partner’s overcall.

-         I have updated the Unassuming Cue Bid page on the website to include the unassuming jump cue bid, which experts now apparently use when they have a sound raise with 4-card support.

 


A poor take-out double                                        Board 23 from Monday 17th 

 

I repeatedly say that a take-out double should be short in the suit opened and playable in the other three suits. In the direct seat is should also have points! – about an opening hand.

 

Dealer:             A984                                          Table A

South               6                                                 West          North(C)    East            South

both vul            KQ96                                         -                 -                 -                 1

                        AQ52                                         dbl   (1)      redbl  (2)    pass           pass  

2              dbl             all pass

10763                N             KJ5                     

-                    W    E          AJ7532                Table B

A10543             S              87                        West          North(C)    East            South

10983                                74                       -                 -                 -                 1

                        Q2                                              pass           1              pass           2     

KQ10984                                   pass           3NT           all pass

J2                                               

KJ6                                                   

 

Table A:     (1)  Right shape, but with 4 points and vulnerable it’s likely to go for a number.

(2)   What did you bid with this North hand C in this week’s quiz? This redouble is spot on – it’s a mis-fit, go for the vulnerable penalty.

Table B      All the other tables bid sensibly

 

And what happened? What did you lead in this week’s leading quiz? North knows that the declaring side have at most 13 points – so where is declarer going to get any tricks except by cross-ruffing? North should lead a low .

North actually led a and failed to lead a trump when in again with a . West thus got his cross-ruff going and escaped for just two down and an undeserved top (-500) when it should have been 1100 away. Every other N-S was scoring 600-660 playing in 3NT

The bottom lines: -

-         When you know that you have the majority of the points and are defending – lead a trump! Where are the opponents going to get their tricks except by cross-ruffing?


The Automatic re-opening double                       Board 16 from Wednesday 19th 

 

 

Dealer:             AQ10                                         Table A

West                5                                                 West          North(D)    East            South(A)

E-W vul           KQJ106                                      pass           1              2    (1)      pass   (2)

                        J1095                                         pass           2   (3)      pass           3NT   (4)

all pass

J753                  N             964                      

2                   W    E          QJ10864              Table B

973                   S              A2                       West          North(D)    East            South(A)

KQ643                              A2                       pass           1              2    (1)      pass   (2)

                        K82                                            pass           dbl   (3)      pass           pass   (5)

AK973                                       pass          

854                                            

87                                                     

 

Table A:     (1)  A weak jump overcall. It’s a bit on the good side but it’s adverse vulnerability and partner is a passed hand and so I think it’s fine (well I have to say that – because that’s what I bid).

(2)  What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? Obviously you expect to get 800+ from the penalty and since you are playing negative doubles you pass and wait for partner’s ‘automatic’ re-opening double.

(3)   What did you bid with this North hand D in this week’s quiz? This North chose to bid out his shape. Words fail me – I cannot say how bad I think this bid is.

(4)   Think I’ll give up playing negative doubles with this partner.

Table B      (3)  This North got it right, partner obviously has a stack.

(5)  Thank you partner.

 

And what happened?

3NT made exactly for 400, but at other tables N-S were collecting anything from 500 to 1100 for 2 doubled.

The bottom lines: -

-         If you play negative doubles, then remember the ‘automatic’ re-opening double or you will miss big penalties.

 

 

 

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

 

West                East                  You are East, playing in 4 and South leads the Q, plan the play.

K653            AQ952      

K54              AJ8           

Q64             J82                                       

K87             A5

                                                               

                                                     


Dave’s Column answer                      Board 14 from Wednesday 19th    

 

   

Dealer:             10                                               West          North         East            South

East                  10632                                         -                 -                 1NT (1)      pass

Love all            K975                                          2             pass           2              pass

                        9642                                          4              all pass      

 

K653                  N             AQ952           (1)  It’s up to your partnership if you open 1 or

K54                W    E          AJ8                     1NT with a 5-card major. I generally prefer

Q64                    S              J82                       1NT with this hand type as there is then no

K87                                   A5                        rebid problem

                        J84                                            

Q97                                     

A103                                         

QJ103

 

South leads the Q, how do you play in 4by East?   

