Club News Sheet – No. 212 www.pattayabridge.com 20^th Nov 2006

to news-sheet main page

to Pattaya Bridge home page

Mon 20^th 1^st N-S Eddie & Royd 66% 2^nd Chris & Kees 51%

1^st E-W Lars Gustafnon & Emil 59% 2^nd Derek & Gerard 55%

Wed 22^nd 1^st N-S Alan & Lewis 61% 2^nd Jean-Charles & Paul K 58%

1^st E-W Dave & Kenneth 62% 2^nd Emil & Terry 60%

Fri 24^th 1^st N-S Ken & Richard M 61% 2^nd Alan & Lewis 57%

1^st E-W Gunnar & Lars G 64% 2^nd Derek & Gerard 54%

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A you choose to open 2♣ and partner bids 2♦. What

do you bid now?

♠ AQ72 ♠ 107

♥ - ♥ 8754 With Hand B partner opens 1♦ and RHO overcalls 1♠. What

♦ AKQ9 ♦ AK6 do you do?

♣ AQJ83 ♣ K986

Hand C Hand D What do you open with hand C?

♠ A108 ♠ Q53

♥ AKQJ10653 ♥ Q7642 (a) What do you open with Hand D?

♦ 83 ♦ AK (b) Suppose you open 1♥ and LHO overcall 1NT. This is passed

♣ - ♣ A86 round to you, what do you do?

Hand E Hand F With Hand E LHO opens 1♣ which partner doubles. What do

you bid?

♠ KQ105 ♠ KJ86

♥ 74 ♥ 105 With Hand F LHO opens 1♥ and partner overcalls 1NT. You

♦ 1065 ♦ 9743 pass this and LHO bids 2♥. Partner doubles, what do you do?

♣ AK103 ♣ Q42

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

♠ AKJ ♠ AK7

♥ Q8 ♥ J1098 With Hand H RHO opens 3♠, what do you do?

♦ KJ6 ♦ J1063

♣ AKJ86 ♣ AQ

Hand J Hand K What do you open with Hand J?

♠ AK9532 ♠ J974 With Hand K RHO opens 3♦ and this is passed round to

♥ 6 ♥ AQ652 partner who doubles. (a) What do you bid?

♦ Q7632 ♦ 86 (b) Suppose you choose 3♥ and partner bids 3NT, what do

♣ 8 ♣ K4 you do now?

Bidding Sequences Quiz

L 1♠ pass 2NT What is 2NT assuming that you do not play Jacoby 2NT?

M 2♠ pass 3♣ 2♠ is weak. What is 3♣ - is it forcing?

N 1♥ 1NT pass pass What is dbl?

2♥ dbl

The Bridge Club Championship Races

The current standings for all competitions are in the results folder and on the web-site. There was not a lot of movement this week, just Lewis moving up a few notches in the silver and bronze competitions.

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

1 Dave Cutler 1865.6

2 Bob Pelletier 1795.8

3 Bob Short 1784.3

4 Phil Lovell 1765.6

5 Michael Guin 1759.1

6 Bill Noe 1747.5

7 Kenneth Johansson 1746.0

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. Considering how seldom he played, Clive is doing remarkably well still hanging on to top spot in both. He did not play enough to qualify for 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 Lewis Berg 327.3

7 Derek & Gerard 623.7 7 Ruth Ibler 327.2

8 Alan Purdy 620.3 8 Jim Wallington 327.1

9 Lewis Berg 619.3 9 Hans Bijvoet 325.1

10 Michael Guin 616.3 10 Alan Purdy 322.7

______________________________

Playing bridge against Hannibal Lector
In horror I called the director
“ My partners being ate;
off the bone, not the plate!”
But the laws of bridge couldn’t protect her.

