Club News Sheet – No. 211 www.pattayabridge.com 18^th Nov 2006

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Mon 13^th 1^st N-S Phil & Tomas 56% 2^nd Eddie & Royd 56%

1^st E-W Derek & Gerard 63% 2^nd Knud & Per-Ake 59%

Wed 15^th 1^st N-S Lewis & Terry 56% 2^nd Eddie & Royd 53%

1^st E-W Bob S & Paul K 63% 2^nd Derek & Gerard 61%

Fri 17^th 1^st N-S Phil & Tomas 60% 2^nd Paul Biscoe & Eddie 50%

1^st E-W Peter Lux & Terry 63% 2^nd Derek & Gerard 61%

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A it’s love all. What do you open as dealer?

♠ AQJ10865 ♠ 93

♥ 53 ♥ AKJ872 With Hand B partner opens 1NT and you transfer with 2♦.

♦ J7 ♦ 104 Partner obediently bids 2♥, what do you bid now?

♣ 84 ♣ K52

Hand C Hand D With Hand C you are dealer at unfavourable vulnerability.

What, if anything, do you open?

♠ 107 ♠ A86543

♥ KQJ865 ♥ A10 With Hand D you open 1♠ and partner responds 1NT, what do

♦ A2 ♦ K86 you bid?

♣ 852 ♣ AK

Hand E Hand F What do you open with Hand E in first seat?

♠ J75 ♠ A5

♥ KQ9864 ♥ KQ With Hand F (a) What do you open?

♦ AJ4 ♦ K543 (b) Suppose you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♥, what now?

♣ 2 ♣ AQ963

Hand G Hand H What do you open with Hand G?

♠ QJ7654 ♠ AK7

♥ 63 ♥ Q53 With Hand H you open 2♣ and partner responds 2♦, waiting.

♦ - ♦ AKQJ74 What do you bid now?

♣ QJ1074 ♣ A

Bidding Sequences Quiz

J 1♠ 3♦ 3♥ 3♦ is weak, is 3♥ forcing?

K 1NT pass 2♦ pass What is 4♣?

2♥ pass 4♣

L 1NT pass 2♣ pass What is 4NT?

2♦ pass 4NT

M 1♠ pass 1NT pass How strong is 3♠? Is it forcing?

3♠

N 1NT pass 2♦ pass What is 2NT? Is it forcing?

2♥ pass 2NT

P 1NT pass 2♦ pass What is 3NT?

2♥ pass 3NT

Q 1NT pass 2♦ pass What is 3♥? Is it forcing?

2♥ pass 3♥

R 1NT pass 2♦ pass What is 4♥?

2♥ pass 4♥

Editorial

Late Arrivals. Having written about late arrivals just last week, we had no less that three people turn up after 1.00 p.m. Monday 13th. Play had already started and I will not change a movement/boards to accommodate late arrivers; but fortunately for them we had a 9 table Mitchell and I did not need to change any boards to accommodate the 10^th table.

But be warned, this is an exception; and Dave told me that he would not have let them play had it been a Wednesday. The solution really is simple – aim to turn up about 15 minutes before play starts (1.00 prompt). In England that is just being polite; and despite the fact that we’re in Thailand now, Dave and I still retain our basic English manners. The Thai way of turning up 10 minutes late and saying ‘mai-pen-rai’ or “TIT” simply does not work with us.

If you are unavoidably detained and know that you will be a few minutes late then you may call my mobile on 0867445386 and I may reserve a place. This does not apply to consistent late arrivers like Albert, Henrik and a few others (names - OK Dennis?) who have run out of acceptable excuses for their habitual tardiness and will be (and have been in the past) turned away when late if it is not convenient.

Passed Out. The laws of bridge state that a passed-out hand should not be re-dealt. However, Pattaya bridge club is a friendly club and people come to play bridge, not sit around waiting. So on Wednesdays (when the boards are dealt at the table) a board should be re-dealt if it is passed out the first time it is played. This does not apply on Mondays or Fridays when the boards are pre-dealt by computer and I set the parameters to ensure that at least one player has 12 points or more.

