Our website is www.pattayabridge.com Club News Sheet – No. 416

Our blogsite is www.pattayabridge.wordpress.com

My mobile phone number is 083 6066880 31^st Oct 2010

My e-mail is terry@pattayabridge.com or pattayabridge@yahoo.com

My Windows Live Messenger is tj_quested@hotmail.com

Mon 25^th N-S 1^st Bob P & Robbie 59% 2^nd Mike D W & Mike St 55%

E-W 1^st Hans v & Guttorm 59% 2^nd Alan K & Terry Q 57%

Wed 27^th N-S 1^st John B & Royd 59% 2^nd Eddie & Janne 56%

E-W 1^st Alan K & Jan 68% 2^nd Andrew M & George C 58%

Fri 29^th N-S 1^st Bengt & Eddie 59% 2^nd Mike D W & Mike St 59%

E-W 1^st Gus & Magnus = Janne & Per Ol-Mars 58%

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Bidding Quiz Standard American bidding is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A RHO opens 1♦ in 3^rd seat what do you bid?

♠ AK ♠ KQ9 With Hand B you open 1♣

♥ AJ8 ♥ 3 (a) LHO overcalls 1♥ and partner bids 1♠, what do you bid?

♦ 532 ♦ K2 (b) LHO passes and partner bids 1♠, what do you bid?

♣ AQ1075 ♣ AJ97632

Hand C Hand D With Hand C partner opens 1♠ and RHO overcalls 2♥,

what do you bid?

♠ J987 ♠ K97

♥ 3 ♥ 9843

♦ 107543 ♦ 92 With Hand D LHO opens 1♣ and partner doubles,

♣ AQJ ♣ AQ86 what do you bid?

Hand E Hand F What do you open with Hand E?

♠ K102 ♠ QJ2

♥ J86 ♥ KQJ10 With Hand F RHO opens 1♣ and you double. Partner responds

♦ A83 ♦ K1086 2♥, what do you bid?

♣ AK106 ♣ J9

Bidding Sequence Quiz

G 1♣ 1♥ 1♠ How many ♠’s does the 1♠ bid promise?

H 1♦ 1NT dbl 1♥ Is 1♥ natural or a transfer?

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A difficult bid – but it worked out well! Board 25 from Monday 25^th Oct

Dealer: ♠ J75 West(A) North East South

North ♥ Q52 - pass pass 1♦ (1)

E-W vul ♦ A1087 1NT (2) dbl 2♥ (3) pass (4)

♣ K64 pass (5) 3♦ all pass

♠ AK N ♠ 109643

♥ AJ8 W E ♥ 964

♦ 532 S ♦ Q4

♣ AQ1075 ♣ 982

♠ Q82

♥ K1073

♦ KJ96

♣ J3

(1) A light 3^rd seat opener, quite acceptable of course.

(2) What did you bid with this West hand A in this week’s quiz? This one is not clear, I guess that you can bid 2♣, but I don’t like it with a not-so-great suit. But the bid that I really don’t like is double with just five cards in the majors and three ♦’s. I think that this 1NT is the worst of the evils as the hand really is too good for a pass.

(3) Meant as a transfer.

(4) I would double – to show ♥’s – whether 2♥ was natural or a transfer. But I guess that South passed because he had opened light?

(5) Believing that 2♥ was natural.

But the point about this hand is not the dubious(?) bidding but the play.

West led the ♠K and then the ♠A (this shows a doubleton). He was already nearly end-played and chose to continue with the ♣A and ♣Q. Declarer won the ♣K and led a trump to the ♦K and West’s ♦5. South continued with another ♦ and West played the ♦2. I’m not sure if South noted that West had petered in trumps – showing three and a desire to ruff, but he understandably played West for the ♦Q and finessed. East won his ♦Q and gave partner his ♠ ruff.

And what happened? 3♦ was minus three for a top to E-W.

The bottom lines:

- Lead the K from doubleton AK.