A good hand for two-over-one Board 7 from Monday 20^th

Everybody got too high with these E-W cards on Monday: -

Dealer: ♠ AQ9 Table A

South ♥ K874 West North East South

Both vul ♦ Q1076 - - - pass

♣ 53 1♠ pass 2♠ (1) pass

3♠ (2) pass pass (3) pass

♠ K10632 N ♠ 874

♥ A65 W E ♥ Q109 ‘Expert’ Table

♦ AK93 S ♦ 854 West North East South

♣ 4 ♣ AQ87 - - - pass

♠ J5 1♠ pass 1NT (1) pass

♥ J32 2♦ (4) pass 2♠ (5) pass

♦ J2 pass (6)

♣ KJ10962

Table A: (1) This 2♠ response is ‘standard’

(2) With ♠ support opposite and a decent hand with a singleton most West’s tried for game. If you do choose to try then 3♦ is probably better.

(3) With a flat hand and three poor trumps most East’s sensibly declined.

‘Expert’ (1) Our experts play 2/1 of course. Playing 2/1 you can distinguish between a good

Table: 2♠ raise and a poor one. With three miserable trumps and the dreaded 4333 type shape this East hand is definitely a poor one and the way to show a poor raise of a major suit opening is to go via the forcing No Trump.

(4) West is obliged to bid and so bids 2♦.

(5) East shows a poor raise to 2♠

(6) And West now knows not to make a game try.

And what happened? Most West’s went anything from two to four down in 3♠ or 4♠.

The bottom lines: -

- Play 2/1. Playing 2/1 constructive raises, a direct 2♠ shows a decent hand.

- I have copies of a book on 2/1 which I encourage all serious players to read.

- Playing Standard American instead of 2/1 is like playing marbles instead of football.

Big Balanced Hands

Anybody who reads the news-sheet fairly regularly will know of one my pet hates

– the need to open 3NT (or rebid 3NT having opened 2♣ or 2♦) with a 25+ balanced hand.

My favourite solution is to play Benjamin twos, but apparently the original Benjamin has: - 2NT opening = 19-20; 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT = 21-22; and 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT = 23 -24; (or some variation) and with 25 + you still have to make the silly leap to 3NT.

So what’s the solution? It’s very nice to have precise two step intervals. But opening 2NT (directly or indirectly) with 19 points certainly is not my cup of tea; and I most certainly do not want to play a system where you have to bid 3NT with 25+ (partner does not know whether to pass or try Stayman/transfers when he is virtually bust – often the case).

My recommended solution is: -

Playing Benjamin twos Playing Multi 2♦

18-19 1x - 1y - 2NT (a) 18-19 1x - 1y - 2NT (a)

20-21 2NT 20-21 2NT

22-24 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT 22-24 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT

25+ 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT 25+ 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT

So you never need the silly leap to 3NT when playing my treatment of either of these systems. Thus with these two conventions we have: -

Playing Benjamin twos a 2♦ opening is absolutely game forcing and 2♣ is a strong hand, either 8-9 playing tricks in an unspecified suit or a balanced 22-24.

Playing Multi 2♦ then the 2♣ opening is absolutely game forcing and 2♦ is whatever selection of meanings you choose including the 22-24 balanced hand.

With either system the 3NT opening is best played as the gambling 3NT promising a long (7+) solid minor with absolutely no ace or king outside.

Note that Benjamin (and Multi 2♦) both work perfectly well with Standard American or with Two-Over-One (2/1). It’s a shame that most Americans have not realised this yet.

The above structures work whether you play a strong NT or a weak NT (except that weak No Trump players may play 1x - 1y - 2NT as 17-19 if 1x -1y - 1NT is 15-16 as in basic Acol).

When the bidding starts with an effective 2NT opening (directly or 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT or 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT in either system) then responder can use both Stayman and transfers below the level of 3NT. This is the whole point.

When the bidding starts with a 1x - 1y - 2NT (18-19) then I play that any bid by responder is game forcing and more established pairs might also like to play New Minor Forcing or Checkback Stayman.

The sequence 1♣/♦ - 1something - 3NT (b) is best used to show a strong hand with a good long suit in the minor opened.

The sequence 1x- 2y (y lower ranking than x) - 3NT may be either hand type (a) or (b).

If, having read this, you still do not like to use 2♦ in one of these ways and prefer to struggle along with just 2♣ as your only strong bid, then have a look at the Kokish Relay; but Benjamin or the Multi 2♦ really is the best solution. You Americans should come out of your shell and realise that occasionally the Europeans have got it right (and just for a change I am not having a go at that idiot ‘mr.’ bush).