The Bridge Club Championship Races

The current standings for all competitions are in the results folder and on the web-site. There was a lot of movement this week. The results had a big change when Bob Short finally got his 30^th result in to qualify for the Gold Cup and leapt into 3^rd place, close on Bob Pelletier’s heels. And Phil continues to do well, overtaking Mike in the Gold cup but remaining in 4^th place due to Bob’s gigantic leap.

We currently have 7 people qualified for contention (30 results above 53%) in the Gold Cup:

1 Dave Cutler 1861.5

2 Bob Pelletier 1795.8

3 Bob Short 1784.3

4 Phil Lovell 1762.6

5 Michael Guin 1759.1

6 Bill Noe 1747.5

7 Kenneth Johansson 1739.0

The top standings for the Silver Plate (best 10) and Bronze medal (best 5) are as follows. For clarity I have removed Dave, Bob P and Bob S who are currently in the top 3 positions of the Gold Cup.

Silver Plate Bronze Medal

4 Clive Bell 637.8 2 Clive Bell 334.3

5 Phil Lovell 633.4 5 Phil Lovell 328.5

6 Hans Bijvoet 624.2 6 Ruth Ibler 327.2

7 Derek & Gerard 623.7 7 Jim Wallington 327.1

8 Alan Purdy 617.4 8 Lewis Berg 325.6

9 Michael Guin 616.3 9 Hans Bijvoet 325.1

10 Lewis Berg 615.6 10 Alan Purdy 322.7

Bid that 7 card major Board 14 from Monday 13^th

There was some ‘strange bidding’ here at Table B: -

Dealer: ♠ 93 Table A

East ♥ AKJ872 West North East(A) South

Love all ♦ 104 - - 3♠ (1) pass (2)

♣ K52 pass 4♥ (3) all pass

♠ 4 N ♠ AQJ10865 Table B

♥ 1094 W E ♥ 53 West North(B) East(A) South

♦ A98532 S ♦ J7 - - pass (1) 1NT (4)

♣ QJ9 ♣ 84 pass 2♦ pass (5) 2♥

♠ K72 pass 3♥ (6) pass 3NT (7)

♥ Q6 pass 4♥ (8) all pass

♦ KQ6

♣ A10763

Table A: (1) What did you open with this East hand A in this week’s quiz? 3♠ really is fairly clear but I would not argue with 4♠.

(2) This South hand has a ♠ stop but it’s not good enough for 3NT.

(3) But in the balancing seat North can bid. With a six card major, 4♥ is much better than double.

Table B: (1) This East did not open 3♠; pass would never occur to me.

(4) A bit light for a strong NT but it does have a reasonable 5 card suit.

(5) East again failed to bid his ♠’s.

(6) What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz? North thought that 3♥ was forcing. It is not; it shows a 6 card ♥ suit with invitational values. 4♥ is the correct bid.

(7) South (correctly as it turns out) did not trust his bidding partner.

(8) And this demonstrated the futility of bidding a ‘forcing?’ 3♥ last go. If you are going to convert 3NT into 4♥ anyway then bid 4♥ straight away with game values.

And what happened? Obviously most tables started with a 3♠ opening. 4 pairs found the good 4♥; 3♠ was passed out once and doubled once (both good for E-W) and there were the usual spurious results.

The bottom lines: -

- With a good 7 card suit and 8 points, open with a three level pre-empt.

- Sequence Q, 1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♥ is invitational and may be passed.

- Be sure you understand sequences N, P, Q and R to invite/bid game having transferred.

A great 18 opposite a 1NT response is worth game Board 22 from Monday 13^th

Only ½ of the field reached the easy 4♠ with these N-S cards: -

Dealer: ♠ KQ Table A

East ♥ 974 West North East(C) South(D)

E-W vul ♦ J74 - - pass (1) 1♠

♣ J10943 pass 1NT pass 4♠ (2)

all pass

♠ J92 N ♠ 107

♥ 32 W E ♥ KQJ865 Table B

♦ Q10953 S ♦ A2 West North East(C) South

♣ Q76 ♣ 852 - - 2♥ (1) dbl (3)

♠ A86543 pass 3♣ pass 3♠ (4)

♥ A10 pass 4♠ (5) all pass

♦ K86

♣ AK

Table A: (1) What did you open with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? I do not allow a ‘gap’ between a 1♥ and a 2♥ opener. With a 6 card major if it’s too good for a weak two then I open one. At this vulnerability 2♥ looks right to me.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand D in this week’s quiz? This is a really good 18 count (good top cards and a 6-card major). I think it’s worth more than 3♠ and bid 4♠.

