Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 346

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My home phone is 038 422924 and my mobile number is 083 6066880 28^th June 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 22^nd 1^st Linda & Charles = 1^st Derek & Gerard 57%

Wed 24^th 1^st Bob S & Ian 59% 2^nd Dave & Mike G 58%

Fri 26^th 1^st Jan & Janne 61% 2^nd Paul Q & Terry Q 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?

♠ - ♠ -

♥ 1095 ♥ K105 What do you open with Hand B?

♦ AKQJ862 ♦ AKQJ862

♣ 1076 ♣ A106

Hand C Hand D With Hand C it’s favourable vulnerability and you are

in first seat. Do you open? If so, with what?

♠ Q10984 ♠ AJ

♥ Q94 ♥ 7532 With Hand D it’s unfavourable vulnerability and you are in

♦ 10 ♦ AK854 4^th seat after three passes. Do you open? If so, with what?

♣ AK32 ♣ 64

Hand E Hand F With Hand E it’s both vul. LHO opens 1♥, RHO bids 1NT

and LHO bids 2♥. This is passed to you, what do you do?

♠ KJ109 ♠ AKQ74

♥ J10 ♥ Q10974

♦ J10976 ♦ J73 With Hand F RHO opens 1♣, what do you bid.

♣ K3 ♣ -

Hand G Hand H With Hand G partner opens 1♦, what do you do?

♠ 106 ♠ 742

♥ 987652 ♥ - With Hand H you open 1♦ and LHO overcalls 1NT. Partner,

♦ Q ♦ KQJ93 bless him, bids 2♥ and RHO passes; what do you do?

♣ 10652 ♣ AJ632

Hand J Hand K With Hand J partner opens 1♣ and RHO overcalls 1♦, what

do you bid?

♠ AJ ♠ A105
♥ 109xx ♥ QJ32 With Hand K you open 1♣, partner bids 1♦, you bid 1♥ and
♦ Jx ♦ 10 partner bids 1♠ (natural). What do you bid?
♣ KQ10xx ♣ AKQ102

Bidding Sequence Quiz

L 1♣ 1♦ dbl What does this negative double show? One 4-card major or both or something completely different?

M 1♦ 1NT 2♥ Is 2♥ strong, invitational or weak?

Balancing Board 10 from Monday 22^nd

South asked me to write this one up – apparently he has never seen anybody find a bid like this North did at Table B (seems automatic to me).

Dealer: ♠ KJ109 Table A

East ♥ J10 West North(E) East South

Both vul ♦ J10976 - - 1♥ pass

♣ K3 1NT pass 2♥ pass

pass pass (1)

♠ Q32 N ♠ A5

♥ 98 W E ♥ AQ7643 Table B

♦ K82 S ♦ Q3 West North(E) East South

♣ QJ1042 ♣ 986 - - 1♥ pass

1NT pass 2♥ pass

♠ 8764 pass 2♠ (1) all pass

♥ K52

♦ A54

♣ A75

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand E in this week’s quiz? Most players simply passed. The problem with a balancing double is if partner bids 3♣.

Table B: (1) This North, however, found the solution. ♠KJxx is NOT the same as ♠KJ109 and a 2♠ bid is my answer to question E. On the bidding it’s very likely to be a 4-4 fit but with these trump intermediates a 4-3 fit may also play well. Rather than bidding the ♠ suit, a double is also reasonable as you can remove 3♣ to 3♦ - this does no show the normal strong ♦ hand as you have already passed.

And what happened? As South started to put dummy down, North (correctly) commented that -1 should be a good score. Actually South had a good dummy and North made 2♠+2 for the only +ve score in the N-S column. Other results were 1♥= and 2♥= (three times). So it appears that nobody else even thought about balancing by bidding ♠’s or doubling with this North hand.

The bottom lines: -

- If you defended 2♥ (or 1♥!) then read up about balancing!

- A balancing bid with a 4-card ♠ suit often works; especially when RHO has denied ♠’s, and when LHO shows 6 ♥’s, it’s likely that he too is short in ♠’s.

- KJ109 is huge, by that I mean it is huger that KJ32. Upgrade a suit with good intermediates.

The weak jump shift Board 21 from Monday 22^nd

N-S at table A missed an easy game here because they presumably do not play the weak jump shifts?

