Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 292

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 15^th June 2008

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 9^th 1^st Jeremy & Sally 64% 2^nd Sean & Terje 58%

Wed 11^th 1^st Dave & Ivy 60% 2^nd Kenneth & Phil 58%

Fri 13^th 1^st Ian & Philip 60% 2^nd Henri & Jan 57%

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Bidding Quiz

Hand A Hand B With Hand A you open 1♦ and partner responds 1♠, what do

you bid?

♠ J83 ♠ J6

♥ K972 ♥ K852 With Hand B partner opens 1♣ and RHO overcalls 1NT, what

♦ AKQ73 ♦ AK982 do you do?

♣ 8 ♣ 72

Hand C Hand D What do you open with Hand C (1^st seat, both vulnerable)?

♠ A2 ♠ KQ98

♥ KQJ10984 ♥ A9876 With Hand D you open 1♥ and partner bids 1♠, what

♦ J3 ♦ 3 do you bid?

♣ 42 ♣ AKQ

Go for the Moysian fit? Board 21 from Monday 9^th

The Moysian (4-3) fit is not generally something you should aim for, but with shortage in another suit, the 3-trump hand should consider it.

Dealer: ♠ J83 Table A

North ♥ K972 West North(A) East South

N-S vul ♦ AKQ73 - 1♦ pass 1♠

♣ 8 pass 2♦ (1) pass pass

dbl (2) pass 3♣ pass

♠ 752 N ♠ AK9 pass 3♠ (3) pass 4♦ (4)

♥ AJ85 W E ♥ Q4 all pass

♦ 6 S ♦ 10952

♣ K6532 ♣ Q1097 Alternative Auction

♠ Q1064 West North(A) East South

♥ 1063 - 1♦ pass 1♠

♦ J82 pass 2♠ (2) pass pass

♣ AJ4 pass (5)

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand A in this week’s quiz? Now of course 2♦ is quite reasonable, but I would bid 2♠. I give my reasons below.

(2) And West now has it easy with a balancing double (showing ♥’s and ♣’s) that only forces partner to the two level.

(3) North now (belatedly in my opinion) shows his ♠ support. The problem, of course, is that he is now up at the three level.

(4) And now they are up at the four level!

Alternative (1) This is my answer to question A. It may well be a Moysian fit but with a

Auction: singleton that should play well. The additional advantage is that it forces the opponents to the three level should partner be weak and they want to compete.

(5) I asked West at table A if he would have doubled 2♠ for take-out; he said no, and that he only doubled because he hoped to play in ♥’s at the two level.

And what happened? 4♦ went just one down for a reasonable score. 3♣ was bid and made at one table for the E-W top. One North was left to play peacefully in 2♦+1 for the N-S top and 5♣ doubled went -1. Deep Finesse says that 2♦ and 2♠ make by N-S and 3♣ makes by E-W

The bottom lines: -

- With an outside singleton, consider supporting partner’s possible 4-card suit with just three card support.

Don’t let the Opponents in Board 13 from Wednesday 11^th

Dealer: ♠ A2 Table A

North ♥ KQJ10984 West North(C) East South

both vul ♦ J3 - 1♥ (1) 2♦ 2♠

♣ 42 3♦ 3♥ (2) pass 4♥

pass pass 5♦ all pass

♠ Q8763 N ♠ 9

♥ 5 W E ♥ A2

♦ K75 S ♦ AQ109864 Table B

♣ J763 ♣ A98 West North(C) East South

♠ KJ1054 - 4♥ (1) dbl all pass

♥ 763

♦ 2

♣ KQ105

Table A: (1) What did you open with this North hand C in this week’s quiz? I guess that 1♥ is quite reasonable, but I was North at Table B.

(2) When partner has bid at the two level, this is surely worth 4♥.

Table B: (1) This was my answer to question C. It’s pretty clear that the hand belongs in ♥’s and you don’t want to let the opponents in cheaply, especially if they have ♠’s.

And what happened? 4♥* lost just the three aces for a top to N-S. Another North played in 4♥ undoubled and two E-W’s bid to 5♦ making. 5♦ should not make of course, but one down is a good save against 4♥ making.

The bottom lines: -

- With a good hand and a good solid major, open at the four level if it’s not too strong.

- If you play Namyats this hand is not good enough for 4♣ and so you still open 4♥.