As I said just last week, the American invented the fantastic 2/1 but are still in the last century as regards strong balanced hand openings.

A basic end-play Board 14 from Monday 20^th

This cocky West counted his chickens before they were hatched (pun intended)…

Dealer: ♠ AQ94

West ♥ A10 West North(me) East South

N-S vul ♦ AKQ8 pass 2♦ (1) 2♥ pass (2)

♣ AQ2 pass 2NT (3) pass 3NT (4)

all pass

♠ J1082 N ♠ K65

♥ J W E ♥ KQ9854

♦ J10742 S ♦ -

♣ 764 ♣ J1095

♠ 73

♥ 7632

♦ 9653

♣ K83

(1) Game forcing playing Benjamin twos.

(2) There is no need for South to bid when East has overcalled. Double here would be for penalties and pass is the best bid.

(3) Here we see one of the advantages of playing Benjamin – this 2NT bid is still game forcing.

(4) He may not like it too much, but South is obliged to bid the obvious 3NT. 3♣ would be Stayman and 3♦/♥ are transfers.

Now onto the play. East led the ♥K which North ducked. The small ♥ continuation was taken perforce by the ♥A. North obviously then led the ♦A but when East showed out by discarding the ♠5 West commented “not so easy now is it, eh?” in his typical gloating arrogant manner on the odd occasion when he thinks he’s getting a good board.

North (me) did not bother to reply verbally. The

Dealer: ♠ AQ94 best answer to people like this is to give them a

West ♥ - lesson in playing bridge.

N-S vul ♦ 8 There was only one entry to dummy and so I

♣ - could not pick up four ♦ tricks. After a short

pause for reflection I ran off the other two ♦’s

♠ J108 N ♠ K6 and the three ♣’s ending in dummy (South).

♥ - W E ♥ Q98 I watched as East discarded his remaining ♣’s

♦ J10 S ♦ - and then a good ♥ on the run of the minors.

♣ - ♣ - I now had a complete count of the hand and in

♠ 73 this position I exited with a ♥. East got his three

♥ 76 more ♥ tricks but then had to lead up to my ♠AQ;

♦ 9 the position of the ♠K was irrelevant. My partner

♣ - Paul Kelly simply said well played and shook my hand. That’s the best way to deal with these rude individuals.

And what happened? Everybody was in game but ½ went down and 3NT making scored 70%. The bottom lines: -

- Gloating when (you think that) you have a good score is not only bad manners, it is actually against the written rules of bridge.

- Don’t count your chickens … especially against the cock of the roost?

Missing the 4-4 fit – part 1 Board 2 from Wednesday 22^nd

There were a lot of deals on Wednesday where players could/would not find the 4-4 major suit fit. This first example was particularly bad with the culprit supporting a minor suit opening (twice) with just three cards and at the same time denying a four card major: -

Dealer: ♠ Q9854 Table A

East ♥ K62 West North East(B) South

N-S vul ♦ 97 - - pass pass

♣ A32 1♦ 1♠ 2♦ (1) 2♠

pass pass 3♦ (2) all pass

♠ A3 N ♠ 107

♥ AQJ3 W E ♥ 8754 Table B

♦ 10853 S ♦ AK6 West North East(B) South

♣ J105 ♣ K986 - - pass pass

♠ KJ63 1♦ 1♠ dbl (1) 2♠

♥ 109 3♥ (3) pass (4) pass 3♠ (5)

♦ QJ42 all pass

♣ Q74

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand B in this weeks quiz? Double (negative and showing four ♥’s) is the only sensible bid. Raising 1♦ to 2♦ is a very poor bid, especially as it denies 4 ♥’s.

(2) This is preposterous of course, it may well be a 3-3 fit.

Table B: (1) The correct bid of course.

(3) It’s one above the Law but fine at this vulnerability.

(4) With just 5 ♠’s North should not compete (The Law).

(5) But with a known 9 card fit South should compete.

