Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 343

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My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 7^th June 2009

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

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Mon 1^st 1^st Dave & Kenneth 62% 2^nd Ivy & Mike 59%

Wed 3^rd 1^st Ivy & Paul Q 61% 2^nd Niels & Terje 58%

Fri 5^th 1^st Karl & Terry Q 60% 2^nd Alan K & Michael Ga… 58%

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Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B What do you open with Hand A in 4^th seat?

♠ 3 ♠ AJ987

♥ Q9 ♥ 32 With Hand B you pass initially and partner opens 1♣. You

♦ K9863 ♦ K87 bid 1♠ and partner bids 2♣, what do you do?

♣ AK862 ♣ K65

Hand C Hand D With Hand C you open 1♣ and partner bids 1♠, what do

you bid?

♠ 6 ♠ AK7

♥ AK5 ♥ AKJ107 With Hand D you open your strongest bid (2♣ or 2♦) and

♦ A92 ♦ AJ partner relays to show a few points, what is your rebid?

♣ A98743 ♣ AJ7

Bidding Sequence Quiz

E 1♣ pass 1♠ pass What is the approximate upper limit for the 2♣ rebid?

2♣

You can help to finance the Pattaya Bridge Club by using any of the boxes below to make a purchase from Amazon or else by joining the Ron klinger Bridge Club

	Gold Cup = Best 30	Silver Plate = Best 10	Bronze Medal = Best 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	1818.0 Janne Roos 1788.5 Hans Vikman 1784.6 Paul Quodomine	649.2 Janne Roos 639.3 Hans Vikman 636.2 Paul Quodomine 631.5 Sally Watson 615.1 Lars Broman 613.8 Jeremy Watson 611.1 Bob Short 609.2 Jean Wissing 609.0 Ivy Schlageter 607.6 Per Andersson	334.8 Janne Roos 329.0 Hans Vikman 326.9 Paul Quodomine 324.5 Sally Watson 321.8 Ivy Schlageter 321.7 Bob Short 321.3 Jeremy Watson 321.0 Per Andersson 316.1 Lars Broman 315.8 Gene Moats

Editorial

Unfamiliar Partnerships. I have made up a simple checklist for new partnerships, but it appears that what is ‘standard’ in America is not standard in Scandinavia!

In particular, when I refer to standard count, that is high-low to show an even number.

Likewise, HELD, high to encourage, is standard and inverted is low to encourage (which most of our club play).

2♣ - 2♦ - 3NT is HORRIBLE Board 27 from Friday 5^th

I have written a number of times that I totally hate this 3NT rebid having opened 2♣. It’s all up on the website and there are a number of solutions to make 2NT forcing (showing 25+ and still enabling Stayman and transfers below the level of 3NT). With Paul Quodomine I play the Kokish Relay and our sequence would be as the ‘Expert table’

Dealer: ♠ 9 Table A

South ♥ 983 West North East(D) South

Love all ♦ K1082 - - - pass

♣ Q9854 pass pass 2♣ (1) pass

2♦ (2) pass 3NT (3) pass

♠ J106542 N ♠ AK7 6♠ (4) pass 7♠ (5) all pass

♥ Q6 W E ♥ AKJ107

♦ Q653 S ♦ AJ ‘Expert Table’

♣ 2 ♣ AJ7 West North East(D) South

- - - pass

♠ Q83 pass pass 2♣ (1) pass

♥ 542 2♦ (2) pass 2♥ (6) pass

♦ 972 2♠ (7) pass 2NT (8) pass

♣ K863 3♥ (9) pass 3♠ pass

4♠ (10) pass 4NT (11) pass

5♦ (12) pass 5♥ (13) pass

5♠ (14) pass 6♠ all pass

Table A: (1) This was the pair’s only strong bid.

(2) Waiting or negative, I’m not quite sure.

(3) What did you bid with this East hand D in this week’s quiz? This 3NT showed 25+, but I simply hate this sequence. See table B’s solution.

(4) Bidding what he thought he could make.

(5) With all of the aces and ♠AKx, you cannot criticize East for going for gold.

‘Expert’ (1) Paul and I also have only one strong bid.

Table: (2) Waiting and game forcing (2♥ would be a bust hand).

(6) The Kokish relay, this 2♥ bid shows either ♥’s or a big NT hand.

(7) Forced.

(8) So now showing 25+ balanced.

(9) And here we see the advantage of the Kokish Relay, responder can transfer.

(10) There is no need for West to jump, he has already shown his meager assets with his initial positive 2♦ response and this 4♠ bid shows a 6-card ♠ suit.

(11) RKCB

(12) 0 (or 3) keycards playing 1430

(13) Do you have the trump queen?

(14) No, and I do not have extra ♠ length (i.e. only the six I have already shown).

And what happened? 7♠-1, 6NT-1, 6♠= and 4♠+2.