Dealer: ♠ AK3 Table A

North ♥ AJ104 West North East South(G)

N-S vul ♦ A1095 - 1♦ pass pass (1)

♣ Q3 2♣ dbl pass 2♥

all pass

♠ J984 N ♠ Q752

♥ 3 W E ♥ KQ Table B

♦ J84 S ♦ K7632 West North East South(G)

♣ AKJ87 ♣ 94 - 1♦ pass 2♥ (1)

pass 4♥ (2) all pass

♠ 106

♥ 987652

♦ Q

♣ 10652

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand G in this week’s quiz? 2 points and a mis-fit, so this South passed

Table B: (1) This South, however, plays weak jump shifts and that worked very well here. A weak jump to 2♥ is the answer to question G provided that you play this convention.

(2) With a known 10 card fit, North bids game of course.

And what happened? 4♥= twice, 2♥+2, 3♠*(W)-2 and 2♣(W)=

The bottom lines: -

- The weak jump shift really is worth playing. It is generally meant to mess-up the opponents but it may (as here) help your side to reach game.

- A weak jump shift is generally played as about 2-5 points and a 6-card suit; i.e. a hand that is too weak to respond at the one level.

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	1827.6 Janne Roos 1790.6 Paul Quodomine 1788.5 Hans Vikman 1768.3 Sally Watson	649.2 Janne Roos 639.3 Hans Vikman 636.2 Paul Quodomine 630.1 Sally Watson 616.9 Jeremy Watson 615.1 Lars Broman 614.1 Bob Short 612.3 Ivy Schlageter 609.2 Jean Wissing 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 315.7 Jean Wissing

When partner has a miserable hand… Board 24 from Monday 22nd

Here South decided to go charging into a hopeless game, totally disregarding the bidding of others (especially partner) at the table.

Dealer: ♠ KJ73 West North East South

West ♥ K87 pass 1♦ dbl 1♥ (1)

Love all ♦ K852 pass pass (2) dbl pass (3)

♣ Q5 1♠ pass pass 4♥

pass pass dbl

♠ 10952 N ♠ AQ64

♥ 4 W E ♥ 1052

♦ Q1093 S ♦ A6

♣ 10632 ♣ AKJ4

♠ 8

♥ AQJ963

♦ J74

♣ 987

(1) This is forcing and fine.

(2) North knew fully well that his partner’s bid was forcing (a two level response would be non-forcing), but with his absolutely minimal opener and East presumably sitting over him with the ♠’s he decided to tell his partner that he had a lousy hand by passing his forcing bid. He obviously had more respect for this East than for his current partner.

(3) 2♥ would be fine. I can see absolutely no point in allowing West to bid at the one level – did South really expect to be allowed to play in 1♥ doubled?

(4) Totally disregarding his partner’s warning. 2♥, or maybe 3♥, are quite sufficient.

And what happened? 4♥* got exactly what South deserved, down three and 500 away when the hand could have been played in1♠ by West.

The bottom lines: -

- If your partner tells you that he has a very weak opening, listen to him.

That strange 7♥ and the 3NT Board 27 from Monday 22^nd

I was asked how anybody could reach the strange contract of 7♥ and the equally strange contract of 3NT on this board. Anyway, here are the auctions which I in no way endorse.

So two amusing auctions when 6♦ is makeable on any lead (7♦ if you guess right / play it well), and ♦’s never even got mentioned at either table:

Dealer: ♠ Q54 Table A

South ♥ AQ84 West North East South(A)

love all ♦ 753 - - - 3NT (1)

♣ K74 pass pass (2) pass

♠ AK109 N ♠ J87632 Table B

♥ J72 W E ♥ 963 West North East South(A)

♦ - S ♦ 1094 - - - 2♣ (1)

♣ QJ9852 ♣ 3 dbl (3) pass (4) 2♠ 3♠ (5)

♠ - pass 4♥ (6) pass 4NT (7)

♥ K105 pass 5♦ (8) pass 7♥ (9)

♦ AKQJ862 all pass

♣ A106

Table A: (1) What did you open with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? Most players play that a gambling 3NT guarantees absolutely no outside ace or king (otherwise partner has no idea if a suit is wide open or not and then it really is ‘gambling’). I go along with the majority and this hand is far too good for 3NT.

(2) With ♣’s and ♥’s stopped and a chance of a ♠ stopper, this pass is absolutely correct if playing the gambling 3NT in the recommended style.

Table B: (1) So back to our opening problem; this hand is 8½ playing tricks with a couple of tens in addition. It’s close to a 2♣ opener, the better alternative is 1♦ followed by 3♦ (or 3NT if partner bids ♠’s). However, this pair play Benjamin twos and it’s then an obvious 2♣ opener.

