Our website is www.pattayabridge.com                             Club News Sheet – No. 300

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com                                 

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880              10th Aug 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 28th      1st  Arne F & Svein            59%       2nd    Eddie & Jan = Derek & Gerard    56%

Wed 30th      1st  Derek & Gerard           59%       2nd    Gene & Sally = Bob S & Terry     56%

Fri 1st           1st  Lewis & Paul Q            63%       2nd    Dave & Ivy                                  58%

       
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Bidding Quiz                    Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

 

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

 

A865            KJ103         

AJ                AK               With Hand B LHO opens 1 (could be short) and RHO bids 1.

1074             9852            You pass and LHO bids 1. This is passed round to you,

KJ104          Q74             what do you do?

 

Hand C           Hand D           With Hand C RHO opens 1, what do you do (love all)?

 

64                 64                                              

AQ632         AQ632         With Hand D it’s the same question as Hand C.

65                 Q5

Q972           9762

 

Hand E            Hand F            With Hand E it’s love all. LHO opens 1 and partner overcalls

1. RHO bids 1, what do you bid?

Q73              AKQ9                                

KQ962         KQ62                      

9                   104               With Hand F it’s the same question as Hand E.

Q853           J104            

 

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

do you do?

AK10864     A653                         

A76              K972            With Hand H partner opens 1 and you bid 1, partner then    

7                   AK               bids 1, what do you bid? 

A64              KJ9

                                     

                                                                                     

Bidding Sequence Quiz

 

J    1        pass     1      pass    

1        pass     3                  Is 3 invitational or forcing?

K   1        1        1      4        What is 4?

L    1        1        1      2        What is 2?

M  1        pass     1      pass    

3        pass     4                 What is the 4 bid?


The Club Championships      

I’ve just calculated the current competition standings. We currently have four contenders qualifying for the Gold Cup competition.

 

 

Gold Cup = Best 30

Silver Plate = Best 10

Bronze Medal = Best 5

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

 

1813.9 Dave Cutler

1786.5 Sally Watson

1779.1 Ivy Schlageter

1757.6 Bob Pelletier

 

 

661.8 Dave Cutler

660.6 Sally Watson

657.5 Jeremy Watson

656.9 Hans Vikman

642.0 Lars Gustafsson

641.3 Ivy Schlageter

634.3 Derek & Gerard

623.7 Bob Pelletier

613.5 Terje Lie

611.0 Tomas Wikman

 

342.3 Dave Cutler

341.9 Hans Vikman

341.1 Sally Watson

338.6 Jeremy Watson

336.9 Lars Gustafsson

335.3 Ivy Schlageter

328.5 Derek & Gerard

326.3 Tomas Wikman

320.2 Terje Lie

319.7 Bob Pelletier

...

 

 

Look for the 4-4 fit                                               Board 10 from Monday 4th  

 

Dealer:             A865                                          Table A

East                  AJ                                              West          North(A)    East          South

both vul            1074                                           -                 -                 pass         1NT

                        KJ104                                        pass           3NT (1)      all pass

                                                                             

104                     N             KJ9                      Table B

854                 W    E          10973                   West          North(A)    East          South

KQJ82               S              653                      -                 -                 pass         1NT

Q96                                   732                      pass           2   (1)      pass         2

                        Q732                                         pass           3NT           all pass

KQ62                                        

A9                                       

A85                                     

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you bid with this North hand A in this week’s quiz? This 3NT bid, with a doubleton and a weak suit, is a very poor bid.

Table B:     (1)  This is the obvious answer to question A. Stayman – look for a 4-4 fit.

 

And what happened? This really is too trivial for the quiz, but I put it in because TWO North’s failed to bid Stayman and bid the vastly inferior 3NT. Results were 3NT-1, 3NT=, 4+1 (twice) and 4+2.

The bottom lines: -

-         Look for the 4-4 major suit fit – it usually generates 1 extra trick.

