Club News Sheet – No. 204 www.pattayabridge.com 30^th Sept 2006

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Mon 18^th 1^st N-S Henrik & Johannes 61% 2^nd Alan & Ian 52%

1^st E-W Bob Short & Emil 61% 2^nd John & Kenneth 57%

Wed 20^th 1^st Jim & Knut 63% 2^nd Phil & Tomas 62%

Fri 22^nd 1^st Ivy & Wolfgang 60% 2^nd Bob P & Ken 57%

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

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

♠ AJ7 ♠ 86

♥ K92 ♥ A98 With Hand B partner opens 1♣ and you bid 1♦. Partner then bids

♦ 3 ♦ Q532 1♥, what do you do?

♣ Q107652 ♣ A1054

Hand C Hand D With Hand C partner opens 1♦ (guaranteeing 4+ ♦’s) and RHO doubles. What do you bid?

♠ - ♠ 874

♥ AQ6 ♥ K10 With Hand D RHO opens 1♦ in 3^rd seat. (a) What do you do?

♦ K7653 ♦ AKJ107 (b) Suppose you pass, LHO bids 1♠ and this is passed round to

♣ A10764 ♣ Q103 you. What do you do?

Hand E Hand F

With Hand E partner opens 1♥, what do you bid?

♠ 1084 ♠ 52

♥ KQ72 ♥ J104

♦ K97 ♦ 10976 With Hand F it’s favourable vulnerability. Partner opens 1♥

♣ K62 ♣ J642 and RHO doubles. What do you do?

Hand G Hand H

With Hand G RHO opens 3♠, what do you do?

♠ K7 ♠ J9

♥ A86 ♥ K852

♦ A8542 ♦ J982 With Hand H partner opens 2NT (20-21), what do you do?

♣ AJ6 ♣ 642

Bidding Sequences Quiz All of these sequences occurred last week.

J 1♥ dbl pass 1NT How many points for 1NT?

K 1♥ dbl pass 1NT

2NT How many points for 2NT?

L 1♥ dbl pass 2♣

2NT How many points for 2NT?

M 1♦ pass pass dbl

redbl What is the redouble?

N 1♦ 1♠ 2♦ 2♠

4♦ What is 4♦?

It’s rarely correct to transfer to a minor Board 17 from Monday 25^th

When partner opens 1NT you should virtually always transfer into a 5-card major. But transferring into a (6-card) minor is different and you should only do so if very weak or if you are looking for slam. This is because 3/4/5 of a minor will usually score poorly as opposed to a NoTrump contract.

Dealer: ♠ 62 Table A

North ♥ AJ75 West North East South(A)

Love all ♦ A765 - 1NT pass 2♠ (1)

♣ AK8 3♦ pass pass 4♣ (2)

all pass

♠ Q85 N ♠ K10943

♥ Q3 W E ♥ 10864 Table B

♦ QJ10984 S ♦ K2 West North East South(A)

♣ 93 ♣ J4 - 1NT pass 3NT (1)

♠ AJ7 all pass

♥ K92

♦ 3

♣ Q107652

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? If you play 4-way transfers then you can bid 2♠ as a transfer specifically to ♣’s and then bid 3NT or a quantitive 4NT, but I would like a little more to make a move towards slam.

(2) And this shows a weak hand with a long ♣ suit.

Table B: (1) Clearly the best bid, as chose at 4 out of 7 tables.

And what happened? 4♣+2 scored a near bottom. It was only surpassed when one North elected to open 1♦ (I believe that he considers you need a stop in each suit to open 1NT?) and was (deservedly) left to play there!

The bottom lines: -

- When partner opens 1NT, do not bother to mention minor suits unless you have a very good reason for doing so.

- With a balanced (2443 is certainly balanced) hand open 1NT if 15-17; don’t worry about the weak doubleton.

If you play 4-way transfers then the uninterrupted sequence:

1NT - 2♠ - 3♣ - 3NT is mildly slam invitational with a 6 card ♣ suit.

