Club News Sheet – No. 161    www.pattayabridge.com   3rd Dec 2005

 

                                    Winner                                                   Runner-up

           

Mon 28th    N-S   1st    Kenneth/David               61%         2nd    Thorlief/Tom               57%

                  E-W   1st    Gerald/Derek                 63%         2nd    Richard/Gene             59%

Wed 30th              1st    Bill/Mike                        66%         2nd    Jim(Sco)/Dave            62%

Fri    2nd     N-S   1st    Chuck/Paul K                 75%         2nd    Bill/Ian                        56%

                  E-W   1st    Dave/Marg                     61%         2nd    Tomas/Phil                 58%

 

I’m afraid that the news-sheet is a bit short this week. My heart was not in it due to some happenings which are fully detailed on the next page.

The Gold Cup competition is getting very interesting. Dave overtook Chuck for the lead on Wednesday. But Chuck then came right back with a 75% game on Friday. That meant a 14 point jump for Chuck and he now leads Dave by 9 points. However, it’s the 30 best results that count and if they both continue to get equally good results then Dave may well win as his ‘poor’ scores (so the ones that drop off) are worse than Chuck’s. Currently we have: -

 

1st Chuck     1898.2%        2nd Dave 1889.0%      3rd Bob 1856.6%    4th Clive  1799.3%

 

        in the Silver Plate competition (best 10) we have           1st  Ken Judson        2nd Clive

and   in the Bronze Medal competition (best 5) we have         1st Gerald/Derek     2nd Paul K

 

Bidding Quiz                           Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated

 

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

 

♠ K986            ♠ K108            With Hand B partner opens 1♦. (a) what do you bid?

♥ -                   ♥ AKQ974      Suppose you choose 1♥ then what if : -

♦ 7                   ♦ A654            (b)  partner bids 2♣, what do you do?

♣ AK987532   ♣ -                   (c)  partner bids 2♦, what do you do?

 

                                                (a)  What do you open with Hand C? Suppose you open 1♦ and

Hand C            Hand D            partner responds 1♥, then (b) what do you bid?

 

♠ Q5                ♠ K3                With Hand D RHO opens 1♣ and you overcall 1NT. Partner

♥ A92              ♥ AJ7              bids 2♠, natural and weak. (a) what do you do?

♦ AKJ763        ♦ AK96           (b) What would you do if partner had given an explanation that

♣ K10             ♣ J1083           your 1NT bid was 12-14?

 

What’s your lead?

 

♥ 9642             You are on lead against a NT contract and elect to lead this suit, which card do you lead?

 

What is 3♣?                I understand that this sequence (no interference) occurred in the ASEAN

                                    teams (see next page). The 2♦ bidder was asked what 3♣ meant and

1NT - 2♦ - 3♣?           replied ‘no idea’. You can be sure that Chuck and I know exactly what this means, but then we were not playing.

The Teams Sham

 

In last week’s news-sheet I wrote an article about rudeness at this club. In particular, I mentioned one visitor who had upset a number of people. I did not name him (it was Henrik) but said that he would be warned.

However, this was overtaken by events: -

Last week the ASEAN bridge games were held in Pattaya. Dave and I had decided to enter a team which would be sponsored (by as much as the club could afford) by the club funds. It’s a long story, with people saying that they would play and then dropping out etc. but eventually the team of 6 was Me/Chuck, Dave/Hans and Alan/Gerry (the Acol pair).

About a week before the event Alan said that Henrik wanted to join our team or else Alan would withdraw and play with Henrik in another team. As the Monday club is now very busy (and because I did not want the team breaking up yet again) I said that I would stand down and just play on the Tuesday if 7 players were allowed.

We had a ‘team’ meeting and I made it very clear that the partnerships were set (Henrik to play with Chuck) and that any messing about with the pairings would not be a good idea. I also made it very clear that if possible I wanted to play on Tuesday with Chuck. Henrik also made it very clear that that would not be possible as we could only have 6 people on the team.

And then what happened? The first day (Monday) did not go well. Henrik did not get on well with Chuck. Henrik decided to split up the established Dave/Hans partnership. Henrik then decided that on the Tuesday he wanted to play with Paul (a visitor) and so invited in a 7th player anyway, in the full knowledge I wanted to play with Chuck if possible. Nobody even bothered to get in touch with me although everybody knew that I really wanted to play (and the team was being subsidised by money that Dave and myself had accumulated).

Obviously things just went from bad to worse. At the end of the Tuesday both Chuck and Dave were thoroughly fed up and neither played on the Wednesday.