(3) Showing ♣’s

(4) A 2♥ bid here would promise 5+ ♥’s.

(5) Asking for a ♠ stop

(6) No ♠ stop, but (by inference of the earlier pass) a 4-card ♥ suit.

(7) RKCB – since both opponents have shown black suits South inferred that partner must have loads of ♥’s. I won’t comment on this but will add my usual statement that Blackwood with a void usually sucks, but is OK on this occasion as partner has denied the ♠A (no ♠ stop).

(8) One keycard playing 3014.

(9) 5♠, asking for the ♥Q would be more sensible, but why introduce a sensible bid at this final stage in the auction?

And what happened? 7♥ made when East failed to lead a ♦ and declarer played for the trumps to be 3-3. 3NT made +3 for a poor score. Nobody bid 7♦ but 6♦+1 got a 2^nd. So as it happens a safe 6♥ would have scored just as good a top as the silly 7♥ by North. The bottom lines: -

- Grand slams in solid 7-3 fits are usually safer than dodgy 4-3 fits, but 7♦ also needs a bit of luck/good play to make but is a far superior contract to 7♥ of course.

- If intent upon looking for 7♥, Josaphine GSF 5NT is better at (7) but not many pairs have agreed the continuations and I doubt if this South has even heard of it.

A pass out? Board 25 from Monday 22^nd

We don’t often get pass-outs on Monday/Friday (because the dealing program is set to give one player at least 12 points). However, two tables did pass this one out.

Dealer: ♠ Q10984 Table A

North ♥ Q94 West(D) North(C) East South

E-W vul ♦ 10 - pass (1) pass pass

♣ AK32 pass (2)

♠ AJ N ♠ K7632 Table B

♥ 7532 W E ♥ K106 West North(C) East South

♦ AK854 S ♦ Q72 - 1♠ (1) pass 1NT

♣ 64 ♣ Q10 pass 2♣ pass pass

♠ 5 2♦ pass pass 3♣

♥ AJ8 pass pass 3♦ all pass

♦ J963

♣ J9875

Table A: (1) What did you open with this North hand C in this week’s quiz? Most players simply added up to eleven and passed.

(2) What did you open with this West hand D in this week’s quiz? This pass is correct in 4^th seat where the rule of 15 (points and ♠ length) applies. This deal, indeed, belongs to N-S – Deep Finesse says that N-S can make 8 tricks in ♠’s or 11 tricks in ♣’s and that E-W can make just 7 tricks in ♦’s.

Table B: (1) So back to our first opening problem; and as you probably know, I am not ‘most players’. In fact I believe that there are three reasonable options: -

(i) Pass. Not for me, I am opening this hand.

(ii) A weak 2♠. Very reasonable with these robust ♠’s and a 2^nd 4-card suit.

(iii) 1♠. Now this is more like it. Q10984 is NOT two points and with this shape I believe that this hand is worth a 1♠ opener, so that’s what I bid and is my answer to question C. 2♠ would be my 2^nd choice with pass a distant last.

And what happened? The pass-outs scored above average for E-W. 3♦ went -2 and a top to N-S at table B.

The bottom lines: -

- Upgrade hands with good intermediates and tens.

- Use the rule of 15 for marginal 4^th seat openers, even with12 points.
Use the rule of 20 in 1 st and 2 nd seat – this North hand C is 20 for the rule with the points in the long suits, and thus a clear opener.

- Opening a weak two with a 5 card suit is allowed, and I will often do so if I have another 5-carder or possibly with a good 4-carder.

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

West East You are East, declarer in 4♠. South leads the ♥Q, ♥J and

♠ 643 ♠ KJ10872 and another ♥ which you ruff when North plays the ♥A

♥ K72 ♥ 84 on dummy’s ♥K. You cross to dummy with the ♦Q and

♦ Q62 ♦ AKJ3 play a ♠ upon which North plays the ♠5.

♣ K876 ♣ A Which ♠ do you play from hand?

Dave’s Column answer Board 10 from Wednesday 24^th

Dealer: ♠ A95 Book Auction

East ♥ A963 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 109 - - 1♠ pass

♣10543 2♠ (1) pass 4♠ all pass

♠ 643 N ♠ KJ10872 My Table

♥ K72 W E ♥ 84 West North East South

♦ Q62 S ♦ AKJ3 - - 1♠ pass

♣ K876 ♣ A 1NT (2) pass 2♠ all pass

♠ Q

♥ QJ105 (1) Obvious playing Standard American.