1NT - 2♠ - 3♣ - 4NT is strongly slam invitational with a 6 card ♣ suit.

All of these and similar sequences (transfer to ♦’s, super-accept etc.) are listed in the

“The Definitive Guide to (Strong) No Trump Bidding, Stayman and transfers” book.

Raising partner directly to game is weak Board 25 from Monday 25^th

This is usually the sequences 1♥ - 4♥ and 1♠ - 4♠. But 1♦ - 5♦ is also weak and pre-emptive.

Dealer: ♠ AK Table A

North ♥ 743 West North East South(C)

E-W vul ♦ AJ842 - 1♦ dbl 5♦ (1)

♣ 852 5♠ (2) pass (3) pass 6♦ (4)

dbl (5) all pass

♠ J1096532 N ♠ Q874

♥ J1052 W E ♥ K98 Table B

♦ Q10 S ♦ 9 West North East South(C)

♣ - ♣ KQJ93 - 1♦ dbl 3♠ (1)

♠ - dbl (6) 5♦ (7) 5♠ (8) pass (9)

♥ AQ6 pass dbl (10) all pass

♦ K7653

♣ A10764

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand C in this week’s quiz? Jumping straight to 5♦ is a weak bid (in fact any ♦ bid is weak after the double). Redouble is reasonable I suppose but easily the best bid was chosen at table B.

(2) Difficult, but I guess the best bid.

(3) Of course North would have doubled if he knew that partner had a good hand.

(4) It’s too late (and too high) to show the good hand now.

(5) Out of fright! He does not want to hear 6♠ from partner.

Table B: (1) This is the answer to question C – a splinter agreeing ♦’s. 4♠ (to show a void) is also fine.

(6) West can show his ♠’s quite cheaply now.

(7) But this time North knows what’s going on. With “wasted” values in ♠’s he simply bids game (fast arrival). 3NT is an alternative.

(8) This seems reasonable.

(9) Some play this as showing 1^st round ♠ control and leaving the decision whether to bid slam or not up to partner.

(10) The knowledge that partner’s splinter raise was maybe based on a void makes it clear the 6♦ is not making and double obvious.

And what happened? Results were all over the place, 5♦ was the limit for N-S and 2♠ is all the E-W can make. One E-W pair ‘sacrificed’ in 6♠, going for 1100 and there were a couple of 800’s for 5♠ doubled down 3.

The bottom lines: -

- When partner opens then a jump to game in his suit is weak.

- Splinters still apply after a double.

- You can splinter opposite a minor suit opening provided that you have 5+ trumps (or 4+ ♦’s if you know that partner’s 1♦ opening is 4+ cards).

Play in the Moysian fit? Board 19 from Monday 25^th

Occasionally a 4-3 fit is the best contract.

Dealer: ♠ 7543

South ♥ KJ105 West North East South(B)

E-W vul ♦ A4 - - - pass

♣ KQ8 pass 1♣ pass 1♦

pass 1♥ pass 2♣ (1)

♠ KJ2 N ♠ AQ109 all pass

♥ Q62 W E ♥ 743

♦ J986 S ♦ K107

♣ J96 ♣ 732

♠ 86

♥ A98

♦ Q532

♣ A1054

(1) What did you bid with this South hand B in this week’s quiz? I don’t like 2♣ as partner may well have only a 3 card suit. 1NT or 2NT were the most popular choices but with this doubleton ♠ and good ♥’s I would bid 2♥. But then that’s my style – I do not guarantee 4 card support. Note that a 2♥ bid is more encouraging than 1NT and more likely to lead to game if partner has a good hand.

And what happened? 1NT (or 2NT) scored the top, making 9 tricks when the black suits behaved and the ♥Q was ‘onside’. As it happens, a ♥ contract would have made 10 tricks for an outright top.

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t be afraid of the Moysian fit when you have three decent trumps and a weak doubleton in a suit which partner has not shown.

In my style (and many expert’s), sequences like

1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥ or

1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 2♥ do not guarantee 4 card support.