 

 


Raising Partner’s overcall                                   Board 24 from Wednesday 6th  

 

When partner overcalls at the one-level, do not jump to game just because you have an opening hand. Partner’s overcall may be just 7-8 points and that’s why the Unassuming Cue Bid was invented – to ask opener if he has anywhere near opening values and stay low if not.

 

Dealer:             64                                              

West                AQ632                                       West          North(D)    East          South(F)

E-W vul           Q5                                             1             1    (1)      1    (2)    4    (3)

                        9762                                          all pass

 

J85                     N             10732                  

7                     W    E          J94                      

AKJ732             S              986                      

Q53                                   AK8                    

                        AKQ9                                      

K1085                                       

104                                      

J104                                    

 

(1)  What did you bid with this North hand D in this week’s quiz? Non-vul and with decent shape and the points in the suit I think that a 1 is reasonable but would certainly not argue if you chose to pass, as I think the majority would.

(2)   If you play negative doubles then many play that dbl here shows 4 ’s.

(3)  What did you bid with this South hand F in this week’s quiz? This jump to 4 is unnecessary and undisciplined, but was chosen at at least two tables. An Unassuming Cue Bid must be right, and if partner shows a minimum overcall by making a minimal bid then pass. Exactly which bid you choose as the Unassuming Cue Bid (2, 2 or 3) is probably up to partnership understanding. With a hand that is only worth a raise to 3 opposite an opener then you obviously bid 2. This hand is worth more and you can bid 2 to show values there or 3 to guarantee 4 trumps. It does not really matter that much which you choose, the point is that you do not force to game as partner may only have 7-8 points for the 1-level overcall.

.

And what happened? Everybody was playing in 3 or 4 and all went one or two down. No West played in ’s but 3 should make easily enough.

The bottom lines: -

-         A 1-level overcall may be as few as 7-8 points.

-         With a sound raise to 3 or better opposite partner’s 1-level overcall, use the Unassuming Cue Bid to check if partner has a decent overcall (say 11+ pts) or not.

-         A jump to 4 after partner has overcalled 1 is a pre-emptive bid!

-     There is also another way of looking at this deal from South’s viewpoint: LHO has opened and RHO has responded – thus they have around 18+ points. It looks like the points are fairly evenly distributed between the two sides and with just a known 9-card fit one should obey the law and compete to just 3. So show the sound raise via some sort of Unassuming Cue Bid and North will bid game with extra shape (you know he does not have 10+ points).                


Asking about a short                                         Board 18 from Monday 4th 

It’s very clearly written up in the club rules. If you play a short club (could be two cards) then you either tell the opponents before play commences (preferred) or else alert/announce the 1 opening. It is against the rules for anybody to ask during the auction ‘do you play a short ’. This has the implication that you yourself have a suit.

 

Dealer:             KJ103                                        West          North(B)    East          South

East                  AK                                             -                 -                 1           pass

N-S vul            9852                                          1    (1)      pass           1            pass

                        Q74                                           pass (2)      1NT (3)      pass         2NT (4)

                                                                              all pass

Q                        N             A862                   

10654             W    E          Q972              (1)  Just about worth a response, especially as 1

QJ10764            S              A3                        could be two cards in their system.

98                                      A63                (2)  2 may keep the opposition out, but may

                        9754                                           prompt partner to bid too high.

J83                                       (3)  What did you bid with this North hand B in

K                                                this week’s quiz? I would either double or bid

KJ1042                                      1. With opponents bidding every suit except ’s there is almost certainly a 4-4 or better fit.

(4)  South had a think here, and asked ‘do you play a short ?’ This is not allowed (rule 18). He eventually bid 2NT, which is simply hanging partner for balancing.

 

And what happened? 2NT went -3 for a bottom. 2 made +1 for the top elsewhere.

The bottom lines: -

-         Look for the 4-4 major suit fit.

-     Don’t ask the opponents if they play a short , especially if you yourself have a suit.

 

 

Dave’s Column           Here is this week’s Dave input involving the play of the hand.