Table B: (1) This East correctly opened 2♥

(3) This hand is too strong for a simple 2♠ overcall. 3♠ is probably the best bid as long as partner understands that it’s a strong bid. The ‘safer’ route is to double and then bid ♠’s.

(4) So this shows a strong hand.

(5) And North has an easy raise to game.

And what happened? Five pairs bid 4♠, four pairs missed it.

The bottom lines: -

- Do not have a ‘gap’. With a good 6 card major suit and 10 points do not pass, open with a two level pre-empt or else a one level bid if you think it’s too strong for a pre-empt.

- 18 points and a six card ♠ suit is too strong for the invitational sequence M: 1♠ - 1NT - 3♠.

Don’t bid again having pre-empted Board 8 from Monday 13^th

A good 11 points really is far too good for the pre-empt found at Table B: -

Dealer: ♠ Q643 Table A

West ♥ 52 West(E) North East South

Love all ♦ KQ1053 1♥ (1) pass 2♣ pass

♣ 96 2♥ pass 3NT all pass

♠ J75 N ♠ K8 Table B

♥ KQ9864 W E ♥ J3 West(E) North East South

♦ AJ4 S ♦ 987 2♣ (1) pass 2♦ (2) pass

♣ 2 ♣AKQJ84 2♥ (3) pass pass 2♠ (4)

♠ A1092 pass pass 3♥ pass

♥ A107 pass 3♠ pass pass

♦ 62 4♥ (5) all pass

♣ 10753

Table A: (1) What did you open with this West hand E in this week’s quiz? I think that it’s far too good for a weak 2♥ (or via multi or whatever). It has good shape, points in the long suit and conforms to the rule of 20. For me it’s a clear 1♥ opener.

Table B: (1) This West chose to open a form of multi which included a weak 2♥.

(2) Waiting.

(3) Showing a weak 2♥ opener.

(4) Balancing.

(5) West’s hand appears to have improved with the opponents bidding ♠’s (hopefully partner has a singleton). But it’s breaking the golden rule of not bidding again having pre-empted. 3♠ is not going to make.

And what happened? 4♥ went one down at Table B and at all but one tables where it was bid. 3NT by East is an excellent spot. It was bid just twice, making +430 and +490 the two times it was bid.

The bottom lines: -

- Open hands that conform with the rule of 20 with a one level bid, not a pre-empt.

- Do not bid again having pre-empted.

- If you feel that your hand is worth another bid having opened with a pre-empt, then you probably should not have pre-empted to start with or else pre-empted one level higher.

When your hand improves Board 21 from Wednesday 15^th

An interesting board. Both sides made a grand slam!

Dealer: ♠ QJ7654 Table A

North ♥ 63 West North(G) East South

N-S vul ♦ - - 2♠ (1) 3♥ pass (2)

♣ QJ1074 4♥ all pass

♠ K8 N ♠ A10932 Table B

♥ Q874 W E ♥ AKJ105 West North(G) East South

♦ A108742 S ♦ QJ6 - pass (1) 1♠ 2♣ (3)

♣ 6 ♣ - 2♥ (3) 4♣ (4) 4♥ 5♣

♠ - 5♥ 6♣ (5) dbl (6) pass (7)

♥ 92

♦ K953

♣ AK98532

Table A: (1) What did you open with this North hand G in this week’s quiz? 2♠ is obviously acceptable but I don’t like it as the ♣ suit is lost. I was North at table B.

(2) And here we see the problem - 4♣ really is too high at unfavourable vulnerability opposite a partner who has pre-empted.

Table B: (1) I chose to pass and maybe get a chance to show both my suits later (with Michaels or a double or whatever). I think that pass is the best answer to question G.

(3) And this time South has no problem showing his ♣’s at the two level.

(4) Of course I was going higher, North’s hand has improved immensely with the bidding. But I knew that both South and West were short in ♠’s and the bidding would not die.

(5) Prepared to bid this all along.

(6) With three apparent top tricks and a partner who has bid at the three level East chose to double the vulnerable opponents.

