News-Sheet No. 215

Club News Sheet – No. 215 www.pattayabridge.com 16^th Dec 2006

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Mon11^th 1^st N-S Jerome & Michel L 65% 2^nd Albert & Dennis 59%

1^st E-W Richard M & Ken 59% 2^nd Gunnar & Lars 57%

Wed 13th 1^st N-S Michel L & Michel P 61% 2^nd Bob P & Jo 55%

1^st E-W Gunnar & Lars 60% 2^nd Ursula & Mats 53%

Fri 15^th 1^st N-S Bob & Mike 58% 2^nd Margit & Norman 58%

1^st E-W Anna-Lisa & Britta 65% 2^nd Ursula & Mats 61%

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated.

Hand A Hand B With Hand A LHO opens 1♣, partner overcalls 1♠ and RHO

bids 2♥. What do you bid?

♠ J543 ♠ AQJ

♥ K92 ♥ K106 With Hand B LHO opens 1♦, partner passes and RHO bids 1♠.

♦ AK5 ♦ Q62 What do you bid?

♣ 982 ♣ K943

Hand C Hand D With do you open with Hand C?

♠ 8 ♠ 9

♥ Q108 ♥ A43 With Hand D you open 1♦ and partner responds 1♠, what

♦ AKQ10832 ♦ AKQ864 do you bid?

♣ J9 ♣ AJ10

Hand E Hand F With Hand E you open 1♠ and partner responds 2♦. What

do you bid?

♠ AKQ104 ♠ J86

♥ A2 ♥ 764 With Hand F everybody is vulnerable. LHO opens 3♦ which

♦ KJ754 ♦ AQJ3 partner doubles. Do you pass or bid 3NT?

♣ K ♣ Q53

Hand G Hand H With Hand G partner opens 1♠, what do you bid?

♠ AJ96 ♠ KQJ

♥ AQJ9 ♥ KJ1062 With Hand H LHO opens 1♣, partner overcalls 1♥ and RHO

♦ J108 ♦ 432 doubles (negative showing 4 ♠’s). What do you bid?

♣ A4 ♣ 86

Bidding Sequences Quiz

J 1♣ 1♠ 2♥ 3♠ What is 3♠?

K 1♣ 1♠ pass 2♣ What is 2♣?

L 1♠ pass 2♦ How many ♦’s does the 2♦ response promise?

M 1♦ pass 1♠ pass How good is 3♦? Is it forcing?

3♦

N 1♦ pass 1♠ pass What is 3NT?

3NT
The Bridge Club Championship Races

The current standings for all competitions are in the results folder and on the web-site. There was virtually no change this week.

We currently have 8 people qualified for contention (30 results above 53%) in the Gold Cup:

1 Dave Cutler 1865.6

2 Bob Pelletier 1797.2

3 Bob Short 1784.3

4 Phil Lovell 1779.2

5 Michael Guin 1763.2

6 Kenneth Johansson 1754.3

7 Alan Purdy 1751.2

8 Bill Noe 1747.5

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 now pretty secure in the top 3 positions of the Gold Cup since Phil has gone home.

Silver Plate Bronze Medal

2 Lewis Berg 644.5 2 Lewis Berg 337.8

5 Clive Bell 637.8 3 Clive Bell 334.3

6 Phil Lovell 633.8 6 Phil Lovell 328.5

7 Alan Purdy 628.6 7 Ruth Ibler 327.2

8 Hans Bijvoet 624.2 8 Jim Wallington 327.1

9 Derek & Gerard 623.7 9 Alan Purdy 325.8

10 Jan v Koss 618.4 10 Hans Bijvoet 325.1

Moving yet again?

The Mercure has had a change of management since I originally negotiated our deal. It now appears that under the new management the staff are incapable of setting up the tables in the dining room in the full hour between 5.00 and 6.00. So we will not be moving back into the larger dining area (which is always totally empty while we are playing) and are restricted to the 9 tables that they can cram in the Northern part of the room.

The new management came up with the idea of letting us use the small (5 table) annex. But they then require 100 bht per head for everybody in the high season. I call this extortion; and either I would have to run the club for nothing or put up the playing fee to 150 bht per head. If you look at the prices charged in Bangkok they are generally 100 bht total, so clearly the hotels only get about 50 bht a head. Apart from the fact that I consider this move of theirs very underhand, we are still limited to a maximum of 15 tables and I expect to exceed that in Jan/Feb.

Anyway, their timing is ‘perfect’ – hitting us right at the start of the peak season. I guess we will have to go along with it in the short term but I am actively looking for a new location. In discussion with a few members it was decided that we will have to charge everybody 150 bht when the new rules take effect (presumably Monday 18^th Dec until the end of Feb or until we find a new location).

The Unassuming Cue bid – part 1 Board 9 from Monday 11^th

There were two hands in a row on Monday when the Uassuming Cue bid should have got the overcaller’s side into comfortable games.