 

North               South               You are South, declarer in 4♠, West leads the A, K,10, plan

543               AKQJ10       the play.          

864               AK75                                  

962               QJ                                        

AK74           62                                                     

                                               

                       
Dave’s Column answer                Board 11 from Wednesday 6th  

     

Dealer:             543                                             West          North         East            South

South               864                                             -                 -                 -                 1

Love all            962                                             pass           1NT           pass           3

                        AK74                                         pass           3              pass           4  (1)

all pass

987                     N             62                        

J932               W    E          Q10                This is the bidding from the book. When I

AK105               S              8743               was South I bid 3NT at (1) because I’m not 

98                                      QJ1053          a hog and have already shown my shape.     

                        AKQJ10                               Partner, with 3334, could have passed but

AK75                                   he decided to bid 4.

QJ                                       

62                                Anyway, East leads the A,K and 10, plan the play.

 

.     You have lost two tricks and your only other loser(s) are in the suit.

If the suit divides 3-3 you will be OK, but what if ♥’s divide normally – 4-2?

You must assume a 4-2 division and see if you can do anything about it. With no discards available for the 4th you must plan to trump it in dummy.

The problem is, you only have low trumps in dummy and someone might over-ruff. Look at the position.

If you plat A,K and a 3rd , West can win and play a 4th allowing East to over-ruff dummy. If, on the other hand, you draw two rounds of trumps before conceding a , West can play a 3rd trump and frustrate you once again.

The answer – when you have to ruff a 4th card low in dummy – is to first duck a card in the suit, then draw two rounds of trumps and finally ruff your 4th in dummy.

 

Terry’s Comment. This is another typical safety play which is inapplicable playing pairs. The line works because the hand with two ’s only has two trumps. It is much more likely that the hand with two ’s will have three trumps and then you go two down – a disaster at pairs scoring.

 

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? One pair played in 3NT and made when the ’s split 4-4. The four other pairs played in 4 and everybody (including me and Lewis at separate tables) played the correct line at matchpoint pairs scoring and played with the odds – simply drawing trumps and hoping ’s are 3-3, thus ensuring no more than one down. Everybody was thus -1.

 

 

 

Dave’s 2nd Column       Another Dave problem involving the play of the hand.

 

West                East                      You are West, declarer in 6, and North leads the A,K,

5                   7632                 plan the play.

A93              KJ2           

KQ92           AJ10          

AKJ96         Q102                                 

                                   


Dave’s 2nd Column answer              Board 26 from Wednesday 30th  

     

Dealer:             AK84                                         West          North         East          South

West                10864                                         1             pass           2NT (1)    pass

both vul            86                                               3             pass           3    (2)    pass

                        743                                            4             pass           4            pass

4              pass           5           pass

5                         N             7632                     6             pass

A93                W    E          KJ2                     

KQ92                 S              AJ10               This is the bidding in Dave’s book

AKJ96                               Q102                  

                        QJ109                                  (1)  East decided to ignore the 4 ’s because    

Q75                                            all of his points were outside the suit.

7543                                    (2)  Apparently showing strength in ’s

85                                              and weakness in ’s.

 

After ruffing the 2nd , the only possible loser is a and that might be avoided my means of a finesse. But why finesse if a dummy reversal brings home the contract?

Play the A and a to the 10. If trumps are 4-1 draw the remaining trumps and eventually fall back on the finesse.

However, if trumps are 3-2 as here, ruff a in hand, cross to dummy with the J and ruff dummy’s last with your last trump. Return to dummy with the K and discard the 9 on the Q. Your hand is now high.

 

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? Not surprisingly, nobody was in 6. Four pairs were in 3NT making exactly and one pair stopped in 2NT making +1.

 


It’s not forcing                                                      Board 19 from Friday 4th 

 

One very good tip in bridge bidding is – don’t make an invitational bid with a game (slam even!) going hand.

