Club News Sheet –
No. 155 www.pattayabridge.com
Mon 17th 1st Bob Short/Gene 59% 2nd David/Kenneth 55%
Wed 19th 1st Dave/Hans 56% 2nd Bjorn/Ian 55%
Fri 21st N-S 1st Dave/Bob 66% 2nd Bill/Mike 53%
21st E-W 1st Chuck/Tomas 59% 2nd Bob Short/Gene 55%
I had too many interesting boards last week, so some of them appear in this issue.
Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless
otherwise stated
Suppose
you choose 2♣, the what do you bid after
partner bids
♠ AKQJ ♠ Q754 (b) 2♦ (negative or waiting), or (c) 2NT (8-10 balanced)?
♥ KQ42 ♥ 10632
♠ AJ ♠ Q853
♥ AJ1094 ♥ AQ62 With Hand D LHO opens 2♠, passed to you. (a) what do you do?
♦ KQ3 ♦ K73 Suppose
you choose to double – partner bids 3♣ and
♣ 1062 ♣ A10 3♠, (b) what do you do now?
♦ AQ4 ♦ 3 What do you open with hand F?
Editorial – About our clubs
Dave and I were asked about the Wednesday funds, so here’s the complete picture.
I run the Monday and Friday clubs; I look after the money and also membership fees and that goes towards the running of the club - the web-site (very expensive), cards, bidding boxes, boards, news-sheets etc etc.
The Wednesday club is run by Dave (although I do help out occasionally) and these funds are used for what Dave (and I) think fit. Currently they have paid for trophies and the Jack computer program. Members are invited to borrow Jack.
Club membership is 1000 bht per year (cheaper if you join later in the year). Membership entitles you to play at all 3 venues for just 50 bht a time; non-members pay 100 bht.
A comedy of errors? Board 12 from Wednesday 12th
N-S vul ♦ 5 1NT (1) 2♣ (2) 3♦ (3) pass
♣ QJ96 pass (4) dbl (5) pass 3♥
all pass
♠ 764 N ♠ J52
♥ KJ52 W E ♥ 84
♠ A98
♥ Q93
♦ J972
(1) You all know me by now, I would not open 1NT with this hand (knock off a point for the 4333 type shape and treat it as a 14 point hand). Anyway, perhaps West had sized up the opposition?
(2) Showing at least 5-4 in the majors (Multi Landy). With this nice shape I won’t argue with it being a major card short.
(3) What is this?? Standard is that it’s game forcing. There ‘obviously’ is no such thing as a pre-emptive bid after partner has opened with a strong NT!?
(4) Obviously I would have bid here (a ‘natural’ 3♥ - showing a stopper there) as I would take 3♦ as strong and forcing.
(5) Equally obviously North should pass here – West has passed a presumed forcing 3♦ bid, South has promised zero and North has no more than (one could say not as much as) he has already shown. It appears that North intended this as penalties! Apparently his ‘thoughts’ went along these lines – partner did not bid a major after my Multi Landy so he must have ♦’s! No further comment by me.
- Playing Lebensohl or not, 3♦ is forcing here as a natural 2♦ is available with a weak ♦ hand. (and, actually, you can show an invitational ♦ hand by going via 2NT, Lebensohl).
Who’s the dick-head? Board 25 from Wednesday 12th
Both vul ♦ Q10964 - - 1NT pass
♣ Q10 2♦ pass 2♥ all pass
♠ 75 N ♠ KJ96
♥ J7652 W E ♥ A108
♠ A842 I was dummy (West) and when the ♦A was
♥ 93 led I (humorously?) commented that South
DUMMY ♦ A3 obviously has the ♦K if he led the ♦A.
- Nobody in their right mind is going the lead an ace from AQ, especially if a strong NT was opened on their right!
Do not take a ‘finesse’ which is 100% certain to fail and give defenders a ruff!
A word about inverted Attitude
There are a number of different signalling techniques, but there are three distinct types that are independent. It appears that one of our top players got confused when his partner wanted to play ‘inverted signals’ – (what his partner meant was inverted attitude signals).