 

Anyway, it was Henrik who I mentioned last week who’s rudeness and supercilious attitude had upset a number of players in the club (quite an amazing feat, to upset at least 6 people in just 4 appearances at the club). I was going to warn him but after I learnt of his incredible selfish and arrogant behaviour in the teams I decided that he should simply be thrown out of the club for ever. We most certainly can do without people like him. The vast majority of the club have expressed their sympathy at the way I was treated and said that Henrik’s behaviour was appalling and that he should most certainly be thrown out for good.

I had been looking forward to playing in this event for months and am still very upset that I let this ignorant individual spoil it for me. Gerry and Dave both subsequently apologised to me for letting it get out of control. I do not expect any other members of the team to even think of apologising – that is just the way they are.

 

The bottom lines: Dave and I subsidised the event. I did not get to play but an uninvited visitor got to play instead. Dave got to play with his partner on just one day. Chuck was upset. Dave was very upset. Words cannot express how upset I was (and still am). Henrik got to play throughout but will never play (and annoy people) at this club ever again.

I don’t suppose that I will ever get a chance to play in a big tournament like this again.

 

 

 

 

The jump rebid is not forcing                               Board 23 from Monday 28th   

 

Dealer:             ♠ K108                   

South               ♥ AKQ974                                    West          North(B)    East          South

Both vul            ♦ A654                                          -                 -                 -               1♦

                        ♣ -                                                 pass           1♥    (1)      pass         2♣

                                                                                                        pass           3♥    (2)      pass         pass (3)

♠ QJ642               N             ♠ 953                       pass          

♥ 82                   W    E          ♥ J103                    

♦ 103                     S              ♦ J2                         

♣ Q864                                 ♣ A7542                 

                        ♠ A7                                             

♥ 65                                              

                        ♦ KQ987                                      

                        ♣ KJ93

 

(1)   What did you bid with this North hand B(a) in this week’s quiz? 2♥ is best - provided that you pay it as strong which is ‘standard’. Bid 2♥ here and you have no problem later in the auction.

(2)   What did you bid with this North hand B(b) in this week’s quiz? The problem here is that 3♥ is not forcing and this is why 2♥ at (1) is simplest. The best bid now is 2♠, 4th suit forcing. I think it’s best to play it as game forcing and then a subsequent ♥ bid would be forcing.

(3)   With two small ♥’s, a pass of the 3♥ jump is very reasonable.

 

And what happened? The results were all over the place, but two pairs did bid 6♥ making 13 tricks.

The bottom lines.

-     A jump in a new suit over partner’s opening shows a very strong hand/suit unless you have an agreement to the contrary.

-         In most sequences, a jump rebid (by either opener or responder) is highly invitational but not forcing.

-         To make the sequence forcing there are usually options; including 4th suit forcing, a reverse, or a new suit at the 3 level.

 

 

 

Which card do you play?

 

© J83  ¬  DUMMY               Those present may recall that there were a number of noisy

                                                exchanges between John Gavens and Emil on Monday.

N           YOU ¯                  Emil did not turn up on Wednesday and so I had the undoubted

W    E        © AQ105              pleasure of partnering John and he told me about his partner’s 

S                                          ‘terrible’ play on this deal. You (John G) are East and partner leads

                                                the ♥2 against 3NT. Which card do you play when dummy plays

DECLARER                            low? Answer next page.

Which card do you play? – answer                You are East, defending 3NT; which card did you

                                                                        play when partner led the ♥2 and dummy played

DUMMY®       ♥ J83           YOU ¯              low?  ‘Obviously’ you should play the ♥10.

                                                                                                Partner’s ♥2 is 4th best so he has exactly four ♥’s

                              N                                       which may, or may not, include the ♥K.

♥ 9642               W    E        ♥ AQ105             Playing the ♥10 cannot lose, going up with the

                              S                                        ♥A loses in the actual position.

                                                                        John Gavens went to great lengths to explain to me

                          ♥ K7                                      how his play of the ♥A was correct and how his

                                                                        partner’s lead was the problem. I’m with Emil here.

 

 

A Jump Rebid?                                                    Board 24 from Wednesday 2nd 

 

Dealer:             ♠ 10742                                         Table A

West                ♥ K10865                                      West          North         East          South(C)

Love all            ♦ 2                                                 pass           pass           pass         1♦    (1)

                        ♣ AJ2                                            pass           1♥              pass         2♦    (2)

                                                                                                        pass           pass (3)      pass

♠ A96                   N             ♠ KJ83                   

♥ 43                   W    E          ♥ QJ7                      Table B

♦ 10954                 S              ♦ Q8                        West          North         East          South(C)

♣ Q865                                 ♣ 9743                    pass           pass           pass         1NT (1)

                        ♠ Q5                                              pass           2♦              pass         2♥

♥ A92                                            pass           2♠    (2)      pass         4♥    (3)

                        ♦ AKJ763                                      all pass

                        ♣ K10

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you open with this South hand C(a) in this week’s quiz? I think that

1♦ is indeed best.