And what happened? The silly 3♦ got near average when it went two down. Two E-W pairs were left to play in 2♥. 3♠ was bid and made just once but the top N-S score was for an amazing 4♦ minus four by West. Clearly that bidding must have been even more diabolical then that at Table A.

The bottom lines: -

- Play negative doubles.

- Playing negative doubles, a double of a major suit overcall guarantees four cards in the other major.

- Do not raise a 1♣/♦ opening with just 3 card support.

- Do not raise a 1♣/♦ opening twice with just 3 card support!

- Do not deny a four card major.

Missing the 4-4 fit – part 2 Board 30 from Wednesday 22^nd

This time E-W found their 4-4 ♠ fit but then lost it to go five down in a 5♣ contract! : -

Dealer: ♠ -

East ♥ AK9874 West North East(A) South

N-S vul ♦ J1094 - - 2♣ pass

♣ K96 2♦ pass 2♠ (1) pass

3♠ (2) pass 4♣ (3) pass

♠ J964 N ♠ AQ72 4♠ pass pass dbl

♥ QJ65 W E ♥ - pass pass 5♣ (4) pass (5)

♦ 8632 S ♦ AKQ9 pass pass

♣ 7 ♣ AQJ83

♠ K10853

♥ 1032

♦ 7

♣ 10542

(1) What did you bid with this East hand A in this weeks quiz? 2♠ here is a poor bid as it should be a good 5+ card suit. The best bid is 3♣.

(2) 4♠ (fast arrival) is the best bid here, but West did not trust partner’s bidding and so took it slowly.

(3) This should be a cue bid looking for a ♠ slam. I assume that East thought it was natural.

(4) Having found a nice spot, East let himself get bullied out of it.

(5) South should double and lead a ♠ for partner to ruff.

And what happened? 250 away for a near top to N-S. The only N-S pair to do better were playing in 2♥ doubled +1 for 870. 4♠ was bid three times; making once (when doubled) and going two down twice.

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t change horse in mid stream; if you have agreed a major suit and get doubled at the 4 level, don’t bid a new 5 card minor at the 5 level.

- Bid a 5 card suit before a 4 card suit.

Missing the 4-4 fit – part 3 Board 12 from Wednesday 22^nd

Two East’s denied a four card ♠ suit on this deal and missed the good 4-4 ♠ fit: -

Dealer: ♠ J9 Table A

West ♥ Q95 West North East South

N-S vul ♦ Q1042 1♥ pass 1NT (1) pass

♣ A653 3♥ (2) all pass

♠ K532 N ♠ Q1064 Table B

♥ AKJ1086 W E ♥ 42 West North East South

♦ 5 S ♦ KJ93 1♥ pass 1♠ (1) pass

♣ Q2 ♣ J84 3♠ (3) pass 4♠ (4) all pass

♠ A87

♥ 73

♦ A876

♣ K1097

Table A: (1) Obviously East should bid 1♠. Actually two East’s found this silly 1NT bid.

(2) This West chose to bid 3♥. I was the other West whose partner also bid 1NT but I simply rebid 2♥. With no fit I don’t think it’s worth a try for game.

Table B: (1) The correct bid of course.

(3) With a known 4-4 ♠ fit I think that the West hand may now be worth a try.

(4) But with a near minimum and a poor holding in partner’s first bid suit I think that East should pass.

And what happened? Two pairs bid 4♠ going one down. Two pairs stopped in 2♠ making exactly. ♥’s should score one trick less but with a bit of help from the defence 3♥ made exactly and 2♥ made +2. So a totally undeserved top for the 2♥ team and a good score for the 3♥ team. Perhaps I need to write a few articles on defending?

The bottom lines: -

- Never deny a 4 card major.

- A 4-4 fit plays better than 6-2 or 5-3.

Missing the 4-4 fit – part 4 Board 8 from Wednesday 22^nd

A good 4-4 ♠ fit was again missed on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ J974 Table A

West ♥ AQ652 West North(K) East South

Love all ♦ 86 3♦ (1) pass pass dbl (2)

♣ K4 pass 3♥ (3) pass 3NT (4)

pass pass (5) dbl (6) pass

♠ 632 N ♠ A5 pass pass (7)

♥ 98 W E ♥ KJ1043

♦ AK10742 S ♦ 53

♣ 75 ♣ J1032

♠ KQ108

♥ 7

♦ QJ9

♣ AQ986

(1) With all the points in the ♦ suit this West tried a non-vul 3♦. I won’t argue, but then I was West.