(a) Telling partner about your holding in a suit when he leads it (some give attitude, some give count).
(b) Telling partner about your
holding in a suit when declarer leads it (give count if it’s going to help
partner and not help declarer.).
(c) Discard Signals. When you discard (say on a suit declarer is leading). Then your first discard should tell partner what suit you like and don’t like – I recommend Lavinthal (McKenny) as the ‘club standard’.
These 3 are largely independent of each other and a very large
number of players in this club prefer ‘inverted attitude’ – i.e. low to
encourage for (a) above. Indeed, I also prefer this scheme as it makes more
sense than throwing a high card from a suit that you like. It is common in
Some players also play inverted count but I don’t advice this and see no point.
Anyway, if someone wants to play inverted attitude for (a) that that does not affect discards – he still plays count at (b) and Lavinthal at (c) in the normal way and this is very common in this club.
And note that if you do decide to play inverted attitude and say partner leads ♦A against a ♠ contract, then holding ♦Q72 you play the two to encourage; holding ♦72 you still play the ♦2 to encourage (you want a ruff). Some people get confused here – this is not count, but attitude, and so in this situation you play low from a doubleton. Of course if you do find this confusing then you can also play inverted count!
The Trump promotion Board 17 from Wednesday 12th
Now most of the articles in the news-sheets are about the bidding;
so just for a change we’ll have one on defensive play: -
Love all ♦ Q53 - 1♠ pass 2♥
♣ 1074 pass 2♠ all pass
♠ Q7 N ♠ J98
♥ K74 W E ♥ 10932
♠ 62
® ♥ AQ865
DUMMY ♦ K42
East led the ♣A. Now West new that his partner held the ♣K – East was the same East as the previous deal when he called somebody a ‘dick-head’ for leading the ace without the king. Anyway, E-W had agreed to play inverted attitude signals (so low to encourage) and so West played the ♣6. North played the ♣4 I would have played the ♣7 in order to confuse the E-W signals.
Anyway, there was no need to try to confuse East as even with the ♣4 played to the first trick he could not work out that partner had encouraged and so switched to the ♦J.
Now normally West would have ducked this (retaining the ♦A over dummy’s ♦K) but he knew exactly what was going on. West took the ♦A, led the ♣Q followed by the ♣8 and sat back waiting for partner to do the right thing in this position: -
Love all ♦ Q5 The answer is that he should lead the ♣9.
♣ - It matters not if dummy ruffs, the important thing
is that West knows that it’s the 13th ♣ and he will
♠ Q7 N ♠ J98 ruff high – forcing declarer to ruff even higher
♥ K74 W E ♥ 10932 and thus promoting East’s trump holding.
♠ 62 East lamely led a ♥ and scored just one trump trick.
® ♥ AQ865 Every other N-S went down.
DUMMY ♦ K4
The bottom lines: -
- Understand trump promotion!
- Look at partner’s signals
- As declarer, false-card if you want to disrupt the defender’s signals.
Don’t Pre-empt then bid again! Board 27 from Wednesday 12th
♣ 86 dbl (2) 4♦ (3) 4© (4) 5♦ (5)
dbl (6) all pass
♠ AKQ104 N ♠ 93
♥ J72 W E ♥ 108543
♠ 6
♥ A9
♦ KQ10874
The 2♣ Opener and
responses
There has been a lot of discussion about this (and a ‘waiting’ 2♦ response) at the club recently. So I’ll give a couple of hands from the club and then give the ‘definitive’ solution.
♠ AQJ6 N ♠ K982 West East
♥ A5 W E ♥ K74 2♣ (1) 2NT (2)
First of all, remember this hand from last week’s news-sheet (who should bid Blackwood)? I gave a couple of auctions but this was apparently that from one table. Last week I suggested that it should be East asking bidding Blackwood but one member disagreed:
(1) This is a nice hand. With the KQJ sequence in a 5 card suit I’m happy with a 2♣ opener, with the intention of rebidding 2NT (22-24).