- One normally follows to declarer’s trumps from the bottom, but a peter generally shows three trumps and a desire to ruff.

- A 1NT overcall is around 15-18 and usually has a stop in the suit opened. However, this may not necessarily be the case if the suit opened is a minor.

Responding to partner’s double Board 4 from Wednesday 27^th Oct

Dealer: ♠ QJ2 Table A

West ♥ KQJ10 West North East South(D)

both vul ♦ K1086 1♣ dbl pass 1NT (1)

♣ J9 all pass

♠ A10 N ♠ 86543 Table B

♥ A72 W E ♥ 65 West North(F) East South(D)

♦ QJ4 S ♦ A753 1♣ dbl pass 2♥ (1)

♣ K7542 ♣ 103 pass 3♥ (2) pass 4♥

♠ K97 all pass

♥ 9843

♦ 92

♣ AQ86

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand D in this week’s quiz? This 1NT shows about 6-9 and a ♣ stop and is quite acceptable…

Table B: (1) … But I slightly prefer this bid, showing the four ♥’s and about 8-10 points.

(2) What did you bid with this North hand F in this week’s quiz? I understand that North muttered something like “What does 2♥ mean?”. Not knowing, he bid 3♥. This is an overbid, the hand is little more than a minimal double and with not very good shape for the double North should clearly pass.

And what happened? 4♥ was hopeless and went minus two for a joint bottom. 2♥ making would have been a good score. 1NT made for an average.

The bottom lines:

- Players past the beginner’s stage should understand the responses to partner’s double, look them up on the website: basic conventions > take out double.

Support with three cards? Board 5 from Monday 25^th Oct

Dealer: ♠ 863 Table A

North ♥ 82 West North East(B) South

N-S vul ♦ Q1086 - pass 1♣ 1♥

♣ Q1084 1♠ pass 2♣ (1) pass

2NT pass 3♠ (2) pass

♠ AJ1074 N ♠ KQ9 pass (3) pass

♥ KQ965 W E ♥ 3

♦ 54 S ♦ K2 Table B

♣ 5 ♣ AJ97632 West North East(B) South

♠ 52 - pass 1♣ 1♥

♥ AJ1074 1♠ pass 2♠ (1) pass

♦ AJ973 4♠ (4) all pass

♣ K

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand B(a) in this week’s quiz? I guess a lot of people will simply rebid their 7-card suit?

(2) Maybe East should bid 4♠ here?

(3) West assumed that east has a weak hand with just two ♠’s.

Table B: (1) This is my answer to question B. partner’s 1♠ bid has promised five ♠’s and with ruffing ♥ values in the short trump hand it should play very well in ♠’s.

(4) With good shape and the ♥KQ onside, West bids the game.

And what happened? Just three pairs missed the 4♠ game: 4♠+1 twice, 4♠= four times, 3♠=, 3♠-1 and 3♣-2.

The bottom lines:

- Sequence G 1♣ - 1♥(overcall) - 1♠ promises five ♠’s when playing negative doubles.,

Play Quiz You are East, declarer in a NT contract. At trick one South leads as below and you and North plays low, what do you play to the second trick?

Situation 1, South leads the ♣Q, Situation 2, South leads the ♣J,

you duck in dummy. South continues you duck in dummy. South continues

with the ♣J, what do you play? with the ♣10, what do you play?

West East West East

♣Kxx ♣xx ♣Kx x ♣xx

Answers next page.

Play Quiz Answer

Situation 1: Play another low ♣, your best hope is that North started with ♣Ax. Of course if South started with the ♣A then he got you this time.

Situation 2: Play the ♣K. South’s ♣J lead denies the ♣Q and so your only hope is that South has the ♣A.

About Claiming

♠ - There was a director call on Wednesday after

♥ - South claimed two tricks in a ♦ contract by East

♦ 9 in a three card end position something like this.