(2) With 4 ♠’s this looks fine to me.

(3) What did you bid with this North hand K(a) in this week’s quiz? With both majors I would bid 4♦ - pick a major. 3♥ here is especially poor as it indicates just 0-8 points.

(4) And this looks fine as (in my opinion) South has shown 4 ♠’s.

(5) But North did not see it that way. What did you bid with this north hand K(b) in this week’s quiz? If you go along with my reasoning then 4♠ is automatic if you chose not to bid 4♦ at (3).

(6) East knows that N-S have an 8 card ♠ fit (I would not pre-empt 3♦ with 4 ♠’s) and double here is very dangerous.

(7) But North again failed to realise that partner had ♠’s. He said later that he thought that South had a 19 count. But with a 19 count without a 4 card major South would simply have bid 3NT at (2).

And what happened? West led the ♦7 and 3NT doubled went 2 down for a very fortunate top to E-W. 3NT made at another table (presumably West led a foolish top ♦?). 4♠ was bid and made twice.

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t double 3NT if the opponents have an 8 card ♠ fit.

- Lead small from AKxxxx against 3NT (or duck/encourage if partner leads the suit).

Giving a lesson(?) during the play Board 16 from Wednesday 22^nd

East told a defender of his apparent ‘poor play’ during the play of the hand and then proceeded to go down in the cold 3NT contract himself. Obviously everybody at the table then told him of his own mistake, but he refused to accept that he had made one. So here’s Emil’s poor effort that I promised him I would write up for him: -

Dealer: ♠ Q54

West ♥ QJ82 West North East South

E-W vul ♦ 9843 pass pass 1NT pass

♣ 96 2♣ pass 2♦ pass

3NT all pass

♠ 732 N ♠ A6

♥ K765 W E ♥ A109

♦ A102 S ♦ KJ65

♣ A42 ♣ KJ103

♠ KJ1098

♥ 43

♦ Q7

♣ Q875

South led the ♠J which East ducked; East then won the 2^nd round of ♠’s. Declarer has 7 tricks and will make his contract if he can find a minor suit queen without losing the lead. He decided to lead the ♦5 and when South apparently hesitated he finessed the ♦10. Nobody else noticed any hesitation but Emil (East) told South that he should not have hesitated. Anyway, declarer now has 9 tricks (1 ♠, 2 ♥’s, 4 ♦’s and 2 ♣’s). You would think that having found one of the necessary queens and thus secured the contract he would be satisfied? But what did the master Emil do? Why, he finessed the ♣J and went one down!

And what happened elsewhere? One other declarer failed and three made.

The bottom lines: -

- Don’t tell the opponents how to play if you don’t have a clue yourself.

- If you criticise the opponents and make a mess of it yourself then expect them to tell you exactly what a hash you made of it and expect to be written up with names.

Double having overcalled with 1NT is penalties Board 19 from Wednesday 22^nd

Emil decided to pull his partner’s penalty double here; I can see absolutely no reason to do so and the double is very obviously for penalties.

Dealer: ♠ 1093

South ♥ 98 West North East(F) South(D)

E-W vul ♦ 108652 - - - 1♥ (1)

♣ J95 1NT (2) pass pass 2♥ (3)

dbl (4) pass 2♠ (5) all pass

♠ A74 N ♠ KJ86

♥ AKJ3 W E ♥ 105

♦ QJ S ♦ 9743

♣ K1073 ♣ Q42

♠ Q53

♥ Q7642

♦ AK

♣ A86

(1) What did you open with this South hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? If you open 1♥ then you have no sensible rebid over a 1♠/2♣/2♦ response from partner. I would open 1NT; I certainly would not want to emphasise this miserable ♥ suit.

(2) 15-18 with ♥ stop(s).