Play of the suit

Incidentally, how should declarer play the suit ♥KJ105 opposite ♥A98 in a No Trump contract with ample entries everywhere?

With no inference from the bidding it’s best to start with the ♥J – you never know, some people always “cover an honour with an honour” regardless. Assuming the ♥Q does not appear it’s best to go up with the ♥A and then finesse by running the ♥9. This enables you to pick up Qxxx with West.

In a ♥ contract you do not have to worry about the location of the ♥Q as you simply ruff two ♠’s in the South hand – although the 2^nd is over-ruffed with the ♥Q this still gives you one more trick than a NoTrump contract.

3♦ on a 3-1 fit Board 22 from Wednesday 27^th

When I saw this very odd result on Wednesday I asked Dave to check it. As it happens he has kibitzed the board and so told me the sorry tale: -

Dealer: ♠ KQ2

East ♥ 83 West(E) North East South

E-W vul ♦ J6542 - - 1♥ (1) pass

♣ A93 3♦ (2) pass pass (3) pass

♠ 1084 N ♠ J53

♥ KQ72 W E ♥ AJ654

♦ K97 S ♦ A

♣ K62 ♣ J1054

♠ A976

♥ 109

♦ Q1083

♣ Q87

(1) A minimal but reasonable opener.

(2) What did you bid with this West hand E in this week’s quiz? With great trumps and no jacks the hand would be worth a sound raise to 4♥ were it not for that dreaded 4333 shape.

I would simply raise to 3♥. This E-W pair played Bergen raises (past tense, I believe that after a couple of disasters they have come to their senses and no longer play them) and the 3♦ bid here conventionally shows a sound raise to 3♥ (a direct 3♥ is pre-emptive playing Bergen raises).

(3) East apparently forgot the system and thought that it was a weak jump shift. Obviously he should not accept the invitation and simply sign off in 3♥.

And what happened? 3♦ was not a success and went 4 down. Three tables managed to overbid to 4♥ going one down and just one pair stopped in the sensible 3♥ just making.

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t forget the system?

- I cannot really recommend Bergen raises and I will produce something superior shortly.

- Knock off a point for the dreaded 4333 type shape.

_______________________________________________________________________

A husband, proving to his wife that women talk more than men, showed her a study which indicated that men use on the average only 15,000 words a day, whereas women use 30,000 words a day.

She thought about this for awhile and then told her husband that women use twice as many words as men because they have to repeat everything they say.

He said, "What?"

A jump raise is pre-emptive after a double Board 15 from Friday 29^th

If you don’t play anything ‘fancy’ like Bergen raises then a raise to three of partner’s major is invitational (+- 11 points). However, if there is an intervening double then a jump to the three level is pre-emptive (use the Jordan/Truscott 2NT with a sound raise to three). This could have been very effective on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ KJ963

South ♥ K West North East(F) South

N-S vul ♦ AQJ82 - - - pass

♣ K8 1♥ dbl (1) pass (2) 1NT

pass 2NT (3) pass pass (4)

♠ AQ108 N ♠ 52 pass

♥ Q9753 W E ♥ J104

♦ 4 S ♦ 10976

♣ AQ7 ♣ J642

♠ 74

♥ A862

♦ K53

♣ 10953

(1) I prefer a 1♠ overcall, presumably this North considered the hand too good.

(2) What did you bid with this East hand F in this week’s quiz? At this vulnerability a pre-emptive 3♥ would have worked wonders – either going 2 down for just 100 away or else pushing the opponents too high. If you think that 3♥ is a bit much, then bid 2♥. Pass is far too feeble for me.

(3) North’s hand has improved after partner has bid NoTrump because the ♥K is now a good card, 2NT here is spot-on.

(4) But South does not quite have enough to bid game.

And what happened? 2NT made exactly for a good score to N-S.

The bottom lines: -

- After partner’s opening is doubled, then a jump to the three level is weak.

- At favourable vulnerability, pre-empt happily.

- A 1NT bid opposite partner’s double is 6-10 with a stop.