(2)   What did you bid with this South hand C(b) in this week’s quiz? This hand is far too good for a miserable 2♦. With decent 3 card support, 2♥ is possible but I think that a jump to 2NT or else 3♦ are better.

(3)   With a presumed mis-fit, North reasonably passed.

Table B:     (1)  This South decided to open 1NT. Now I have no problem opening 1NT with a 6 card minor suit as long as both doubletons are reasonable (Qx or better) and I will not argue too much with this 1NT opening. However, I would not personally open 1NT as I think it’s too good! AKJxxx is worth far more than 8 points. I would open 1♦ and then jump to 2NT over a 1♥/♠ response although 3♦ would also be reasonable.

(2)   Game forcing, showing 5 ♥’s and 4 ♠’s in their methods.

(3)   With decent ♥’s and two doubletons this must be the best bid (rather than 3NT).

 

And what happened? 4♥ was the top spot. The computer says that South should make 10 tricks, Chuck made 12 (don’t ask me how) on his way to that 75% result.

The bottom line.

-         A super dooper 17 count if far too good for 1♦ followed by 2♦.

-         And it’s also a bit too good for a 1NT opener in my opinion.

Unauthorised Information                                   Board 19 from Monday 28th

 

John Gavens has asked me to include his name whenever I write up an incident involving him. This is presumably because he is always right and I will look foolish if I criticise him. So here’s my 2nd  effort at looking foolish under these ‘new guidelines’: -

 

Dealer:             ♠ K3                       

South               ♥ AJ7                                            West        North(D)      East          South

Both vul            ♦ AK96                                         -               -                   -               pass  

                        ♣ J1083                                         1♣           1NT   (1)      pass (2)    2♠  (3)

                                                                                                        pass         2NT   (4)      all pass    

♠ A                       N             ♠ Q942                            

♥ Q102              W    E          ♥ 9843                    

♦ Q1032                S              ♦ J54                       

♣ AKQ65                              ♣ 92                       

                        ♠ J108765                                    

♥ K65                                           

                        ♦ 87                                              

                        ♣ 74

 

(1)   Generally played as 15-18

(2)  East asked what range 1NT was and received the (incorrect) reply of 12-14.

(3)  With no agreement to the contrary, this bid is weak and to play.

(4)   Absurd.

 

Now I just happened to witness this auction. And before the opening lead I informed John (North) that it was his duty to tell the opponents if there had been an incorrect explanation. John stated that his bid showed 15-16, fine.

But what was this absurd 2NT bid at (4) when partner had taken out 1NT?. I did not ask, but North has shown his hand with his 1NT overcall and South is the ‘captain’ – North should most certainly pass. Did he bid 2NT because he knew that his partner thought that he had 12-14 points? If so that is against the rules – you are not allowed to act upon information that partner has given the opponents. Either way, 2NT was ridiculous.

 

And what happened? 2NT was two down for a poor score. 2♠ making would have been a good score. The bottom lines.

-         Once you have opened or overcalled 1NT then partner is the ‘captain’.

-         To bid 2NT over partner’s weak take out of 1NT is ‘absurd’.

-         You are not allowed to let partner’s explanation of your bid affect your bidding or play.

 

What is a psyche?

 

There’s an interesting opinion about a bid being a psyche on the next page. Here’s a definition from the Official Bridge Encyclopedia: -

‘Psyche - Generally meaning bluffing calls to create the illusion of strength or length in a particular suit in order to conceal weakness.’
Was it a Psyche?

 

♠ AQ                    Remember this hand from last week’s news-sheet? Chuck opened 1♥ and

♥ AJ1084              got a conventional 2NT (Jacoby) response. He replied 3♣, showing ♣

♦ 7                         shortage. Now I wrote up the hand, congratulating Chuck on his very

♣ AKQ97              devious bid.

 

But Ian saw it another way – he said it was a psyche! And since I have made my zero tolerance policy on psyches very clear then Chuck should be …..

Is Ian right? Well I suppose he has a point. If partner had responded 1♠ and this hand bid 2♦ then that is certainly a psyche. In this case Chuck did not lie about his minor suit distribution in order to stop the opponents from finding a possible ♦ fit/contract and since Chuck’s bid did not conceal weakness (see previous definition) as he said nothing about the ♦’s I think it’s OK. But I also accept that Ian has a very good point. What do you think?

 

Know your splinters, cue bids etc.– part 1          Board 24 from Monday 28th  

 

Dealer:             ♠ QJ                       

West                ♥ QJ92                                          West          North         East(A)    South

Love all            ♦ 98532                                         1♠              pass           3♥    (1)    pass

                        ♣ J10                                             4♥              pass           ???