(3) What did you bid with this South hand D(b) in this weeks quiz? LHO has advertised a good hand with ♥’s and to bid this anaemic ♥ suit again is sheer folly; especially as a double by LHO would now be for penalties. Pass is very clear.

(4) Penalties.

(5) What did you bid with this East hand F in this week’s quiz? You don’t even have to look at your hand; partner’s double is penalties and you should obviously pass. If partner wanted you to bid he would have made a take-out double on the first round.

And what happened? South’s appalling bid was matched by East’s and 2♠ made to score about average; more than they both deserved. 2♥ by South went two down the two times it ended up as the final contract but it was not doubled.

The bottom lines: -

- If you overcall with 1NT (15-18) then a subsequent double by you is penalties.

Responding to a take-out double Board 7 from Wednesday 22^nd

This is all bog standard. It’s up on the internet: - Basic Bidding ® Responding to partner’s take-out double (News sheet 133). I suggest Emil reads it rather than continually trying to give erroneous unsolicited advice during the game. Virtually everybody else managed to bid the easy game.

Dealer: ♠ 73 Table A

South ♥ 10985 West North East(E) South

Both vul ♦ 983 - - - 1♣

♣ J872 dbl pass 1♠ (1) pass

pass pass

♠ A92 N ♠ KQ105

♥ K632 W E ♥ 74 Table B

♦ KQJ7 S ♦ 1065 West North East(E) South

♣ Q5 ♣ AK103 - - - 1♣

♠ J864 dbl pass 2♠ (1) pass

♥ AQJ 3♣ (2) pass 3NT (3) all pass

♦ A42

♣ 963

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this East hand E in this week’s quiz? 1♠ is not correct.

Table B: (1) There are a number of reasonable bids. 2♠ is a bit of an underbid (it shows about 8-11); 3♠ or a 2♣ cue bid are better and with just 4 ♠’s I prefer the 2♣ cue bid.

(2) Asking for a ♣ stop.

(3) I have one.

And what happened? Four pairs reached 3NT and one somehow ended up in 4♠ going one down.

The bottom lines: -

- If partner makes a take-out double then you have to jump or cue bid if you have 8+ points (or 1NT shows 6-9).

- This is absolutely basic and should be known by somebody who is continually trying to give others lessons in a somewhat abrupt/rude manner. I have already warned Emil about his manners; I suspect that he will be out very soon and he is certainly running out of partners anyway. His Friday partner will most certainly never play with him again.

- If you continually (often incorrectly) criticise partner/opponents having already been warned, you will be asked to leave the club. Of course it will not be necessary for me to make that decision if nobody will partner you. I have already told Emil that I will no longer ask people to partner him and it’s up to him to find himself a partner.

If East chooses the 2♣ cue bid at (1) the bidding could go: -

1♣ dbl pass 2♣ (1)

pass 2♥ pass 2♠

pass 3♣ pass 3NT

A good hand for Benjamin twos … Board11 from Wednesday 22^nd

… well, it could have been!

Dealer: ♠ 762 Table A

South ♥ 982 West North East South(C)

Love all ♦ Q9 - - - 1♥ (1)

♣ J10763 dbl (2) pass 3♦ (3) 4♥ (4)

dbl (4) all pass

♠ QJ95 N ♠ K43

♥ 74 W E ♥ - Table B

♦ J64 S ♦ AK10752 West North East South(C)

♣ AK82 ♣ Q954 - - - 2♣ (1)

♠ A108 pass 2♦ (6) dbl 4♥ (7)

♥ AKQJ10653 pass (8) all pass

♦ 83

♣ -

Table A: (1) What did you open with this South hand C in this week’s quiz? I would simply open 4♥ (or 4♣ showing a good 4♥ opener if playing Namyats).

(2) It’s easy for West to enter the auction at the one level – that’s why South should open at the 4-level.

(3) This is again an underbid by the same player who does not know how to respond to partner’s take-out double (Emil). 3♦ here shows about 8-11 points; this huge hand should be looking for slam and should start with a 2♥ cue bid followed by a ♦ bid. 3♦ here is not even forcing.

(4) Finally finding the bid that he should have found at (1).