The bottom lines: -

- 2♣ followed by 3NT sucks. Play Benjamin twos, Multi 2 diamonds or the Kokish relay to solve the problem; keep the bidding low and exchange information.

- In my ‘expert’ sequence I used RKCB, I guess you could also use Josaphine GSF if you have agreed all of the sequences.

How to bid a balanced 25+ hand

Playing Benjamin twos, I play the sequence 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT to show 25+ (2♣ - 2♥ - 2NT is 22-24)

Playing the Multi 2♦, I play the sequence 2♣ - 2♥ - 2NT to show 25+ (2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT is 22-24)

And as seen on the previous page, playing 2♣ as the only strong bid I play the Kokish Relay.

All of these are game forcing and allow for Stayman or transfers below the level of 3NT. This is handy if 3NT is the limit of the hand and it is also necessary to have the extra bidding room when there is a slam, as the bidding at the previous table B nicely demonstrates.

Pearson’s Rule of 15 Board 7 from Friday 5^th

There is a special ‘rule’ for opening marginal hands in 4^th seat, and it worked well on this deal.

Dealer: ♠ QJ864 Table A

South ♥ A75 West North East(A) South

Both vul ♦ 742 - - - pass

♣ 73 pass (1) pass 1♦ (2) 1♠

dbl (3) 3♠ 4♣ (4) pass

♠ A7 N ♠ 3 5♦ (5) all pass

♥ J1084 W E ♥ Q9

♦ AQ105 S ♦ K9863 Table B

♣ 1054 ♣ AK862 West North East(A) South

- - - pass

♠ K10952 pass (1) pass pass (2)

♥ K632

♦ J

♣ QJ9

Table A: (1) It’s close to an opening bid – very marginal.

(2) What did you bid with this East hand A in this week’s quiz? 1♦ seems to be the almost unanimous verdict.

(3) Negative, showing 3 ♥’s

(4) East felt that he had to show his shape.

(5) And with close to an opener himself, West pushed on to game.

Table B: (2) So what about this opening in 4^th seat? In any seat but 4^th it is a very clear opener, but in 4^th seat the ♠ suit is all important and Pearson’s rule of 15 applies (add the HCPs to the ♠ length). This is 13 and thus way short, so this East (me) passed!

And what happened? All of the other E-W’s got too high; 3NT-1, 5♦-1 and 5♦=. Of course 5♦ should always go -1 and so the pass out should have scored a complete top instead of a 2^nd.

The bottom lines: -

- In 4^th seat, look at the ♠ suit with a marginal opener and apply the Rule of 15.

- As it turns out on this particular deal, the board ‘belongs’ to E-W, that is because West has a near opening. However, in a bidding battle E-W are very likely to get pushed too high as the opponents have ten ♠’s between them and all of this can be avoided if East knows about Pearson's rule of 15 for 4^th seat openers and simply passes the board out.

A tricky rebid Board 12 from Monday 1^st

Dealer: ♠ AJ987 Table A

West ♥ 32 West North(B) East South(C)

N-S vul ♦ K87 pass pass pass 1♣

♣ K65 pass 1♠ pass 2♣ (1)

pass 3♠ (2) pass 4♠ (3)

♠ 1042 N ♠ KQ53 all pass

♥ Q964 W E ♥ J1087

♦ QJ1065 S ♦ 43 Table B

♣ Q ♣ J102 West North(B) East South(C)

♠ 6 pass pass pass 1♣

♥ AK5 pass 1♠ pass 2♣ (1)

♦ A92 pass 2♦ (2) pass 3NT (4)

♣ A98743 all pass

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand C in this week’s quiz? It’s not really good enough for 3♣ and 1NT is an underbid, so I think that 2♣ is best. This 2♣ bid is not necessarily weak and may be as good as this hand.

(2) What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz? This North correctly thought that he should make an effort and so bid an invitational 3♠, I don’t really like this as it implies better/longer ♠’s.

(3) And this South obviously thought that partner had better ♠’s.

Table B: (1) This South also did not overbid.

(2) As I said above, North really has to make an effort but it’s a bit tricky. The hand has the values for 2NT but I don’t like it with these ♥’s. I chose 2♦ (show partner something there in case he can bid 3NT). I guess that 3♣ is an equally good, perhaps better, try. You should not pass, partner may have a decent hand.

(4) Just what I wanted to hear.

And what happened? 3N(S)+1 twice, 3N(s)= and 5♣=.

The bottom lines: -

- Sequence E is not necessarily weak (so not “one-two that’ll do”) and may be up to around 16 points (not enough to make a jump).

- Sometimes you have to manufacture a bid in a minor suit (usually one that has an honour).

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

West East You are West, you opened 4♠ and are left to play there.

♠ AKQ10432 ♠ J865 1. How do you play if North leads the ♦A?