                                                                                                       

♠ A10742             N             ♠ K986                            

♥ 7653               W    E          ♥ -                          

♦ AK4                   S              ♦ 7                          

♣ Q                                       ♣ AK987532          

                        ♠ 53                                              

♥ AK1084                                    

                        ♦ QJ106                                        

                        ♣ 64

 

Unfortunately this E-W pair ran out of time and the board was averaged, so we’ll never know if they would have recovered from this misunderstanding. So what is 3♥ at (1)? And what did you bid at (1) with this East hand A in this week’s quiz?

In standard, it’s much the same as the jump to 2♥  that I recommended a couple of pages back – strong and natural. However, I don’t really like it here as it takes up so much room (and I prefer to play 2/1 anyway when a simple 2♥ is game forcing).

So given that you play standard methods, what should East bid at (1)? I would not bother with a splinter but bid a natural 2♣. The auction could develop in any number of ways but it would be child’s play playing 2/1 as then a subsequent ♠ bid by East would set ♠’s as trumps and be game forcing. If not playing 2/1 then I guess that East would have to jump at some stage or introduce some sort of artificial bid and it may be awkward after N-S ♥ interference. Life really is easy playing 2/1.

And what happened? 5 pairs bid 6♠, one pair bid 6♣.

 

The bottom lines: -

-         Go for the major suit 5-4 fit game/slam rather than a long ♣ suit.

-         Don’t splinter if it takes up too much room.

-         Learn 2/1 – it really makes life easier as you do not have to make artificial 4th suit bids or whatever to set up a game force after a two level response.

Know your splinters, cue bids etc.– part 2          Board 27 from Monday 28th  

 

Dealer:             ♠ A1054                 

South               ♥ 53                                               West          North         East          South

Love all            ♦ AJ1075                                       -                 -                 -               1♥

                        ♣ 76                                              pass           1♠              pass         4♣   (1)

                                                                                                        pass           4♠    (2)      pass         pass (3)

♠ J762                  N             ♠ 2                           pass          

♥ Q984              W    E          ♥ J7                        

♦ K8                      S              ♦ 97432                  

♣ J104                                   ♣ KQ985               

                        ♠ KQ98                                        

♥ AK1062                                    

                        ♦ Q                                               

                        ♣ A32

 

(1)   South did not know what to bid here, he eventually chose 4♣ in the belief that it agreed ♠’s and showed the ♣A. Actually, it is best played as a splinter, showing ♣ shortage.

(2)   Whatever 4♣ was meant to mean, I would cue bid with 4♦ here.

 

And what happened? 4♠ was bid at all but one table and made 10 or 11 tricks. 6♣ was bid once and went one down. One pair managed to stop in 2♠(!) but the made 12 tricks!

It looks like 6♠ should make even with the bad break (and that’s what the computer says).

The bottom lines: -

-     When partner bids a major, then an unnecessary jump is a splinter.

-     Cue bids are never jumps

 

Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:     2♣. Now you have excellent ♠ support and are obviously going to game or slam; you could splinter (3♥) but that takes up an awful lot of bidding space so I prefer 2♣. This would be a great hand for 2/1 as you don’t have to do anything other than support ♠’s at the lowest level next go when playing 2/1.

Hand B:      (a)  2♥. Unless you have an agreement to the contrary, a jump shift like this is strong. In a major it shows a virtually self-sufficient suit; at least 5 cards, usually 6; and is game forcing and slam seeking.

                  (b)  2♠. 4th suit forcing. A subsequent ♥ bid would then be game forcing. A direct 3♥ bid over 2♦ is strong but not forcing (it’s highly invitational).

(c) 2♠. A reverse. Partner has denied 4 ♠’s and so this ‘lie’ is relatively safe. The point is that 3♥ is not forcing.

Hand C:     (a)  1♦. 1NT is reasonable but I think it’s a bit too good (that ♦AKJxxx is huge).

(b)  2NT or 3♦. The hand is far too good for a simple 2♦.

Hand D:     (a)  Pass. You have said you hand and partner wants to play in 2♠.

(b)   Pass. You are not allowed partner’s explanation to affect your bid.

 

What’s your lead - answer?               From ♥ 9642 I would lead the ♥2 against a NT contract,

                                                            although I would not criticise another card. Against a suit

contract I would lead the ♥6 (followed by the ♥9 next go – MUD) as I like to play that a low card promises an honour against a suit contract. Against NT I lead 4th best and that does not necessarily promise an honour. I don’t mind if you disagree, but I don’t think that anybody should criticise the ♥2 lead against NT.