(7) My partner’s gestures indicated that I (North) must be crazy; ‘sacrificing’ at the six level when vulnerable against not.

And what happened? At table B West quite reasonably led the ♠K (he knew that there must be a void or two around and it was more likely that North was ruffing ♥’s). South apologised for his mild criticism of partner’s ‘crazy bidding’ when he gathered in the 13^th trick. 6♣ doubled +1 was obviously a clear top to N-S. Most E-W’s were in 4♥ or 5♥ making 13 tricks.

The bottom lines: -

- There is a saying ‘the 5-level belongs to the opponents’. North did not believe it on this deal.

- It is often best not to open with a pre-empt when holding a two-suited hand.

- Bridge is not all about points, shape and a fit with partner are often far more important.

- Here we have the perfect example. N-S have a combined 16 ‘points’ but make 13 tricks (or 11 tricks against double dummy defence).

- 6520 type shape becomes enormous if partner freely bids one of your long suits. Add on ten points or so and most certainly do not defend.

- Note that even if 6♣ had gone one down (♥ lead) that’s still a great score for N-S.

- Hands where either side can make 13 tricks against very sensible defence are somewhat rare.

Another slam - 1 Board 12 from Wednesday 15^th

Here’s another slam from Wednesday that only one E-W pair bid.

Dealer: ♠ Q Table A

West ♥ 10 West North East(F) South

N-S vul ♦ KQJ9843 1♠ 3♦ (1) 3♥ (2) pass

♣ 9543 pass (3) pass

♠ K109653 N ♠ A874 Table B

♥ K542 W E ♥ A9763 West North East(F) South

♦ - S ♦ A107 1♠ 3♦ (1) 4♠ (2) all pass

♣ A87 ♣ Q

♠ J2

♥ QJ8

♦ 652

♣ KJ1062

Table A: (1) Weak

(2) What did you bid with this East hand F in this week’s quiz? Without the jump overcall a 4♣ splinter is best; but you can’t splinter after the weak jump overcall and I think that 4♦ (cue bid agreeing ♠’s) is probably best although this 3♥ bid should also have worked out fine.

(3) Unfortunately West did not know that partner’s bid was forcing. Even if it was not I would bid 4♥.

Table B: (2) This 4♠ bid does not do the hand justice. 3♥ (forcing!) or 4♦ are the good alternatives. Slam should easily be reached after either.

And what happened? Just one pair reached 6♠, 4♠ was a popular spot.

The bottom lines: -

- Raising partner’s major to four (with or without a weak jump overcall) is not forward going. With a great hand, find another (forcing) bid.

- A cue bid of the opponent’s suit should agree trumps and show first round control.

- A new suit is natural and most definitely forcing unless you play negative free bids which I don’t particularly recommend.

With this particular deal a simple basic bidding sequence could have gone: -

West North East South

1♠ 3♦ 3♥ pass

4♥ pass 4NT pass

5♥ (4) pass 6♠ all pass (4) 2 keycards without the ♥Q

Another slam - 2 Board 23 from Friday 17^th

Just two pairs reached an excellent ♦ slam on Friday.

Dealer: ♠ QJ1087 Table A

South ♥ 87 West(F) North East South

Both vul ♦ 92 - - - pass

♣ 8542 1NT (1) pass 2♦ pass

2♥ pass 3NT (2) all pass

♠ A5 N ♠ 94

♥ KQ W E ♥ A10632 Table B

♦ K543 S ♦ AQ1086 West (F) North East South

♣ AQ963 ♣ 10 - - - pass

♠ K632 1♣ (1) pass 1♥ (3) pass

♥ J954 2♦ (4) pass 4NT (5) pass

♦ J7 5♣ (6) pass 5NT (7) pass

♣ KJ7 6♦ (8) pass pass (9) pass

Table A: (1) What did you open with this West hand F(a) in this week’s quiz? I have no problem opening 1NT with two good doubletons, but this hand is far too strong.

(2) 3♦ (forcing) is a better bid but partner will probably bid 3NT anyway. Nobody knows that slam is in the air after the poor 1NT opening.

Table B: (2) This is the best opening bid.

(3) With 5-5, always bid the higher ranking.