(2) But unfortunately partner got in the 2NT bid – more of responses to 2♣ later.
(3) Apparently this was Stayman. Now this is a new one on me, but I guess reasonable. The main problem (apart from the fact that I don’t like the 2NT response) is that the wrong guy is going to play the hand and it’s also going to be difficult to find a minor suit fit. After a 2♣ opening one should be thinking slam – and it’s quite likely to be in a minor. Baron (initiating a sequence where both players bid 4-card suits up the line) is probably better but I give a completely different scheme later anyway.
(4) The 4-4 ♠ fit is located.
(5) And West confirms this.
Now this East came up to me about my comment last week that East should bid Blackwood in this sort of situation - I said that the only ‘problem’ was the weak ♦ suit but that’s probably OK opposite a 2♣ opener.
He said that East cannot bid Blackwood as a Blackwood bidder promises an ace and he said that West should bid Blackwood at (5). My reaction: -
- Poppycock. A Blackwood bidder does not promise an ace, especially if partner has shown a huge hand (there is another excellent example of this in news-sheet 85). Of course it’s nice to have the security of one ace and if partner starts with a lowly one-level bid then Baby Blackwood that I mentioned last week is a solution.
- Anyway, in this situation West should not be the asker as when he gets a zero ace response it’s far to dangerous to ask for kings with an ace missing. Indeed, it’s generally accepted that all the aces are present when one asks for kings.
- In this situation, with 3 kings, it should be East asking (he also knows that there are values for slam (West does not) and should bid 4NT at (6) and go on to slam with just one ace missing.
Before I get onto the ‘real solution. Let’s have another problem hand from this Monday: -
A 2♣ opener? Board 2 from Monday 17th
This hand also caused lots of problems: - Table A
N-S vul ♦ A54 3♣ (3) pass 3♦ pass
♣ 106 3♠ (4) pass 3NT pass
4NT (5) pass 5♦ pass
♠ AKQJ N ♠ 82 5♥ (6) pass 5NT all pass
♥ KQ42 W E ♥ AJ5
♣ AQJ5 ♣ K8742 West(A) North East South
♠ 9653 - - pass pass
♥ 9 2♣ (1) pass 2♦ (2) pass
♦ K98732 2♠ (7) pass 3♣ (8) pass
pass (11) pass
Table D
West(A) North East South Table C
- - pass pass West(A) North East South
1♣ (1) 1♥ (13) 2♣ pass - - pass pass
6♣ (14) all pass 2♣ (1) pass 2♦ (2) pass
3♣ (12) etc to 6♣?
Table A: (1) What did you open with this West hand A(a) in this week’s quiz. Now 2♣ seems ‘obvious’ – but you will have a problem next bid!
(2) 8-10, balanced. I don’t like this response and go into it all next page.
(3) It appears that this pair also play this as Stayman. Perhaps reasonable, but how do you find a ♣ fit?
(4) And West again has a problem – I would take this as 5 ♠’s and 4 ♥’s.
(5) Apparently both players understood this to be Blackwood. No comment from me as I don’t like the sequence anyway.
(6) To sign off in 5NT
Table B: (2) Presumably ‘waiting’
(7) And West also has a problem here. 2♠ should be a 5+ card suit
(8) Natural
(9) I have no idea why West did not bid 6♣ (via Blackwood if you like).
(10) Up to you pard.
(11) I have no idea why West did not bid 6♣.
Table C: (12) I would want (at least) 5 ♣’s for this bid.
Table D: (1) Now this West knows all about the rebid problems if you open 2♣ on a 4441 type shape hand – and so he (I) opened 1♣. Simple! (as long as it’s not passed out). But you know me – I rarely pass partner’s 1♣ opening and expect the same from partner.
(13) A shade(?) light for a vulnerable overcall.