♣ xx Apparently North then showed his hand and

Declarer said that they get all of the tricks as he had the

♠ - N ♠ - master trump.

♥ x x W E ♥ - E-W protested, saying that a defender should

♦ - S ♦ 6 not claim.

♣ x ♣ xx I was busy at another table and the result was

scored as N-S making the last three tricks.

♠ - East later complained to me.

♥ A

♦ -

♣ A10

My decision? A defender is allowed to claim, but in my opinion should only do so when absolutely sure (i.e. with the rest of the tricks in his hand). So what should happen here? Obviously play cannot continue, and since North has shown that he has the master trump South cannot now say how he would have played (he should have done so when he claimed). If he cashes two ♣’s then he gets all of the tricks, but if he attempts to cash the ♥A then declarer (East) gets one trick. I ruled that trying to cash the ♥A is a possible play and so I over-ruled the score-sheet and awarded declarer with one more trick. In situations like this any doubt goes to the non-claiming side.

Dave’s Column Here is Dave’s 1^st problem, on defence.

North South Book Bidding

♠ A542 ♠ KJ8 West North East South

♥ K1075 ♥ AJ9642 - - - 1♥

♦ 652 ♦ K7 dbl 2♥ pass 4♥

♣ 104 ♣ KQ all pass

You are South, declarer in 4♥. West leads the ♣A and continues with a ♣ to your ♣K, how should you continue?

Dave’s Column Answer Board 23 from Wednesday 27^th Oct

Dealer: ♠ A542 Bidding

South ♥ K1075 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 652 - - - 1♥

♣ 104 dbl 2♥ pass 4♥

all pass

♠ Q1097 N ♠ 63

♥ 3 W E ♥ Q8

♦ AQ3 S ♦ J10984

♣ A8653 ♣ J972

♠ KJ8

♥ AJ9642 West leads the ♣A and continues with a ♣ to

♦ K7 your ♣K, how should you continue?

♣ KQ

South won the second ♣ and led to the ♥K. If a defender has all three ♥’s it would be East (West’s double implied ♥ shortage). South next led a ♠ and finessed the ♠J. West took the ♠Q and returned the ♠10 to South’s ♠K.

South drew trumps and took the ♠A. If ♠’s were 3-3 there would be a ♦ discard on the last ♠. But when they broke 4-2 he led a ♦ to the ♦K and went down.

♠ A54 The best play is, after drawing trumps, to enter

♥ 7 dummy with a third trump and lead a ♠ to

♦ 652 his ♠8 (cover any card East plays).

♣ -

♠ Q107 N ♠ 6 West wins with the ♠9 and we have this end

♥ - W E ♥ - position. A ♠ return gives declarer a free finesse

♦ AQ3 S ♦ J1098 and three ♠ tricks; if West returns a ♦ then South’s

♣ 8 ♣ 97 South’s ♦K scores; if West leads a ♣ then it is

♠ KJ ruffed in dummy and South pitches a ♦.

♥ J96

♦ K7

♣ -

And what happened at the Pattaya Bridge Club? Every declarer made 10 or 11 tricks: 4♥+1 twice, 4♥= 5 times, 3♥+2 and 3♥+1.

Dave’s 2^nd Column Here is Dave’s 2nd problem, again on defence.

♠ Q3 Book Bidding

♥ AKQ86 West North East South

♦ K9 1♠ 2♥ 4♠ all pass

♣ 7543

N ♠ J987 You are North, defending 4♠ by West. You lead the ♥A

W E ♥ 3 and partner plays the ♥10. What does partner’s ♥10

S ♦ 107543 indicate and what card do you play next?