♦ 8754 (2) This pair play 2/1 and constructive raises. This West

♣ QJ92 decided to downgrade and bid a forcing 1NT because of the bad 3334 shape and poor trumps. A close call.

Assume that you are East, declarer in 4♠ as was the case at every table except ours.

South leads the ♥Q followed by the ♥J and a third ♥ which you ruff when North plays the ♥A on your ♥K. You lead a ♦ to dummy’s ♦Q and lead a trump, North playing the ♠5.

Which trump do you play?

At our table (and at two others) East played the ♠J leading to one down. The other two declarers guessed right by rising with the ♠K.

You can find the correct play in any of several books that deal with declarer’s handling of single suit card combinations. East gains by playing the ♠J if North has ♠Qx. He gains by playing the ♠K if North has Ax. In those two cases East has a complete guess. If North has Qxx or AQx East is sure to go down as he cannot return to dummy to lead another trump.

East’s play is a matter of skill only when South has the singleton ♠Q. To profit from that possible holding East should put up the ♠K on the first trump.

Playing the ♠J is only correct if dummy has another entry so that you can pick up ♠AQx from the North hand for just one loser; this combination is twice as likely as singleton ♠Q with South but is irrelevant when there is only one entry to dummy.

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

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

North South You are North, declarer in 3NT.

♠ QJ109 ♠ A5 East leads the ♥3 and you win West’s ♥10 with the ♥Q.

♥ Q974 ♥ 2 You lead the ♦Q which is allowed to hold. How should

♦ AQ ♦ J10982 you continue?

♣ AKJ ♣ 109652

Dave’s 2^nd Column answer Board 11 from Wednesday 24^th

Dealer: ♠ QJ109 Book bidding

South ♥ Q974 West North East South

Love all ♦ AQ - - - pass

♣ AKJ pass 1♣ dbl 3♣

pass 3NT all pass

♠ 742 N ♠ K863

♥ J1086 W E ♥ AK53 East leads the ♥3 and North wins West’s ♥10

♦ 76 S ♦ K543 with the ♥Q. North leads the ♦Q which is

♣ Q874 ♣ 3 allowed to hold. How should North continue?

♠ A5

♥ 2

♦ J10982

♣ 109652

North should now cash just one high ♣ before offering his ♣J. If West wins and leads a ♠ to partner’s ♠K and dummy’s ♠A, declarer wins 4 ♠’s, 1 ♥, 2 ♦’s and 2 ♣’s. Returning a ♥ does no better as North has the ♥ spots.

If West refuses to win the ♣Q declarer will win 9 tricks anyway, 3 ♠’s, 1 ♥, 2 ♦’s and 3 ♣’s.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 4♣-1, 3NT-1 three times and 3NT= just the once (against me [Terry] of course – it was one of those days; very well played, Bob Pelletier).

Bid ♦’s or a 4-card major? Board 15 from Wednesday 24^th

I was asked about this one. Apparently North’s bidding was criticised by his partner. Playing standard methods North bid perfectly and South was totally to blame for the resultant poor score.

Dealer: ♠ 8643 West North East South(J)

South ♥ 4 - - - 1♣

N-S vul ♦ AK965 pass 1♦ (1) pass 1♥

♣ 865 pass 1♠ (2) pass 3NT (3)

all pass

♠ K972 N ♠ QJ

♥ A986 W E ♥ K1075 (1) Unless you play Walsh, this 1♦ is obvious.

♦ Q72 S ♦ J843 (2) natural and forcing – just as if it was 1♣ - 1♠

♣ J7 ♣ 943 (3) What did you bid with this South hand J in

♠ A105 this week’s quiz? I agree it’s difficult for

♥ QJ32 South, but this jump is absurd as North has

♦ 10 promised no more than 6 points. 2♠, 2♣ or the

♣ AKQ102 slight overbid of 2NT are the obvious

alternatives. I would bid 2NT because of the good suit and 3 10’s.

And what happened? 1NT=, 2♣=, 3NT-1 twice and 3NT-2. The bottom lines: -

- The sequence 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠ is natural and responder is promising no more than a minimum with ♦’s and ♠’s.

A responsive double Board 25 from Wednesday 24^th

It doesn’t seem to come up that often, but here an interesting example of a responsive double occurred at table B.