(4) What did you bid with this West hand F(b) in this week’s quiz? A balanced 18 so 2NT? That’s possible but I much prefer the reverse; it describes the hand more accurately.

(5) RKCB for ♦’s.

(6) 0 or 3 keycards.

(7) Kings?

(8) One, the ♦ K has already been counted.

(9) With two kings missing I won’t chance the grand.

And what happened? Just two pairs bid 6♦, both making +1 to share the top.

The bottom lines: -

- Do not open 1NT with a good 18 points.

- Note the power of having a fit. 13 tricks are cold in ♦’s (you do not need the ♣ finesse nor the ♣K to drop in 3 rounds) with just a combined 28 points. Top cards and having a fit is what good bidding is all about.

- If West had rebid 2NT instead of the 2♦ reverse then the ♦ slam should still be reached: -

1♣ - 1♥ - 2NT - 3♦ (forcing) - 4♦ - 4NT etc.

Another slam - 3 Board 3 from Wednesday 15^th

N-S blundered their way into a slam on this deal from Wednesday.

Dealer: ♠ 1086

South ♥ KJ9864 West North East South(H)

E-W vul ♦ 8 - - - 2♣

♣ 643 pass 2♦ (1) pass 3NT (2)

pass 4♥ (3) pass 4♠ (4)

♠ 43 N ♠ QJ952 pass 5♥ (5) pass 6♦ (5)

♥ 10 W E ♥ A72 pass 6♥ (7) pass pass (8)

♦ 932 S ♦ 1065 pass

♣ QJ109752 ♣ K8

♠ AK7

♥ Q53

♦ AKQJ74

♣ A

(1) Waiting.

(2) What did you bid with this South hand H in this week’s quiz? Anybody who has read a few of my news sheets (I said a lot in news-sheet 188) or has played with me for a while knows exactly what I think of a system with a 3NT rebid to show a big balanced hand. Rubbish. Anyway, Benjamin twos or the Multi 2♦ appear not to have got to the States and this American simply bid 3NT. 3♦ is a far better bid with this hand of course.

(3) If North had a 5-card ♥ suit he would be in a dilemma (pass or try the major suit?); that’s why the 3NT rebid sucks. Anyway, with a 6 card ♥ suit he had no real problem so he bid it.

(4) Of course it never occurred to North that South would take this as a transfer. I guess it’s logical but having transfers/Stayman over 3NT are alien to me as I prefer to play a sensible system where you do not have to leap to 3NT with a big hand.

(5) Anyway, North (me) corrected.

(6) And South finally decided to bid his ♦’s.

(7) Since I did not fancy being declarer in slam with a singleton as trumps I bid my ♥’s again. South must have a ♥ stop for his 3NT bid and I hoped it was not ♥A singleton.

(8) And South finally realised that Qxx was pretty decent support.

And what happened? Looks like we were the only pair with a bidding system sophisticated enough to bid the excellent 6♥. Most were in game (or a partscore!) and the one pair with a bidding system even more ‘sophisticated’ than ours (?) ended up in 7♥ minus one.

The bottom lines: -

- Having just 2♣ as the only strong opening bid simply is not enough. When are Benjamin twos or Multi 2♦ going to make it across the big pond?

- Any system where you have to open or rebid 3NT to show a 25+ balanced hand is simply rubbish. Especially when there are numerous solutions; Benjamin, Multi 2♦ or the Kokish relay for example. I much prefer one of the first two; i.e. a strong or Muli 2♦ opening. I could never get this common sense message across to Chuck but I’ll try with Lewis and have a serious chat with him soon.

- Playing Benjamin twos a 25+ balanced hand is a doddle: 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT is game forcing and leaves all of the options of Stayman and transfers below the level of 3NT.

- Qxx is good support for partner’s 5+ card suit, especially if you have a singleton elsewhere.

Play Multi Landy Board 17 from Wednesday 15^th

And here we have another example of where the European convention (Multi Landy) really is far better than the similar American convention (Cappelletti): -

Dealer: ♠ 106

North ♥ J8 West North East South

Love all ♦ Q984 - pass 1NT 2♦ (1)

♣ A8753 pass 2♥ (2) all pass

♠ 873 N ♠ AKJ

♥ 7543 W E ♥ A106

♦ K52 S ♦ J763

♣ J42 ♣ K109

♠ Q9532

♥ KQ92

♦ A10

♣ Q6

(1) South thought that they were playing Cappelletti and decided to bid 2♦ to show both majors. With so many values outside the majors, pass is probably more prudent.