A take-out double is short in the suit(s) bid Board 24 from Friday 29^th

If the opponents have bid two suits and you double (take-out) then you are playable in the other two suits. A total of 5 cards between the two suits does not qualify! : -

Dealer: ♠ K96

West ♥ J754 West North East South(D)

Love all ♦ Q9 pass pass 1♦ (1) pass (2)

♣ KJ95 1♠ pass pass (3) dbl (4)

pass 2♥ all pass

♠ Q1032 N ♠ AJ5

♥ 986 W E ♥ AQ32

♦ 65 S ♦ 8432

♣ A762 ♣ 84

♠ 874

♥ K10

♦ AKJ107

♣ Q103

(1) A light 3^rd seat opener – perfectly acceptable.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? The correct bid is pass – that’s usually best with length/strength in the suit opened. But this hand has improved with a 1♦ opening from RHO and with three tens I would not argue if you upgraded to 1NT. Anyway, this South chose to pass which is probably more prudent.

(3) Pass here is quite acceptable opposite a passed hand.

(4) What did you bid with this South hand D(b) in this week’s quiz? This is the balancing seat and you should say something – you cannot let the opponents play peacefully in 1♠. But what should you do? Double is terrible – it is take-out and you have neither of the unbid suits. The best bid is 1NT which shows less than the normal 15-18 when in the balancing seat.

And what happened? 2♥ on the 4-2 fit was not a success and went 3 down for a clear bottom. 1NT made +1 at the two tables where it was bid.

The bottom lines: -

- A take-out double is short in the bid suit(s).

- A take-out double is playable in the unbid suit(s).

- If you have length/strength in the suit(s) bid, then consider bidding No Trump.

- A direct 1NT overcall is 15-18

- But a 1NT bid in the balancing seat is around 10-13.

- We have a book in the library about balancing if you wish to borrow it.

Don’t double at the 3♠ level without shape Board 10 from Friday 29^th

When RHO opens 3♠ you need a good hand and ♥’s to compete with a (take-out) double as you are pushing your side up to the four level.

Dealer: ♠ 1042 Table A

East ♥ Q93 West North East South(G)

Both vul ♦ KJ106 - - 3♠ dbl (1)

♣ 985 pass 4♦ (2) pass 5♦ (3)

all pass

♠ 9 N ♠ AQJ8653

♥ KJ1052 W E ♥ 74 Table B

♦ Q S ♦ 973 West North East South(G)

♣ KQ10732 ♣ 4 - - 3♠ pass (1)

♠ K7 pass pass (4)

♥ A86

♦ A8542

♣ AJ6

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand G in this week’s quiz? With only 3 ♥’s I do not like double. My partner did much better at table B.

(2) And here we see the problem – we are too high already and not even in game.

(3) With 5 trumps, South decided his hand was worth another overbid.

Table B: (1) Pass is the best answer to question G. 3NT is a bit of a gamble but I suppose a reasonable alternative that would have worked out extremely well.

(4) North does not have enough (values/shape) to balance.

And what happened? Two tables bid to 5♦, going 3 and 4 down. 3♠ went one down and was a near top for N-S.

The bottom lines: -

- You need a good hand (and usually ♥’s) to venture forth over a 3♠ pre-empt.

- There are a number pass cards in the box, that’s because it’s often the best bid!

Look for the 4-4 fit Board 20 from Friday 29^th

It’s the old familiar story, with over ½ the field playing in 3NT with a 4-4 ♥ fit.

Dealer: ♠ 82 Table A

West ♥ AQ107 West North East South(H)

Both vul ♦ AK7 pass 2NT pass 3NT (1)

♣ AKQJ all pass

♠ KQ43 N ♠ A10765 Sensible table

♥ J94 W E ♥ 63 West North East South(H)

♦ Q65 S ♦ 1043 pass 2NT pass 3♣ (1)

♣ 753 ♣ 1098 pass 3♥ pass 4♥

♠ J9 all pass

♥ K852

♦ J982

♣ 642

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this South hand H in this week’s quiz? I simply cannot understand why people continually like going down in 3NT when 4 of a major is making with overtricks!