Dealer: ♠ 9 Table A

North ♥ 863 West North East South

N-S vul ♦ AK - 2♣ (1) 2♠ pass

♣ AJ109654 pass 3♣ 3♥ 4♣

4♥ 5♣ pass pass

♠ J5 N ♠ AKQ74 5♥ pass pass 6♣ (2)

♥ AKJ52 W E ♥ Q10974 dbl all pass

♦ Q8652 S ♦ J73

♣ Q ♣ - Table B

♠ 108632 West North East(F) South

♥ - - 1♣ 1♠ (3) 2♣

♦ 1094 dbl (4) 5♣ 5♥ (5) all pass

♣ K8732

Table A: (1) Apparently a Benjamin two (good ♣’s). This is not strong enough in my opinion and I would open 1♣ even if playing Benjamin twos.

(2) When partner could not double having promised a good hand, South correctly deduced that 5♥ may well be making and that 6♣ may even make.

Table B: (3) What did you bid with this East hand F in this week’s quiz? I totally agree with this – a Micheals cue bid of 2♣ should be either weak or much stronger than this.

(4) An interesting choice – a Responsive double showing the two unbid suits and tolerance (i.e. a doubleton) for partner’s suit.

(5) Very clear after partner’s descriptive bid.

And what happened? 5♥= twice, 6♥-1, 5♣(N)*+1 and 6♣(N)*=.

The bottom lines: -

- This West hand is a classic example (if a bit on the strong side) of the Responsive double in the auction at table B.

Paul’s Column Board 25 from Wednesday 24^th

Dealer: ♠ KJ1085 West North East South

South ♥ K5 - - - 1NT

both vul ♦ 64 pass 2♥ pass 3♠

♣ A987 pass 4♣ pass 4♦

pass 4♠ pass 4NT

♠ A972 N ♠ - pass 5♦ pass 6♠

♥ 10963 W E ♥ J872 all pass

♦ 82 S ♦ QJ1075

♣ QJ6 ♣ 10532

♠ Q652

♥ AQ4

♦ AK93

♣ K4

Playing a 15-17 1NT do you open 1D or 1NT?  The lack of intermediate cards anywhere argues in favor of 1NT.  Downgrade a point for this slight flaw as my partner did.  However when I transferred to spades the South hand became a maximum and partner correctly bid THREE spades ... a maximum NT opening and 4 spades.  Now I cue bid 4C as a mild slam try.  Despite holding "only" 11 high card points they were prime. Notice that there are no side suit queens or jacks in the North hand.  The auction proceeded with 4D (cue bid), 4S (no other 1st round control), 4NT (RKCB for spades), 5H (2 key cards and no queen of spades), 6S.

The contract is an excellent one which was missed at all the other tables, presumably after 1D, 1S, 4S.  The North hand holding the spade length might have moved on but apparently no one did.  Chalk up one (three) for hand evaluation, cue bids and super-accepts.

♠ AJ On Friday’s board 19 North held this hand and heard partner open 1C in
♥ 109xx first seat. The next hand over-called 1D. 
♦ Jx What did you bid with this Hand J in this week’s quiz?
♣ KQ10xx Apparently there are THREE differing opinions about what to do.

The actual responder made a negative double with only AJ in spades, poor hearts, and a great club fit.  This might have worked but is totally flawed.  Terry opines that 1H is best ... despite the lack of any top heart honor which will usually denote 5 or more H or heart strength. I feel that a 2D cue bid showing a sound raise to 3C (which is the hand you have) would never preclude partner from showing a secondary heart suit with 2H, and thus you would never miss a heart fit.  You decide.  A good 6C was missed at every table.

Hand J Terry’s Comment: Partner opens 1♣ and RHO overcalls 1♦. Paul and I will

♠ AJ have to agree to disagree on this one. Opener may well be short in ♣’s and the

♥ 109xx 1♦ overcall makes it quite likely that he has ♥’s. I was always taught ‘never

♦ Jx deny a 4-card major’. Paul says you will not miss it, but what if LHO butts in

♣ KQ10xx with say 2♠ or 3♦? And maybe opener is 4423? Or maybe LHO passes but

partner is minimum and signs off in 3♣ with maybe a 5-3 ♣ fit with a possible ♥ fit completely lost (this North hand is not good enough to introduce the ♥ suit at the three level opposite a minimum).

I also feel that the sequence 1♣ 1♦ 2♦ p 2♥ is ambiguous unless agreed. One could take it as the same as after an inverted minor raise with 2♥ showing a stop there and not necessarily a suit. I assume that 1♣ 1♦ 2♦ shows an invitational raise or better AND denies a 4-card major – virtually the same as when playing inverted minors.