(14) Since the opponent’s were still gloating about the good 6♥ that they had bid on the previous board, I simply plonked the 6♣ card on the table.
And what happened? 6♣ is obviously the contract. Everybody else was all over the place.
Responses to the 2♣ opening
2♦ negative or 2♦ waiting? What is 2NT? How much for a +ve response? How good a suit? It’s about time I covered this once and for all.
First of all, I’ll put in my usual plug for Benjamin twos. My preferred system is both a strong 2♣ and 2♦ with responder always relaying (or ‘waiting’ – with the next bid up). I have covered Benjamin twos numerous times before so now I’ll go into the best scheme for responding to 2♣ if that is your only strong bid. I play this with Chuck or Lewis, and I believe that Bob and Allan also play it.
Now as I mentioned previously, responder bidding a natural 2NT (or 3NT!) is terrible – it takes up space, has the wrong man as declarer and makes finding minor suit fits very difficult.
The solution? 2NT is not natural! And the modern way of thinking is that you should only give a +ve if you have something very positive to say (i.e. a good suit).The ‘modern’ scheme opposite a 2♣ opener is: -
2♦ = Waiting. Could be a very good hand but one that does not qualify for one of the +ve bids. This 2♦ waiting bid is game forcing because 2♥ is the negative.
2♥ = Negative. No ace or 5 points or less. This requirements for a +ve vary according to partnership understanding. Typical is this, with say 8+ points in total: -
2♠ = A ♠ positive. 5+ card ♠ suit and two honours in the suit.
2NT = A ♥ positive. 5+ card ♥ suit and two honours in the suit.
3♣ = A ♣ positive. 5+ card ♣ suit and two honours in the suit.
3♦ = A ♦ positive. 5+ card ♦ suit and two honours in the suit.
Let’s see how this would work with the ‘problem’ hand from last week:
♠ AQJ6 N ♠ K982 West East
♥ A5 W E ♥ K74 2♣ 2♦ (1)
Of course none of this would help declarer with the previous 4414 hand and I would still open 1♣ unless I had a specific scheme for showing a strong 4441 type hand. Now there is such a scheme (the mini-maxi multi), but I’ll leave that for a much later date!
Partner may be bust! Board 16 from Monday 17th
The bidding at Table A was that of at least two tables. The right contract,
but the wrong route! :
E-W vul ♦ AQ4 1♣ dbl pass 1♥ (1)
♣ K43 pass 4♥ (2) all pass
♠ A1063 N ♠ J92 Table B
♥ A W E ♥ 754 West North(E) East South(B)
♠ Q754 pass
♥ 10632
♦ K75
♣ 96
Table A: (1) Fine, showing 0-8 points. Some players will prefer 1♠ here, this is one exception to the general rule of bidding 4 card suits up the line – if partner does not like ♠’s (and bids 2♦ or 2NT – showing a very strong hand) you have enough values to bid ♥’s without raising the level.
(2) What did you bid with this North hand E in this week’s quiz? 4♥ is an overbid here, I have covered this in previous news-sheets. Remember, partner may have zero points! Both 2♥ and 3♥ show good hands here.
Table B: (2) This North bid correctly. 3♥ shows a very strong hand (2♥ would be just a strong hand) and asks partner to bid game if he is not totally bust (i.e. has about 3 or more points)
(3) And what did you bid with this South hand B in this week’s quiz? It’s a clear 4♥ opposite partner’s very strong bid.
And what happened? ½ of the field reached 4♥ (I suspect like Table A). The other ½ played in ♥ partscores – presumably South did not bid game when asked?
The bottom lines: -
- There is a well know saying that I have often read. Inexperienced bidders tend to overbid good hand and underbid poor ones. It is very true.
- Understand bidding after a double: -
- A double followed by a raise of partner’s minimal bid suit shows a good hand (say 15-16).
- A double followed by a jump raise of partner’s minimal bid suit shows a very good hand (say 17-19).
- A double followed by a jump to game in partner’s minimal bid suit shows a very very good hand (say 21+, i.e. game values in your hand).