Sensible (1) Obviously South should bid Stayman.

Table:

And what happened? Three out of five tables ended up in 3NT. Two went one down and the other made +1. But the two pairs in the sensible 4♥ contract both made +1 to share the top. So not too bad – with two tables bidding sensibly? No! At one of the 4♥ tables North opened 2♣ (Benjamin) and then bid 2♥ (8 playing tricks with a 5++ card ♥ suit). So he lucked out when partner had 4 ♥’s so actually just one pair bid the hand with any degree of sensibility. Have my continual preaching about the magic of the 4-4 fit in three years of news-sheets been in vain? Just a 20% success rate after 3 years of hard work.

The bottom lines: -

- Look for the 4-4 major suit fit.

- With a balanced (2434 is certainly balanced) hand open 2NT if 20-21; don’t worry about the weak doubleton.

- ♥AQ107 is nowhere near good enough suit for a Benjamin two. Apart from the ‘holes’ it’s a couple of cards short

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 3NT. Even if you play 4-way transfers and so can specifically show ♣’s it’s best to simply bid 3NT if you have the values for it.

Hand B: I expect that 1NT will be the most popular answer; with the overbid of 2NT or the underbid of pass coming in 2^nd and 3^rd. But I prefer 2♥ - I am not afraid of the Moysian fit with decent trumps and a small doubleton in an unbid suit. I do not guarantee 4 card support in these sort of situations.

Hand C: 3♠. A splinter agreeing ♦’s and showing ♠ shortage. 4♠ (showing a void) is a reasonable option. I prefer these bids to redouble (9+ points) as the opponents get in cheaply with their ♠’s and you have not shown (actually you have generally denied) your ♦ support. No ♦ bid is any good as any ♦ raise (including 5♦) is pre-emptive. 2NT Jordan (showing a sound raise to the three level or better), if you play that over a minor suit opening, is a poor alternative.

Hand D: (a) Pass. With length/strength in the suit opened it’s usually best to pass. With these great ♦’s and three tens I would not argue if you chose an upgrade to 1NT (15-18).

(b) 1NT. This is the balancing seat and you most certainly do not want them to be allowed to play in a one level contract. Double (take-out) would be ridiculous with just 5 cards in the unbid suits and with these great ♦’s 1NT now is fine. You have no ♠ stop, but then one rarely gets perfect hands.

Hand E: 3♥. Invitational. These are great trumps and the hand would be worth a raise to 4♥ were it not for that dreaded 4333 type shape. Knock off a point!

Hand F: 3♥. Weak and pre-emptive. I think it’s a good bid at this vulnerability but if you would like a little more then bid 2♥. Pass is simply feeble.

Hand G: Pass, with 3NT the only other reasonable alternative. Double is a poor bid with just 3 ♥’s as you will end up at the 4-level (at least) and probably go down.

Hand H: 3♣, Stayman. Look for a 4-4 ♥ fit; then bid 4♥ if there is a fit, else 3NT. This seems so obvious that you may wonder why it’s in the quiz?

Because three pairs bid 3NT on Friday and got their deserved poor score when 4♥ made +1 with 3NT going down. Now I thought this to be incredible so I checked to see if they were beginners – they were not, all were well established members! Guess they don’t read/digest the news sheets? Or maybe trying to prove the experts wrong?

Bidding Sequences Quiz Answers

J 1♥ dbl pass 1NT 1NT here is 6-10 with a ♥ stop.

K 1♥ dbl pass 1NT

2NT 2NT is invitational, and thus about 17 points.

L 1♥ dbl pass 2♣

2NT But here the 2♣ bid promises zero and 2NT is 19-20.

M 1♦ pass pass dbl

redbl I would say that opener has a very big hand, 18-19+.

N 1♦ 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ 4♦ is a strong bid, invitational to 5♦. It cannot be pre-emptive

4♦ as the opponents have bid and agreed a suit already.