A Missed Opportunity Board 20 from Monday 9^th

Dealer: ♠ AK Table A

West ♥ QJ943 West North East(B) South

Both vul ♦ 105 1♣ 1NT (1) 2♦ (2) pass

♣ KQ95 pass (3) 2♥ (4) dbl (5) 2♠ (6)

pass (7) pass pass (8)

♠ Q732 N ♠ J6

♥ A6 W E ♥ K852 Alternative Auction

♦ QJ S ♦ AK982 West North East(B) South

♣AJ843 ♣ 72 1♣ 1NT (1) dbl (2) 2♠ (9)

♠ 109854 dbl (10) all pass

♥ 107

♦ 7643

♣ 106

Table A: (1) I prefer this 1NT bid to the alternative of 1♥.

(2) What did you bid with this East hand B in this week’s quiz? This 2♦ bid is wrong – it is non-forcing and weak after RHO has overcalled 1NT.

(3) West correctly passed, assuming that his partner was weak.

(4) North inferred from the auction that his partner had some values, so he bid his ♥’s.

(5) Penalties

(6) It’s quite reasonable for South to run to his 5-card suit.

(7) Now it may appear to be obvious that West should double, but I’m not so sure. Partner has shown a weak hand at (2) and may well just have a poor hand with the red suits.

(8) East has the values for a penalty double but does not know that partner has ♠’s

Alternative (1) This North again chooses the reasonable 1NT overcall

Auction: (2) This is the answer to question B, a penalty double. With 11 points opposite partner’s opening the vulnerable opponents are going for a number.

(9) South obviously runs to his 5-card suit.

(10) But now, as opposed to the situation at (7), West knows to double.

And what happened? 2♠ went three down for just 300 away and a poor score to E-W – it would have been 800 if doubled. E-W scored 600 for 3NT making at two other tables.

The bottom lines: -

- If partner opens and RHO overcalls 1NT, then any bid by you except double is weak and non-forcing. With 10+ points you are obliged to double to show the balance of power.

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

North South You are North, declarer in 4♠. East leads the ♣A and ♣K and

♠ AQJ1098 ♠ K6 a 3^rd ♣ to West’s ♣Q which you ruff. Plan the play.

♥ KJ5 ♥ A32

♦ 93 ♦ AQ542

♣ 43 ♣ J52

Dave’s Column answer Board 5 from Wednesday 11^th

Dealer: ♠ AQJ1098 West North East South

North ♥ KJ5 2♠ pass 4♠

N-S vul ♦ 93 all pass

♣ 43

East leads the ♣A and continues with the ♣K

♠ 543 N ♠ 72 and a ♣ to West’s ♣Q which you ruff. You lead

♥ 10764 W E ♥ Q98 a ♦ to the ♦Q and ♦K. West returns the ♥4.

♦ KJ S ♦ 10876 Question Time.

♣ Q986 ♣ AK107 Before you took the ♦ finesse, how many

♠ K6 losers did you have and how many tricks?

♥ A32 Why did you finesse ♦’s before drawing trumps?

♦ AQ542 Why did you finesse ♦’s before ♥’s?

♣ J52 Which ♥ do you play now (on West’s ♥4)?

What is your general plan?

After ruffing the 3^rd round of ♣’s you had two possible losers, one in ♦’s and one in ♥’s. Your trick count was nine – six ♠’s, two ♥’s and one ♦.

You finesse the ♦’s before drawing trumps because you may need the ♠K as a helping entry to establish the ♦’s in case of a 4-2 ♦ break.

You finessed ♦’s before ♥’s because ♦’s is the long suit. Finesses in short suits come last (if at all).

You should play the ♥K when West returns the ♥4 to preserve the ♥A as a future entry to the ♦ suit. Now continue establishing the ♦’s to get rid of the losing ♥.

After winning the ♥K, play the ♦A and ruff a ♦. If ♦’s break 3-3, draw trumps and enter dummy with the ♥A and discard the losing ♥ on the good ♦’s.

If ♦’s break 4-2, enter dummy with the ♠K and ruff another ♦. Now draw trumps and use the ♥A as an entry to the remaining ♦ to discard your ♥ loser.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 6♠-2, 4♠=, 4♠-1 and 2♠+2.

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

West East You are East, declarer in 6♠. South leads the ♣J, plan the play.