 

Dealer:             A653                                          West          North(H)    East          South

South               K972                                          -                 -                 pass         1

E-W vul           AK                                             pass           1              pass         1

                        KJ9                                            pass           3    (1)      pass         pass (2)

                                                                              pass

107                     N             J42                      

QJ86              W    E          1053               (1)  What did you bid with this North hand H in

Q109                  S              8742                     this week’s quiz? The problem with 3 is that

5432                                  A86                      it’s not forcing!

                        KQ98                                   (2)  With a minimum, South passed.    

A4                                             

J653              So what should North bid at (1)? If he wants to bid 3 forcing

Q107           it’s easy, simply bid 2 (4th suit) and then 3 (now forcing) over partner’s likely 2NT response. However, I don’t see anything wrong with a straightforward 4NT RKCB bid.                       

 

And what happened? 3 made +3 easily enough (ruff a ) and 6 was bid at the other three tables. So an outright bottom? Not at the Pattaya bridge Club – two declarers managed to go down in 6! The bottom lines: -

-         Don’t make an invitational bid with game forcing values.

-         Sequence J: 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 is invitational in both Standard American and Acol.

 

Upgrade with good shape                                    Board 25 from Friday 4th 

 

Dealer:             7                                                 West          North         East          South(G)

North               KJ104                                        -                 -                 pass         1

E-W vul           K108653                                    pass           1NT           pass         2    (1)

                        Q9                                             all pass              

                                                                             

Q53                    N             J92                 (1)  What did you bid with this South hand G    

Q2 .               W    E          9853                     in this week’s quiz? 15 points is not usually

J92 .                   S              AQ4                    worth a jump, but just look at this 15!

J10752                               K83                     A superb 6-card major headed by the AK,

                        AK10864                                  two aces, and a singleton. If ever a hand

A76                                            needed upgrading it’s this one.

7                  

A64             

 

And what happened? 2 made +2. I think everybody else jumped to 3; one North passed it making +1, one North bid 3NT+1 (that would be my choice) and the other pair ended in 4=.

The bottom lines: -

-         Upgrade hands with good 6 card suit and with aces.

 


Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:     2, Stayman. Totally obvious I know, but it’s in the quiz because two players apparently ignored Stayman and bid 3NT directly. They scored the bottom spots.

Hand B:    dbl or 1. You clearly should bid something and I personally prefer 1, but dbl is probably equally good or better. I don’t like 1NT - for various reasons, but mainly because you are very likely to miss a 4-4 fit.

Hand C:    1. With a decent suit and a secondary suit this hand is worth a (minimal) 1 overcall.

Hand D:    1 or pass. This hand is not so good as the Q is not worth as much as the Q of the previous hand. The majority opinion was to pass but I would not argue with 1.

Hand E:    4. This is a pre-emptive bid.

Hand F:     2, 3 or 2; depending upon your style and agreements about Unassuming Cue bids. The point is that you should not bid 4 because (a) it’s a weak bid, and (b) partner may have only 8-9 points for his overcall and you will be too high.

Hand G:    3, it’s only 15 points, but with a 6-card suit headed by the AK, two aces, and a singleton, this hand needs a huge upgrade. 2 is chicken. This suit is virtually self-sufficient and 4 may well make opposite a singleton (it did) or 3NT may be there (it was).

Hand H:    2 or 4NT. You cannot bid 3 as that’s not forcing; the way to make it forcing is to bid the 4th suit (so 2 here) and then bid 3 over partner’s response, whatever it is. The slow approach is generally fine and often best – as long as every bid is forcing! However, I cannot see anything wrong with taking control with a RKCB bid of 4NT – partner has shown no more than a minimum and it’s fine for this hand to take charge.

 

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answers

           

J    1       pass     1      pass     3 is invitational. If you want to bid a forcing 3,

1        pass     3                  bid 2 (4th suit) first and then bid 3.

K   1       1        1      4        4 is a weak pre-emptive bid.

L    1       1        1      2       2 is an Unassuming Cue bid, showing a sound raise to 3 or better.

M  1        pass     1      pass     4 is a cue bid, agreeing ’s as trumps and looking for slam.

3        pass     4