(5) But now West knows that East has a good hand without 4 ♠’s so he doubles.

Table B: (1) This South chose a Benjamin two opening (8-9) playing tricks. Even if playing Benjamin I would still open 4♣ Namyats.

(6) Automatic relay.

(7) 10 playing tricks?? I assume that he is now ‘pre-empting’. A 4♥ opener would have done the job much better

(8) West should double since East has shown good values.

And what happened? 4♥ doubled went one down for a joint top to E-W. Nobody found the good 6♦; it should have been reached at table A had East found the 2♥ cue bid. Of course if South correctly opens 4♥ (or 4♣ playing Namyats) then E-W will not be able to find 6♦.

The bottom lines: -

- With 9 playing tricks in a major, open at the 4-level.

- And if you play Namyats, then open 4♣/♦.

- If you have a good hand opposite partner’s double of a one-level opening, then cue bid.

What to do when you have no room? Board 26 from Friday 24^th

Dealer: ♠ Q5

East ♥ A42 West North East South(H)

Both vul ♦ A97 - - 3♠ (1) dbl (2)

♣ K9842 4♥ (3) all pass

♠ 6 N ♠ J1098432

♥ K763 W E ♥ Q5

♦ KQ54 S ♦ 82

♣ 7653 ♣ J10

♠ AK7

♥ J1098

♦ J1063

♣ AQ

(1) A trifle weak for a vulnerable 3-level pre-empt, but as the suit is solid I have no problem with the bid although others may disagree. Anyway – it worked!

(2) What did you bid with this South hand H in this week’s quiz? Now I have said a few times ‘never deny a 4-card major’ but here you do have a problem. If you double (showing 4 ♥’s) then you will go past 3NT and that’s bad if partner does not have 4 ♥’s. So you have to make a decision now – bid 3NT or try for a 4-4 ♥ fit – there is no room to do both. Either could work out best but with this solid double ♠ stop and AQ in the doubleton which may need protecting I much prefer 3NT.

(3) North is a bit fixed and opted to play in the 4-3 ♥ fit rather than introduce his ♣ suit. He has my sympathies.

And what happened? Virtually everybody was in 3NT but then I guess that most did not get the annoying 3♠ opening bid?

The bottom lines: -

- When RHO opens 3♥/♠ and you have a good hand with four cards in the other major and stop(s) in his major then you cannot do everything (try for a 4-4 major suit fit or bid 3NT). Generally speaking, go for 3NT if you have two decent stops.

North suggested that South should pass. That would never even occur to me but then we do get a lot of people expressing a lot of strange opinions at the Pattaya Bridge Club!

Too good for 2NT Board 15 from Friday 24^th

N-S missed a comfortable slam at Table A – whose fault?

Dealer: ♠ AKJ Table A

South ♥ Q8 West North(G) East South

N-S vul ♦ KJ6 - - - pass

♣ AKJ86 pass 2NT (1) pass 3♥

pass 3♠ pass 3NT

♠ 8 N ♠ 9742 pass pass (2) pass

♥ J103 W E ♥ K7642

♦ Q10432 S ♦ 95 Table B

♣ 9752 ♣ Q3 West North(G) East South

♠ Q10653 - - - pass

♥ A95 pass 2♣ (1) pass 2♠ (3)

♦ A87 pass 3♠ (4) pass 4NT (5)

♣ 104 pass 5♣ (6) pass 5NT (7)

pass 6♥ (8) pass 7♠ (9)

all pass

Table A: (1) What did you open with this North hand G in this week’s quiz? Even if you play 2NT as 20-22 I would still open 2♣. With this great ♣ suit this hand should be upgraded to a 23 count.

(2) 4♠ looks better to me.

Table B: (1) This North chose 2♣, 22-24 in their system I believe.

(3) it’s a question of partnership style if you consider this good enough for a positive ♠ response. Playing 2♦ waiting and 2♥ negative I would bid 2♦.

(4) Clearly North supports as South has promised 5 ♠’s.

(5) RKCB (6) 3 keycards (7) RKCB (8)Two kings

(9) With a king missing and a partner who has shown no more than 22 points I would settle for 6♠.