- When you make a minimal response to partner’s double and he raises, then take the above into account. So raise 2♥ to 4♥ with 6-8 points and 3♥ to 4♥ with 3-8 points.
The 2nd double is also take-out Board 12 from Wednesday 19th
N-S vul ♦ AJ108 2♠ pass pass (1) dbl (2)
♣ Q76532 pass 3♣ 3♠ (3) dbl (4)
pass 4♣ (5) dbl all pass
♠ KJ9764 N ♠ A105
♥ K53 W E ♥ 1098
♠ Q853
♥ AQ62
♦ K73
♣ A10
(1) I would raise to 3♠ immediately here – make it difficult for South.
(2) What did you bid with this South hand D(a) in this week’s quiz. With 4 ♠’s it may be more prudent to pass, but with 4 ♥’s it’s very tempting to double! I don’t like 2NT as this may well not even be a ♠ stop.
(3) What I would have done last go.
(4) What did you bid with this South hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? I would pass. South intended this double as penalties – unfortunately it is not. It shows a big red two-suiter.
(5) North’s last bid promised zero points. And if you accept what I say about South’s 2nd double I would jump to 4♥ here; but perhaps North knew his partner?
And what happened? 4♣ doubled went one down, but scored an average as other South’s also overbid (a hopeless 3NT twice). 4♠ by West went 4 down at another table, so presumably 3♠ would have gone down for a good score to N-S.
The bottom lines: -
- With 3-card support for partner’s pre-empt, it’s usually best to raise immediately.
- If partner has not shown any values, then the 2nd double is also take-out, showing a big hand with the other two suits.
3rd hand plays high – part 1 Board 2 from Wednesday 19th
N-S vul ♦ 1072 - - pass (1) 1♣
♣ K954 pass 1♥ pass (2) 1♠
pass 1NT pass pass (3)
♠ 872 N ♠ K1054 pass
♥ J632 W E ♥ Q95
♦ KJ53 S ♦ AQ984 (1) I would open 1♦
♠ QJ93 looks ideal now
♥ AK (3) With no ♦ cover I would bid ♣’s, and with
DUMMY ♦ 6 this powerful hand 3♣ looks about right.
® ♣ AQ10763
Anyway, it’s about the play. East led the ♦8 (as would I) and West contributed the ♦3! His ‘excuse’ was that he thought that the ♦8 was top of nothing. That would leave North with ♦AQ109 – just about possible I suppose? But West should play high anyway – it cannot cost.
And what happened? N-S got a good board, but not as good as the pair who bid and made 5♣.
The bottom lines: -
- 3rd hand plays high (except if there is a finessable honour in dummy).
3rd hand plays high – part 2 Board 20 from Wednesday 19th
Both vul ♦ 97 pass pass 2♣ pass
♣ Q5 2♦ pass 3NT (1) pass
pass (2) pass
♠ 9732 N ♠ AKJ10
♥ 72 W E ♥ Q8 Benjamin twos Table
♠ 864 2♥ (4) pass 2NT (5) pass
♥ AJ1096 3♣ (6) pass 3♠ pass
DUMMY ♦ 1086 4♠ all pass
♣ 864
Table A: (1) A typical Standard American or ancient Acol auction. 3NT here is 25+ balanced.
(2) And West has no idea if he should pass or try Stayman.
‘Benji’ (3) Game forcing
Table (4) Automatic relay
(5) 25+ balanced.
(6) Stayman
And what happened? An enormous mixed bag of results. One West passed the game forcing Standard American 2♠ bid (2♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ - pass), one West even passed the opening 2♣ bid!
Now 3NT is obviously a silly contract. South led the ♥9 (4th highest) – I would lead the ♥J (top of an interior sequence) and I’m sure that others would lead a different ♥ – but that’s not really the issue:- North played low!!
The bottom lines: -
- 3rd hand plays high (except if there is a finessable honour in dummy).