Suppose you win the lead, draw trumps and take the finesse. It loses and South exits safely in ’s or ’s. You will later have to tackle the suit yourself, and with the honours split, you will lose a total of 4 tricks (3 ’s and a ).

You would like to force the opponents to make the first play in ’s. How can this be done? After winning the lead and drawing trumps, you must eliminate the suit. What does that mean? You cross to the K and ruff a in hand; the defenders will not now be able to play that suit (if they did it would give you a ruff and discard). What do you do next? Take the finesse? No, because if it loses , South will probably have a safe return. Instead you must cash the A and K and exit with the J. It makes no difference which defender wins the third round of ’s. He will have to play a or give you a ruff and discard.

 

And what happened?

Seven pairs out of 8 ended up in 4 and four made it.

The bottom lines: -

-         Don’t take a 50% finesse if you have a 100% end-play.

 

 

 

 

Dave’s 2nd Column Here is Dave’s 2nd input involving the best play for the contract.

 

North               South               You are South, playing in 6 and West leads the K.

753               AQ2             How do you play the hand?

AQ               K5                                                    

K542            AQJ10976 

8643            A

                 
Dave’s 2nd Column answer                                 Board 15 from Wednesday 19th   

 

   

Dealer:             753                                             West          North         East            South

South               AQ                                             -                 -                 -                 2

N-S vul            K542                                          pass           2    (1)      pass           3

                        8643                                          pass           4              pass           4NT     (2)

pass           5    (3)      pass           5NT     (4)

K104                  N             J986                     pass           6   (5)      pass           6

10862             W    E          J9743                  all pass

3                         S             8                          

KQJ75                               1092              (1)  Waiting      

                        AQ2                                     (2)  RKCB

K5                                        (3)  2 keycards and no Q

AQJ10976                           (4)  kings?  

A                                          (5)  None. There are other responses but this pair show the number of kings (excluding the trump king)

 

It does not matter who is declarer as the play is much the same (except that with North as declarer the contract goes down on a lead). Dave’s book assumes that South is declarer. How do you play on the K lead from West?

 

                        753                                       There are two possible losers in ’s and you    

            -                                           would like to force West to lead this suit. You can

                        54                                        achieve this when West has 5 or more ’s. You

8                                          win the lead, draw trumps with the A and

cross to the Q to ruff a . You then play the K

K104                  N             J986               to the A and ruff another . Finally you reach

10                   W    E          J9                   dummy again with the K and you have this end           

-                         S              -                      position.

QJ                                      -                     You lead dummy’s last and East discards.

                        AQ2                                     Success is now guaranteed.

-                                           Instead of ruffing the , you discard a loser. West

QJ10                                    wins the trick and has no safe return. He must either

-                                           lead a into your AQ or play a or , either of

which will give you a ruff and discard.

 

And what happened?

Five pairs out of 8 reached 6, two made it and three went one down.

The bottom lines: -

-         When you have a holding such as AQx you would like the player on your left to play the suit.

-         Sometimes you can throw a specific defender on lead with the last card of a different suit.

 


Balancing – part 1                                                Board 5 from Friday 21st  

 

When you are in the balancing, or pass-out seat, at a low level then you can bid with less points that normal as partner obviously has values.

 

Dealer:             KQJ94                                       Table A

North               J108                                           West          North         East(E)       South

N-S vul            J74                                              pass           1              pass           2

                        87                                              pass           pass           pass (1)

 

10                      N             A63                      Table B

KQ54             W    E          9732                     West          North         East(E)       South

K86                    S              A952                   pass           1              pass           2

KJ1064                              92                       pass           pass           dbl   (1)      pass

                        8752                                           3              pass           pass           pass   (2)

A6                                             

Q103                                         

AQ63                                                

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this East hand E in this week’s quiz? This pass is very lame – a balancing double is not perfect (partner may bid ’s) but if partner has 4 ’s or bid ’s then you will find a fit. The opponents have a fit and the odds are that you have a fit somewhere.