♥ K64 ♥ 8752 2. How do you play if North leads a low ♦?

♦ - ♦ Q

♣ 1087 ♣ AKJ9

Dave’s Column answer Board 26 from Wednesday 3^rd

Dealer: ♠ 9 Book Auction

South ♥ AQ3 West North East South

Both vul ♦ AJ8732 - - - pass (1)

♣ 632 4♠ all pass

♠ AKQ10432 N ♠ J865 (1) If you play a weak 2♦ opening, then that

♥ K64 W E ♥ 8752 is a possibility.

♦ - S ♦ Q

♣ 1087 ♣ AKJ9

♠ 7

♥ J109

♦ K98654 1. How do you play if North leads the ♦A?

♣ Q54 2. How do you play if North leads a low ♦?

Answer 1: Discard a ♣ on the opening lead. If North shifts to a ♣, win the ♣A, draw trumps and play ♣K and ♣J, intending to let the ♣J ride if South plays low. In this actual case the ♣J loses to the ♣Q and you ruff. The ♣9 remains in dummy for a ♥ discard. The most you can lose is 1 ♥, 1 ♦ and 1 ♣.

Answer 2: On a low ♦ lead, discard a ♥ on the ♦K. You are still alive even if the ♥A is with North and the ♣Q with South. Maybe. Suppose South returns a ♥ to your ♥K and North’s ♥A and North shifts to a ♣ (best). You win in dummy and lead a 2^nd ♥ which North wins to play a 2nd ♣. Now you have a decision to make. You can take the ♣ finesse or you can rise with the ♣K and ruff a ♥. In the first case you win when North has the ♣Q, in the second case you win when ♥’s are 3-3 or South has just Qx in ♣’s. A close call.

Terry’s comment. I would not lead a ♦ (I don’t like leading aces without the king and I certainly would not lead a low ♦ which is pretty silly if the ♦K and ♦Q are switched). Although a singleton trump is not generally a good lead, I would lead a trump against 4♠ on this auction, the alternative being a ♣.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 6♠-3, 6♠-1 twice, 4♠-1 and 4♠=.

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

N ♠ 832 West North East South

W E ♥ 8732 pass 1♠ pass 2♦

S ♦ A763 pass 2♥ pass 4♠

♣ KQ all pass

♠ AK4

♥ 95 You are East and lead the ♣K, partner encouraging with the ♣4

♦ KQ1094 (or ♣10 if you play high to encourage). What do you do next?

♣ J73

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 25 from Wednesday 3^rd

Dealer: ♠ Q10976 West North East South

West ♥ AKQJ pass 1♠ pass 2♦

N-S vul ♦ 9 pass 2♥ pass 4♠

♣ 652 all pass

♠ J5 N ♠ 832

♥ 1064 W E ♥ 8732 You are East and lead the ♣K, partner

♦ J52 S ♦ A763 encouraging with the ♣4 (or ♣10 if you play

♣ A10984 ♣ KQ high to encourage). What do you do next?

♠ AK4

♥ 95

♦ KQ1094

♣ J73

If you lead the ♣Q next you put partner on a guess – have you led from ♣KQ or ♣KQx? East should make it easier for partner by cashing the ♦A before leading the ♣Q. Then partner has nothing to lose by overtaking with the ♣A as an overtrick is no longer a possibility.

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? 4♠= four times, 4♠-1 once.

The bottom lines: -

- Always try to avoid giving partner problems.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: Pass! Where are the ♠’s? In any other seat a 1♦ opening is obvious, but in 4^th seat things are different. With just 12 points a competitive auction is bound to develop and the opponents have the ♠’s (if not, they certainly have the ♥’s) and you will be out-gunned and end up too high (as happened on the actual deal at every table where this hand opened). Apply the rule of 15 to 4^th seat openers.

Hand B: 2♦ or 3♣. It’s too good to pass and you should make a bid to give partner a chance if he has a good hand. 2NT is possible (correct on values) but I don’t like the ♥’s. I don’t like 3♠ either as the ♠’s are not good enough. That just really leaves 2♦ or 3♣.

Hand C: 2♣. It’s not good enough for 3♣ in the modern style. 1NT is an underbid and 2NT obviously an overbid.

Hand D: 2NT, that is if you are sensible enough to have both 2♣ and 2♦ as possible strong openings and so this 2NT rebid promises 25+ and is game forcing, allowing Stayman and transfers. If you only have 2♣ as your strongest bid then many have to bid 3NT to show this hand, but this is HORRIBLE. In this situation, play the Kokish Relay (2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 2♠ - 2NT) to show the big balanced hand.

Bidding Sequence Answers

E 1♣ pass 1♠ pass This simple 2♣ rebid may be as much as a poor 16 points,

2♣ i.e.not quite enough to jump to 3♣.