And what happened? 7♠ is a poor contract but made when declarer found the ♣Q; 6♠ making +1 would have scored an outright top anyway. Just one other pair bid the good 6♠ slam and made exactly. The rest of the field were in 3NT or 4♠ making 12 or 13 tricks.

The bottom lines: -

- Add on a point for AKJxx in a big balanced hand.

- It’s best to play the 2NT opening as 20-21, with 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT as 22-24.

- Don’t bid a grand with 10 opposite 22-24 with a king missing – if you make 13 tricks you will get a good score anyway for bidding the small slam.

Bidding Sequence Answers

L 1♠ pass 2NT With no conventional agreement, 2NT is 11-12, non-forcing and denying 4 ♥’s.

M 2♠ pass 3♣ 3♣ opposite partner’s weak 2♠ is natural and forcing.

N 1♥ 1NT pass pass Double, having overcalled 1NT is 100% for penalties.

2♥ dbl

A new suit opposite a pre-empt is forcing Board 11 from Friday 24^th

Dealer: ♠ 86 Table A

South ♥ 2 West North East South(J)

Love all ♦ AJ104 - - - 2♠ (1)

♣ AQ10953 pass 3♣ (2) pass pass (3)

pass

♠ J10 N ♠ Q74

♥ AKQ43 W E ♥ J109875 Table B

♦ 85 S ♦ K9 West North East South(J)

♣ K764 ♣ J2 - - - 1♠ (1)

♠ AK9532 2♥ dbl 4♥ 4♠

♥ 6 pass pass 5♥ dbl

♦ Q7632 all pass

♣ 8

Table A: (1) What did you open with this South hand J in this week’s quiz? This is very similar to Hand G from last week but it’s a lot stronger. As I said last week, do not pre-empt with a good two-suiter as a fit in the 2^nd suit may get lost.

(2) Opposite a ‘normal’ weak two opener I would pass or bid 3♠.

(3) To compound the felony, South did not know that North’s bid was forcing although this is absolutely standard (RONF – raise only non-forcing).

Table B: (1) This South hand J conforms with the rule of 20 and I too would open 1♠. Pass (and come in later to show the hand type) is the only other reasonable alternative.

And what happened? 3♣ went one down for a bottom. 4♠ or 5♦ make for N-S but 5♥ goes 3 down for a bottom to E-W when doubled (it was the final contract 4 times but only doubled once).

The bottom lines: -

- Do not open with a 2♥/♠ pre-empt when you have another 5 card suit (I said that last week).

- A new suit opposite a two level pre-empt is forcing (RONF).

- Open hands at the one level when they conform with the rule of 20.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 3♣, pretty obvious. But one player did choose 2♠; this is a poor bid because it promises a 5+ card suit.

Hand B: Double. Negative, showing 4 ♥’s. 2♦ is ridiculous.

Hand C: 4♥. Do not allow the opponents in cheaply. If you play Namyats then 4♣ is perfect.

Hand D: (a) 1NT. If you open 1♥ you will have rebid problems.

(b) Pass. To rebid this motley ♥ suit is foolhardy in the extreme.

Hand E: 2♣. Cue bid the opponent’s suit to show a good hand. 3♠ is a not-so-good alternative which implies a 5 card suit. 2♠ is a gross underbid which shows 0-8 points.

Hand F: Pass. Partner’s double is penalties; he has a good hand with good ♥’s. If he wanted you to bid a suit he would have doubled 1^st go rather than bid 1NT.

Hand G: 2♣. Even if you play the 2NT opening as 20-22 I would open 2♣ as with this great ♣ suit this hand is easily worth a balanced 23. So open 2♣ with a 2NT rebid in mind.

Hand H: 3NT. With this double ♠ stop and good honours in the doubleton I much prefer this to the other reasonable option of double.

Hand J: 1♠ (or pass). Do not open 2♠ with a two suited hand.

Hand K: (a) 4♦, asking partner to bid his best major. 3♥ is not enough and 4♥ is too unilateral.

(b) 4♠. Partner must have 4 ♠’s or he would not have doubled to start with.