About the sequence 1♣ 1♦ 1♥, Paul says that ‘if 1♥ lacks of any top heart honor the bid will usually denote 5 or more H or heart strength’. I disagree and would never deny a 4-card ♥ suit and will make the same bid as if there was no overcall (except I double with two 4-card majors).

Anyway, we both agree that the negative dbl found at the table is totally wrong. In my (and Max Hardy’s) opinion it shows BOTH 4-card majors; with just one 4-card major simply bid it.

So Paul’s answer to question J is 2♦ and my answer is the ‘obvious’ 1♥. Take your pick, but DO NOT make a negative double which promises 4 cards in both majors.

<end of Paul’s column>

Trust Partner Board 26 from Friday 26^th

Dealer: ♠ J98 Table A

East ♥ AK97432 West North East South(H)

Both vul ♦ 85 - - - 1♦

♣ 8 1NT 2♥ (1) pass 3♣ (2)

pass 3♥ dbl all pass

♠ KQ6 N ♠ A1053

♥ Q10 W E ♥ J865 Table B

♦ A10764 S ♦ 2 West North East South(H)

♣ KQ9 ♣ 10754 - - - 1♦

♠ 742 1NT 2♥ pass pass (2)

♥ - pass

♦ KQJ93

♣ AJ632

Table A: (1) This is probably best, it shows ♥’s and is non-forcing. It’s not quite good enough for a penalty double as you may not get your ♥’s going against a 1NT doubled contract (indeed, E-W can make 2NT).

(2) What did you bid with this South hand H in this week’s quiz? This South felt compelled to bid out his shape; perhaps he did not realize that partner’s bid could be very weak (with long ♥’s).

Table B: (1) This North also found the good 2♥ bid.

(2) But this South knew that partner had ♥’s and could be very weak and so passed, and this is the answer to question H.

And what happened? 3♥*-2, 3♥*-1, 3♥-2 and 2♥= . It seems that the only South to trust his partner was the nameless one at table B; his partner also did well by actually making the contract, although down 1 would still have earned a complete top. The bottom lines: -

- Trust partner, respect a 1NT overcall, and understand that sequence M is non-forcing.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 3NT – the gambling 3NT showing a solid minor with nothing outside. The void is totally irrelevant.

Hand B: 1♦. 2♣, with just 8½ playing tricks and a couple of tens it’s close, but it’s probably not quite worth 2♣. Playing Benjamin twos it’s an easy 2♣ opener of course.

Hand C: 1♠. This ♠1098 in a 5-card suit are far more than zero points and I would not dream of passing. A weak 2♠ is an option (a 5-card suit is acceptable with a decent 2^nd suit) but I consider the hand too good. The hand is 20 for the rule of 20, with points in the long suits, and a clear opener to me.

Hand D: Pass. Yes, I know it’s a decent 12 points with a reasonable suit – but it’s not ♠’s! The ♠ suit is all important in 4^th seat and you should pass if your hand does not comply with Pearson’s rule of 15. Of course you open 1♦ in any other seat.

Hand E: 2♠ or dbl. Do not let the opponents play in a comfortable 2♥. I prefer 2♠ as this ♠ suit is robust and even a 4-3 fit should play well, and partner may well have 4 ♠’s (he did) and you are only at the two level. Double is reasonable as if partner bids 3♣ you can remove to 3♦ which does not show a strong ♦ hand as you have already passed and the points are clearly evenly split between the two sides.

Hand F: 1♠, to be followed by a ♥ bid if necessary. With two 5-card majors it’s unsuitable for a double and the hand is too strong for a Michaels cue bid (and not strong enough for Michaels and big again which requires greater playing strength).

Hand G: 2♥, provided that you play the weak jump shift.

Hand H: Pass. Partner is weak with long ♥’s.

Hand J: 2♦ (a sound raise to 3♣ or better) is Paul’s answer. I would simply bid 1♥, I see no reason not to ignore the overcall and bid 1♥ as if there was no interference.

Hand K: 2NT, or maybe 2♣ or even 2♠? This is a tricky one (as always when you have 15-17 and cannot open 1NT). I would opt for the slight overbid of 2NT. 1NT is too much of an underbid and 3NT way over the top.

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answers

L 1♣ 1♦ dbl This negative double shows both majors (exactly 4-4). If you are 4-3 (or 4-2) in the majors bid the 4-carder, and if you are 5-4 bid the longer. That’s the way I play it and it is exactly what Max Hardy says on page 224 of his book ‘Standard Bridge Bidding for the 21^st Century’.

M 1♦ 1NT 2♥ 2♥ is long, weakish and passable.