Table B      (1)  This East got it right with a balancing double

(2)  With 4 ’s South should bid 3 - The Law of Total Tricks (9 trumps in total)..

 

And what happened?

N-S were left to play comfortably in 2 at no less than 4 out of 6 tables! Are there so few people who understand balancing? Just two East’s got it right; at one table West made 3 for a top and at the other N-S bid to 3 and went one down.

The bottom lines: -

-         If the opponents stop at the two level with a fit, then it’s usually best to balance as you too usually have a fit.

-         You do not need your full quota of points to balance in the pass-out seat with a double, 7 or 8 is fine.

 


Balancing – part 2                                                Board 18 from Friday 21st  

 

We saw just now that one can balance with as few as 8 or 9 points, therefore partner of a balancer needs to show constraint.

 

Dealer:             A852                                          Table A

East                  A83                                            West(F)     North         East            South

N-S vul            QJ4                                             -                 -                 pass           pass

                        10862                                        pass           1             pass           1

pass           2              dbl   (1)      pass

973                    N             J                           4  (2)        all pass

Q1074            W    E          K962                   

AK5                   S              107632                Table B

QJ3                                    A52                     West(F)     North         East            South

                        KQ1064                                     -                 -                 pass           pass

J5                                               pass           1             pass           1

98                                               pass           2              dbl   (1)      pass

K974                                         3  (2)        pass           pass           pass   (3)         

 

Table A:     (1)  This is not actually the balancing seat, but both opponents have limited their hands and the same rules apply – you can ‘balance’ here with 8 or so points and with 9 cards in the red suits double here double is an excellent bid.

(2)  Unfortunately West did not realize that partner was bidding 3 of his points and he jumped to game. Had he stopped to ponder the fact that partner had already passed twice he should have realized that he had few points.

Table B      (2)  This West got it right

(3)  With 4 ’s South should bid 3 - The Law of Total Tricks (9 trumps in total).

 

And what happened?

Results were all over the place and 4-2 actually scored an average. The top E-W score was 3 making and a couple of South’s made 9 tricks in ’s, but deep Finesse says that N-S should only make 8 tricks in ’s.

The bottom lines: -

-         If  partner balances (or bids when both opponents are limited) then do not leap about – that is called ‘hanging partner’.


Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:     Pass, and next go pass partner’s automatic double.

Hand B:    2, an Unassuming cue bid – showing a sound raise to 3. 2 is too feeble with great shape and 4 trumps and 3 is pre-emptive. Having said that, the expert bid these days is 3 - a jump unassuming cue bid! This shows a sound raise to 3 with 4 trumps and was obviously devised by a devout follower of the Law of Total tricks.

Hand C:    Redouble. It’s a mis-fit so go for the (hopefully huge) vulnerable penalty.

Hand D:    Double, ‘automatic’. Partner is almost certainly sitting with a penalty hand.

Hand E:    Double. You are in the balancing seat and do not want the opponents to play peacefully in 2. Double is not perfect as you have only 2 ’s but you are very likely to have a fit and really should balance.

Hand F:     3. Partner does not have much except 8+ red cards. Do not jump to 4♥ - partner is bidding your hand (3 of your points) for you because he has shape.

 

 

Bidding Sequence Answer

 

G     1      pass   2      pass  

pass   dbl                         Dbl here is in the balancing seat and may be a little as 8 points.

 

 

Leading Quiz Answer

 

A trump. This may possibly cost a trump trick but declarer has at most 13 combined points and can only get a reasonable number of tricks if he gets a cross ruff going. Leading the singleton is pointless as you do not need ruffs (your side has so many high cards) – you need to reduce any ruffs that dummy may have.