- When partner leads an honour (promising the lower cards in a sequence) then overtake and return the suit.
- Play Benjamin twos.
3rd hand plays high – part 3 Board 26 from Friday 21st
Both vul ♦ 53 DUMMY - - pass pass
♣ KQ ¯ 2NT pass 3♦ (1) pass
3♥ (2) pass 4♦ pass
♠ AKQ N ♠ 3 5♦ all pass
♥ A92 W E ♥ J10
♠ 98752 - - pass pass
♥ K43 2NT pass 3NT (1) all pass
♦ 102
♣ A74
Table A: (1) Meant as natural; I prefer the bid at Table B.
(2) He thought partner’s bid was a transfer.
Table B: (1) This is a superb 5 points and well worth a shot at game opposite partner’s 20-21
(or 20-22 – depending how you play it). And you all know me, I prefer to go for 3NT rather than 5 of a minor (and you get the lead up to partner).
And what happened? 5♦ went minus one at the two tables it was bid, and 3NT was bid at 3 tables and generally made +1.
Now I say generally – but at one table it made +3! How?
North led a standard 4th highest ♥6 and South ducked! What’s more, he even tried to justify this appalling play in the post-mortem – saying that he thought North’s lead could be ‘top of nothing’. As this post-mortem could be heard all over the room I feel justified in adding my tuppence worth: -
And what can I say? Well actually quite a lot but I’ll just keep it simple and polite: -
- One sometimes leads ‘top of nothing’ – but rarely against a NT contract! 4th best is ‘standard’ and that’s what most sensible players would assume North’s lead here to be.
- If it was indeed a rather obscure ‘top of nothing’ then that would give declarer ♥AQ987 in the suit and South’s ♥K is a gonner anyway.
- North is marked with 5-6 points on the bidding and so would normally be expected to lead (4th best) from a suit with some values.
- There is absolutely no possible combination of cards where ducking here is remotely sensible. The only time it works is when West has a rather unlikely singleton ♥A, and then partner holds ♥ Q987652 and would lead the ♥7.
The bottom lines: -
- 3rd hand plays high.
- When partner leads a lowish card against a NT contract, assume it’s 4th best unless there is convincing evidence to the contrary.
- When you have made a foolish play, own up to it, rather than trying to justify it to the whole room!
- ‘Sorry partner’ would be the correct (but uncharacteristic) comment from (this) South.
Benjamin is the way Board 27 from Friday 21st
Love all ♦ Q972 - - - 1♠ (1)
♣ 72 pass (2) pass pass
♠ 84 N ♠ A Table B (Standard American)
♥ K105 W E ♥ J732 West North East South(F)
♠ KQJ9732 all pass
♥ A9
♦ 3 Table C (Ancient Acol)
♣ AQ9 West North East South(F)
- - - 2♠ (1)
The ‘Benji’ Table pass pass (5) pass
West North East South(F)
- - - 2♣ (1)
2♦ (6) pass (7) pass 2♠ (8)
pass 3♠ (9) pass 4♠ (10)
all pass
Table A: (1) What did you open with this South hand F in this week’s quiz? It’s about 8½
playing tricks and not quite good enough for 2♣, so 1♠ and cross your fingers in Standard American
(2) And yes, somebody did actually pass with this West hand! Turned out well!
Table B: (1) I was South here and also opened 1♠.
(2) What most would do.
(3) I would pass
(4) My hand’s improved with an expected ♣ lead.
Table C: (1) A strong two, forcing for one round in Acol.
(5) But this West did not realise this. Now Ancient Acol is slightly different from Benjamin as the 2♠ opener is forcing. 2NT is the negative, so bid 2NT (negative) and then 4♠ over partner’s expected 3♠ as this hand is worth a trick and partner may be non-min. Note that, unlike Benji, responder cannot invite game and has to simply gamble.
‘Benji’ (1) 8-9 playing tricks in this instance.
Table (6) Let’s assume that West bids
(7) Then North passes
(8) 8-8½ playing tricks in ♠’s, I don’t play this sequence as strictly forcing.