♠ KQ98 ♠ AJ107

♥ A9876 ♥ 4

♦ 3 ♦ A9874

♣ AKQ ♣ 432

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 6 from Wednesday 11^th

Dealer: ♠ 6543 West(D) North East South

East ♥ KQ1052 1♥ pass 1♠ pass

E-W vul ♦ QJ 4♦ (1) pass 6♠ all pass

♣ 65

(1) What did you bid with this West hand D

♠ KQ98 N ♠ AJ107 in this weeks quiz? This 4♦ splinter is

♥ A9876 W E ♥ 4 spot on, showing a singleton ♦, 4 card ♠

♦ 3 S ♦ A9874 support and a huge hand with slam interest.

♣ AKQ ♣ 432

♠ 2 South leads the ♣J,

♥ J6 (a) plan the play in 6♠.

♦ K10652 (b) plan the play in 7♠.

♣ J10987 (c) plan the play in 4♠.

Blessed with high trumps as well as a singleton on both sides you should consider a crossruff.

In the suits that you will be crossruffing, ♥’s and ♦’s, you have a total of ten tricks: the two red aces as well as eight trump tricks made by ruffing.

What that means is that in scenario (a) is that you need TWO, not three tricks from the ♣ suit. Therefore you should cash just two ♣ tricks before embarking on the crossruff. If a trump had been led you would have to try cashing three ♣ tricks.

In 7♠ (b) you have to try cashing three ♣ tricks.

In 4♠ (c) it’s also best to try cashing three ♣’s as you have a 66% chance of a 4-3 ♣ break and the contract is never in danger.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 4♠+2, 4♠+1, 4♠= and 3♠+3. When I played the hand I was in 4♠ and immediately tried to cash three ♣’s. The third was ruffed but the defender failed to realise that there was an impending cross-ruff and did not lead a trump and so 12 tricks were made.

The bottom lines:-

- If you are planning a crossruff, cash winners the 3^rd suit first.

- If you are defending and declarer seems to be planning a cross-ruff, then lead a trump when you get in.

Another Play problem This is a simple hand from Friday.

West East You are West, declarer in 4♠. North leads the ♣J, plan the play.

♠ Q1087643 ♠ A92

♥ Q ♥ 983

♦ 105 ♦ AKJ9

♣ KQ5 ♣ A64

Another Play problem answer Board 16 from Friday 13^th

Dealer: ♠ KJ5 West North East South

West ♥ KJ542 3♠ pass 4♠ all pass

E-W vul ♦ Q3

♣ J109 North leads the ♣J, plan the play.

♠ Q1087643 N ♠ A92 You should win in hand with the ♣K and

♥ Q W E ♥ 983 play a low ♠. When North plays low you should

♦ 105 S ♦ AKJ9 insert the ♠9. If South wins then you lose only

♣ KQ5 ♣ A64 one trump trick and if South is void you still

♠ - only lose one trump trick.

♥ A1076 This is a safety play and guards against all three

♦ 87642 trumps with North. The lazy play of winning the

♣ 8732 ♣A and cashing the ♠A costs a tick on this layout.

Brain teaser - Restricted Choice?

This little gem was mentioned to me by Gene.

You are participating in a quiz show and have progressed to the stage of (maybe) winning a prize. You are facing three doors, A, B and C. Behind one of these doors in the grand prize and behind the other two doors there is nothing.

The quizmaster knows which door hides the prize and he invites you to pick a door. He then always opens another door which he knows is empty. You are then asked to make your final choice, is it 50-50? Should you go for your original option or go for the other door?

Answer next page.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 2♠. 2♦ is reasonable of course and is what I expect most will bid. But I prefer to support partner (even with just three cards in his major) if I have outside shortage. The hand is not strong enough for a reverse into 2♥ of course.

Hand B: Double. This shows 10+ points and is in principle for penalties. Any bid (such as 2♦) is wrong as that is weak and non-forcing. After RHO overcalls 1NT the only strong bid is double.

Hand C: 4♥. That’s probably where you want to play so get it in before the opponents find their fit. The hand is too good for 3♥ and 1♥ lets the opponents in cheaply.

Hand D: 4♦, a splinter agreeing ♠’s and looking for slam.

Brain teaser - Restricted Choice?

You should go for the other door, this is a 66% chance of being right.

This is an example of restricted choice but one easy way of looking at it is as follows. You had a 1 in 3 chance of picking the correct door to start with. The fact that the quizmaster has opened an empty door has altered nothing (he will always open an empty door). So nothing has changed, there is a 1/3 chance that the original door was correct so there is now a 2/3 chance that the other door is correct.