(2) North believed that they had agreed to play Multi-Landy, where 2♦ shows a single suited hand and one normally relays with 2♥. As it happens of course, he would also bid 2♥ if he knew that his partner’s bid was Cappelletti and still arrive in the silly 2♥ contract with the 4-2 fit. What a ridiculous convention Cappelletti is!

And what happened? The 4-2 fit did not play well and scored a joint bottom.

The bottom lines: -

- Cappelletti sucks! This deal is the perfect example. If overcaller shows both majors (2♣ with multi-Landy or 2♦ with Cappelletti) then advancer has no way of getting into the best fit when he is equal length in the majors if playing Cappelletti.

- Playing Multi Landy it’s easy. Over 2♣ (both majors) advancer simply bids 2♦ if he is equal length in both majors and the best fit is always found.

- All of the world should learn from each other. The Americans invented the best natural bidding system going (2/1) but few Europeans play it. England invented Multi-Landy and England (or rather Scotland) invented Benjamin twos, the Americans should look at both of them.

- There is absolutely no reason why you cannot play Benjamin (or Multi 2♦) with either Standard American or 2/1.

- Cappelletti, along with a few other conventions like Smolen, should be thrown on the rubbish heap.

- If you insist that Cappelletti is fine, then obviously you can only use the 2♦ bid when 5-5 in the majors.

4♣ after a transfer asks for aces/keycards Board 19 from Wednesday 15^th

What was your answer to bidding sequence K? N-S missed an easy slam here: -

Dealer: ♠ K3

South ♥ AJ1098542 West North East South

E-W vul ♦ 73 - - - 1NT

♣ A pass 2♦ pass 2♥

pass 4♣ (1) pass 4♦ (2)

♠ Q762 N ♠ J10985 pass 4♥ (3) all pass

♥ 3 W E ♥ Q6

♦ K10654 S ♦ 92

♣ K106 ♣ J954

♠ A4

♥ K7

♦ AQJ8

♣ Q8732

(1) What was you answer to the 4♣ bid in this week’s bidding sequence K quiz? “Standard” is that it asks for aces, with 4NT as quantitative. However, if you play Roman Keycard Blackwood then it’s obviously best to use 4♣ as Roman Keycard. That’s what is stated in ‘the No Trump bidding book’ and what North assumed was being played.

(2) But the opposition asked South what the 4♣ bid was and he admitted to having no idea.

(3) North was in a bit of a spot now. Should he bid 6♥ anyway? But actually the ethics/rules are clear here and this North is totally ethical; North has to assume that South understood the bid and responded correctly. So 4♦ showed 1 or 4 keycards (playing 1430) and so with two keycards missing he signed off in 4♥.

And what happened? South made 13 tricks. Just one other pair missed the slam and only one other declarer made 13 tricks.

The bottom lines: -

- I wrote a leaflet a year or so back on when 4♣ asks for aces or keycards and when it’s 4NT; it’s on the web and there are copies in the conventions folder and it’s obviously something that every partnership should agree upon.

- Basically, if partner’s last natural bid was one or two NoTrump then 4♣ asks for aces/keycards.

- South’s 2♥ bid here was not natural and so 4♣ is an ace (Keycard) ask.

- Had South super-accepted then ♥’s are agreed and 4NT would be RKCB.

- Clearly it is best if you play Roman keycard for the 4♣ bid having transferred to ask for keycards. This deal is a perfect example of why, North needs to know about the two missing aces and the ♥K.

- Using Stayman it’s very slightly different but totally logical:

(1) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 4♣ is Gerber.

(2) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 4NT is Quantitative.

(3) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 4♣ is Roman Keycard ask.

(4) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 4NT is Quantitative with 4 ♠’s and not 4 ♥’s. Experienced pairs would not use this sequence (4) as it’s better to establish partner’s shape using SARS.