(9) But this North hand expects to be worth a trick and so should bid. This is simply invitational (not slow arrival as 2♠ is not forcing) and invites 4♠ if partner is not just a bare 8 playing tricks.
(10)With more than a minimum, South bids the game.
And what happened? 4♠ was bid twice and made exactly. ♠ partscores scored 170 or 200 at other tables.
The bottom lines : -
- Play Benjamin twos.
- I have explained
responding to a strong Benjamin 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥/♠ in earlier
news sheets (it’s up on the web in the Benjamin two section). In particular, I
wrote an article called ‘the problem with playing tricks’ (news-sheet 72). If
you read that, you will understand why North should raise to 3♠ and not
pass.
Walking the dog? Board 21 from Friday 21st
N-S vul ♦ 75 (Chuck) (me)
♣ 1093 - 1♥ pass (1) 1NT
pass 2♥ (2) 3♣ (3) pass (4)
♠ Q1032 N ♠ AJ7 pass pass
♥ 107432 W E ♥ Q
♠ 965
♥ 65
♦ AK962
♣ 854
(1) Now what would you bid here? 2♣? 3♥? 3NT? It’s not obvious and I guess that anything could work. Chuck passed!
(2) Pass is reasonable.
(3) Now Chuck tried his trick.
(4) South has two top tricks opposite an opener, but this dog was too wily to double!
And what happened? 3♣ made exactly for an average.
The bottom lines : -
- I know and respect Chuck’s bridge abilities. In particular I know that an overcall by him at the two level is sound. So I smelled a rat here, why did he not overcall 1st time?
- The answer is that he was hoping to get doubled! Apparently this trick has a name: walking the dog!
The jump to four is weak Board 15 from Wednesday 19th
N-S vul ♦ A63 - - - 1♥
♣ Q9 pass 4♥ (1) pass 4NT (2)
pass 5♦ pass 5♥
♠ 9853 N ♠ KQ74 all pass
♥ 87 W E ♥ Q
♠ AJ
♥ AJ1094
♦ KQ3
♣ 1062
(1) This would also be my choice – it’s a weak bid, promising (usually) 5 ♥’s and little else. This hand is about top of the range for the bid.
(2) What did you do with this South hand C in this week’s quiz? This hand is nowhere near good enough opposite a weak jump and should pass. You really need at least 19 points to make a move here, and with that much I would not bid Blackwood if the ♣’s were wide open - I would cue bid 4♠.
And what happened? 5♥ lost the obvious 3 tricks. 4♥ was bid and made at most other tables.
The bottom lines: -
- Raising partner’s 1♥/♠ opening to 4♥/♠ is weak.
- Avoid Blackwood when holding a wide-open suit unless you have reason tho believe that partner has a top card in that suit.
Hand A: (a) I opened 1♣ because: -
(b) There is no sensible answer. Any bid now shows a 5+ card suit.
(c) There is no sensible answer. It appears that some play 3♣ as Stayman here (that’s a new one on me), but how do you find a minor suit fit for slam?
Hand B: 4♥. Partner has a very strong hand . You have shown 0-8 and he’s inviting you to bid game if you are not totally bust. Easily enough here.
Hand C: Pass. Partner raise to 4♠ is a weak pre-emptive bid.
Hand D: (a) Pass (or double). I prefer pass but will not argue with double as it’s very tempting
holding values and 4 ♥’s. 2NT is a poor bid with these ♠’s as it may not even be one stop.
(b) Pass. A 2nd double here is also take-out; showing a big red two-suiter in this situation.
Hand E: 3♥. Partner may be bust. 3♥ shows a very strong hand here and partner should bid game with about 3+ points. 4♥ is an overbid which you should only make if partner is likely to pass 3♥ with 3+ points because he does not read the news-sheets.
Hand F: 1♠, it’s not
quite good enough for 2♣. Playing Benji open 2♣ (2♣-2♦-2♠).