♣ AQJ

Dave’s 2^nd Column Answer Board 24 from Wednesday 27^th October

Dealer: ♠ Q3 Book Bidding

West ♥ AKQ86 West North East(C) South

Both vul ♦ K9 1♠ 2♥ 4♠ (1) all pass

♣ 7543

Table B

♠ AK1042 N ♠ J987 West North East(C) South

♥ J9 W E ♥ 3 1♠ 2♥ 2NT (1) 5♥ (2)

♦ Q6 S ♦ 107543 pass (3) pass dbl all pass

♣ K962 ♣ AQJ

♠ 65

♥ 107542

♦ AJ82

♣ 108

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? With a singleton ♥ this seems right. 3♥ (limit raise or better) is the alternative. The hand is not good enough for a 4♥ splinter of course.

Table B: (1) But I don’t like this at all. It was alerted and explained as Jacoby 2NT.

(2) South had a think here. East has shown opening values without shortage and so partner’s overcall must be based on not too many points and so presumably six ♥’s. Thus opener is probably void in ♥’s and 4♠ must be cold with slam a distinct possibility. Hence the 5♥ bid to apply maximum pressure and minimize control showing by the opponents.

(3) West, of course, was under no pressure and had no controls to show.

Anyway, onto the play defending 4♠. North leads the ♥A and South plays the ♥10. How should North continue?

Even though one normally gives an attitude signal on partner’s lead, that is not appropriate if dummy has a singleton in the suit led and dummy has plenty of trumps. In such cases a suit-preference signal is more useful; and East’s ♥10 asks for a ♦ switch.

The best bet for North now is to hope that partner has the ♦A and switch to the ♦K. Followed by the ♦9 to partner’s ♦A and a third ♦ by South promotes the ♠Q in the North hand for one down.

And what happened at the Pattaya bridge club? 5♠-2, 4♠=, 5♥*-2 three times, 5♥-2, 4♥-2, 4♥*-1, 4♥-1.

The Bottom Lines

- Attitude signals do not usually apply when dummy can win the next trick – use Lavinthal.

- The Jacoby 2NT is generally not played after an overcall (instead cue bid to show a limit raise or better).

- The Jacoby 2NT shows opening values and denies shortage. With shortage, splinter.

- I am not at all impressed with East’s 2NT at Table B, from an experienced player.

I got Mike Dorn Wiss’s website wrong last week. Apparently he missed the dot com boom and his site is http://www.shadowbridge.net , where you can purchase his book “Shadow in the Bridge World”.

Mike’s Column

Little Alice

♠ AJxx West North East South

♥ xx - 1♣ pass 1♦

♦ Kx pass 1♠ pass 3♦

♣ AJxxx pass 4♦ (!) pass 4NT

pass 5♥ pass 6♦

Mutt Jeff all pass

♠ Qxxx N ♠ Kxxx

♥ QJx W E ♥ A9xx

♦ J S ♦ xxx

♣ KQxxx ♣ 10x

Alan

♠ x

♥ K10xx

♦ AQ109xxx

♣ x

Mutt led the ♣K against the slam, Alan winning and immediately leading a ♥ from the dummy. Jeff thought nothing was to be gained by rising with the ace and the ♥K won in Alan’s hand. He then led a low ♥ to mutt’s ♥J. Mutt switched to the card he should have led on the go, his trump jack, but now Alan won the king, ruffed a ♣, ruffed a ♥, ruffed another ♣, and proceeded to run all of his trumps to this three card ending:

Little Alice On the last trump Mutt had to let go a spade in

♠ AJ order to retain the club lady. Alan ditched the

♥ - now useless club jack and Jeff felt the pinch in

♦ - the majors. Alan neglected to mention they had

♣ J chances to beat the hand.

Mutt Jeff “Jeffrey, why didn’t you win the ace of hearts?”

♠ Qx N ♠ Kx Mutt implored.

♥ - W E ♥ A

♦ - S ♦ - “Matthew, because you didn’t lead a trump”

♣ Q ♣ -

Alan “I didn’t think I had one,” Mutt pouted. “I thought

♠ - I had two jacks of hearts!”.