Agree DOPI after Blackwood is interfered with Board 20 from Wednesday 15^th

North got his revenge for the missed slam on the very next board: -

Dealer: ♠ A9752

West ♥ 6 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 97543 1♥ 2♥ (1) dbl (2) 2♠

♣ A5 3♣ pass 3♥ 4♦ (3)

4NT 5♦ (4) dbl (5) pass

♠ K10 N ♠ 643 6♥ (6) dbl (7) all pass

♥ AQ8652 W E ♥ K1094

♦ A S ♦ Q106

♣ KQJ2 ♣ 1096

♠ QJ8

♥ J3

♦ KJ82

♣ 8743

(1) Michaels, weak and showing ♠’s and a minor.

(2) I prefer pass or 3♥ or 4♥. This double conveyed the impression to West that East had a decent hand.

(3) South now knows that North’s minor is ♦’s.

(4) With the last missed slam in mind, North decided to put E-W to the test by interfering with their Blackwood when holding two aces.

(5) I believe that East just wanted to defend 5♦ doubled. Apparently they did not play DOPI although this happens to be correct bid for zero aces. Playing Roman keycard it says zero keycards which is incorrect of course (pass with one).

(6) West did not know about the aces/keycards but was still under the impression that East had a reasonable hand.

(7) Gotcha.

And what happened? North cashed his two aces. Everybody else was in 4♥ or 5♥.

The bottom lines: -

- Michaels is an excellent convention as long as it is not abused. I do no use it with any old two suited overcall. In my style it either weak (as here) or very strong.

- Play DOPI and avoid slams with two aces off the top.

- DOPI is best played as double = 0 keycards, pass = 1 keycard, bid = 2 keycards, etc.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 3♠, pretty obvious. I would not argue with 4♠. It’s only in the quiz because somebody passed!

Hand B: 4♥. Showing game values and 6 ♥’s. 3♥ is invitational and may be passed.

Hand C: 2♥. A vulnerable pre-empt in first seat should be reasonable. If you think it’s too good then open 1♥ which is fine. For me there is no such thing as a hand that’s too good for 2♥ but not good enough for 1♥ – my style does not allow a ‘gap’.

Hand D: 2NT, 3♠, 3NT or 4♠? Tricky. But this is a great 18 count with a six-card major and I bid 4♠. 2NT and 3♠ may be passed and 3NT implies only 5 ♠’s. It’s true that partner may be very short in ♠’s but I still prefer to take that gamble rather than one of the other ones. 3♦ is an acceptable alternative which may elicit doubleton ♠ support from partner but may lead to complications.

Hand E: 1♥. It conforms with the rule of 20 and is far too good for a pre-emptive 2♥.

Hand F: (a) 1♣. The hand is far too strong for 1NT.

(b) 2♦. A reverse. I prefer this to the decent alternative of 2NT.

Hand G: Pass. If you open 2♠ then a possible ♣ fit may be missed. I think it’s best to pass to start with and hope to show the hand type later.

Hand H: 3♦, game forcing. It’s far too good for 2NT (non-forcing in basic Standard American) and 3NT is a terrible bid as you may well miss a 5-3 major suit fit.

If you play Benjamin twos then you can start with 2♦ (artificial game force) and then bid 2NT if you prefer not to bid this great ♦ suit.

Bidding Sequence Answers

J 1♠ 3♦ 3♥ 3♥ is absolutely forcing.

K 1NT pass 2♦ pass 4♣ is traditionally an ace ask, but it is best played as a Roman

2♥ pass 4♣ Keycard ask.

L 1NT pass 2♣ pass 4NT is quantitative.

2♦ pass 4NT

M 1♠ pass 1NT pass 3♠ is about (good)16-17 points but is not forcing.

3♠

N 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2NT is 8-9 with 5 ♥’s. It is non-forcing.

2♥ pass 2NT

P 1NT pass 2♦ pass 3NT is 10+ with 5 ♥’s. Partner should pass or correct to 4♥.

2♥ pass 3NT

Q 1NT pass 2♦ pass 3♥ is 7-8 with 6 ♥’s. It is non-forcing.

2♥ pass 3♥

R 1NT pass 2♦ pass 4♥ is 9+ with 6 ♥’s. It is mildly slam invitational if you also

2♥ pass 4♥ play Texas transfers or South African Texas.