♥ Q10

♦ Qx

♣ 10 < end of Mike’s column>

How to get yourself end-played Board 25 from Monday 25^th Oct

Dealer: ♠ A532 South ended up in 6♣ in an auction which I

West ♥ AKJ4 understand he does not wish me to print.

Love all ♦ A3 West had opened 1♠ and East supported.

♣ A98

1. West led a ♠ to the ♠J and South ruffed.

♠ K10974 N ♠ QJ86 2. South played a ♣ to the ♣8.

♥ Q6 W E ♥ 9875 3. A ♠ was ruffed.

♦ K106 S ♦ J85 4. A ♥ was played to the ♥K.

♣ KQ6 ♣ 32 5. The ♥A was played and the ♥Q fell.

♠ - 6. The ♠A was played, South discarding a ♦.

♥ 1032 7. A ♥ was played to the ♥10 and West

♦ Q9742 decided to discard a ♠ rather than ruff (!)

♣ J10754 8. The last ♠ was ruffed.

9. The ♣A was played.

♠ - That left this 4-card ending:

♥ J

♦ A3 10. The ♣9 was played from dummy.

♣ 9 11. West was endplayed – he no longer has a

safe exit card as he discarded it at trick 7.

♠ - N ♠ -

♥ - W E ♥ 9 Well played South.

♦ K106 S ♦ J85

♣ K ♣ -

♠ - A suitable Alfred Scheinwold quote:

♥ -

♦ Q974 “One advantage of bad bidding is that you get

♣ - practice at playing atrocious contracts”

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 1NT? This one is not easy. The hand is too good to pass but with three ♦’s and only 5 cards in the majors I don’t like double at all. 2♣ is possible but I don’t really like it and I think that 1NT (even with no ♦ stop) is the lesser of the evils.

Hand B: (a) 2♠. Partner has shown five ♠’s and showing your ♠ support is far better than showing your 7-card minor with a non-forcing 2♣.

(b) 2♠. This time it’s not so clear. Partner may have only four ♠’s, but a ♠ contract should play well with these decent trumps and ruffing values in the short trump hand.

Hand C: 4♠ or 3♥. 4♠ may stop the opponents bidding more ♥’s. 3♥ shows a sound raise to 3♠ or better. The hand is not good enough for a splinter.

Hand D: 1NT or 2♥. I slightly prefer 2♥ as I do not like denying a 4-card major. The hand is too good for 1♥ which is about 0-8.

Hand E: 1NT. This is the North hand 2 from Friday 29^th. Now regular readers will know to deduct a point for 4333 shape hands, but there are loads of other factors. Here this hand has good top cards (aces and kings are good, queens and jacks are bad) and a good ♣ suit, but perhaps the main factor is the two working tens which altogether make the hand just about good enough for a strong 1NT.

Hand F: pass. Partner is about 8-10 and you have nowhere near enough to invite.

Bidding Sequence Quiz Answer

G 1♣ 1♥ 1♠ Most people, when playing negative doubles, use this to show five ♠’s and a double to show four ♠’s.

H 1♦ 1NT dbl 1♥ You have to agree this. I much prefer to play it as natural but some do play transfers after a double.

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	1915.1 Janne Roos 1896.1 Hans Vikman 1862.9 Paul Quodomine 1775.2 Tomas Wikman 1755.3 Guttorm Longberg 1733.9 Jan Chris v Koss 1732.1 Johan Bratsburg	670.4 Janne Roos 662.4 Hans Vikman 642.6 Tomas Wikman 640.1 Paul Quodomine 632.7 Sally Watson 629.1 Alan Kleist 627.0 Derek & Gerard 625.6 Jean Wissing 623.3 Jan v Koss 619.8 Lars Broman	344.6 Janne Roos 338.9 Hans Vikman 332.3 Tomas Wikman 327.5 Derek & Gerard 325.6 Sally Watson 325.1 Jan v Koss 325.0 Alan Kleist 323.8 Tonni Kjaer 323.5 Jeremy Watson 323.4 Paul Quodomine

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