Dealer: ♠ J543 Table A

West ♥ K92 West North(A) East South

Love all ♦ AK5 pass pass 1♣ 1♠

♣ 982 2♥ (1) 3♠ (2) pass pass (3)

pass

♠ 10 N ♠ Q8

♥ AQ864 W E ♥ J105 Table B

♦ J10742 S ♦ 986 West North(A) East South

♣ 75 ♣ KQJ106 pass pass 1♣ 1♠

♠ AK9762 2♥ (1) 3♣ (2) pass 4♠ (4)

♥ 73 all pass

♦ Q3

♣ A43

Table A: (1) This West hand does not have the values for a two level response. A negative double looks perfect to me.

(2) What did you bid with this North hand A in this week’s quiz? Any ♠ bid in this situation is weak.

(3) South has a nice hand but thought that partner was very weak.

Table B: (1) The correct bid with this North hand A. With an invitational hand, +- 11 points, North should cue bid the opener’s suit; so 3♣. This is the unassuming cue bid, showing a sound raise to 3♠ rather than a pre-emptive one.

(4) And South knows that partner has a good hand.

And what happened? All but one pair bid the comfortable 4♠ game.

The bottom lines: -

- With about 11 points in support of partner’s overcalled major suit, cue bid the suit opened to show a sound raise to the three level.

- In this actual scenario, established partnerships may like to dream up a distinction between a 3♣ cue bid and a 3♥ cue bid. You could use one as game invitational and the other as full opening values.

The Unassuming Cue bid – part 2 Board 9 from Monday 11^th

The very next hand. This time North got it right of course.

Dealer: ♠ KQJ Table A

North ♥ KJ1062 West North(H) East South

E-W vul ♦ 432 - pass 1♣ 1♥

♣ 86 dbl (1) 2♣ (2) pass 4♥ (3)

all pass

♠ A864 N ♠ 93

♥ 53 W E ♥ 9

♦ Q876 S ♦ KJ95 (1) A negative double, showing exactly 4 ♠’s.

♣ 1042 ♣ AQ9753 (2) What did you bid with this North hand H in

♠ 10752 this week’s quiz? This is again the

♥ AQ874 Unassuming Cue Bid, showing a sound raise

♦ A10 to 3♥ or better.

♣ KJ (3) And South has an easy game bid.

And what happened? All but one pair bid the comfortable 4♥ game.

The bottom lines: -

- With about 11 points in support of partner’s overcalled major suit, cue bid the suit opened to show a sound raise to the three level or better.

1NT in the ‘Sandwich Seat’ Board 19 from Wednesday 13^th

When LHO opens, partner passes and RHO bids it is very dangerous to overcall a natural 1NT; especially when vulnerable!

Dealer: ♠ K107432

South ♥ A932 West North East(B) South

E-W vul ♦ 3 - - - 1♦

♣ J7 pass 1♠ 1NT (1) dbl (2)

all pass

♠ 965 N ♠ AQJ

♥ J54 W E ♥ K106

♦ 1087 S ♦ Q62 (1) What did you bid with this East hand B in

♣ 10862 ♣ K943 this week’s quiz? Playing 1NT as natural

♠ 8 really has no sense as both opponents have

♥ Q87 shown values. It’s best to pass.

♦ AKJ954 (2) Penalties

♣ AQ5

And what happened? 1NT doubled went three down and 800 away. Most N-S pairs bid and made game but that’s only 400.

The bottom lines: -

- Do not play 1NT as natural in the sandwich seat. It’s best to play it as unusual (weak and length in the two unbid suits or the two lowest – the Sandwich NT.

- Note that the double at (2) is penalties. I note that one South passed in the expectation of North doubling – he did not but chose a very reasonable 2♥.

The Gambling 3NT Board 15 from Wednesday 13^th

The Gambling 3NT earned an easy top on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ 8 Table A

South ♥ Q108 West North(C) East South

N-S vul ♦ AKQ10832 - - - pass

♣ J9 pass 1♦ (1) 1♠ dbl (2)

3♠ (3) 4♦ 4♠ (4) all pass

♠ A932 N ♠ K107654

♥ 765 W E ♥ KJ Table B

♦ 9 S ♦ 75 West North(C) East South

♣ K10762 ♣ AQ3 - - - pass

♠ QJ pass 3NT (1) pass (5) 4♣ (6)

♥ A9432 pass 4♦ all pass

♦ J64

♣ 854

Table A: (1) What did you open with this North hand C in this week’s quiz? 1♦ is OK I suppose if you don’t play the gambling 3NT.

(2) Negative, showing ♥’s. It’s not strong enough for a 2♥ bid.

(3) This West hand is close between 3♠ and a 2♣ Unassuming cue bid.

(4) With a nice hand and six ♠’s East bid the ♠ game.

Table B: (1) The best opening with this North hand C. The Gambling 3 NoTrump is best played as a long solid minor (7 or 8 cards headed by the AKQ) with absolutely no outside ace or king. It really is a great, very descriptive bid.

(5) And it makes life difficult for East; he does not really have enough to come in with 4♠.

(6) Pass or correct.

And what happened? Three E-W’s bid to 4♠; making 10, 11 or 12 tricks. 4♦ made +1 for the only + score in the N-S column. It should have gone one down but that is still a top for N-S.

The bottom lines: -

- The Gambling 3NT is a really great convention. Using the 3NT opening as a strong No Trump hand really is silly.

- Actually the convention is mis-named; there is no gambling whatsoever if you play the variation which promises absolutely nothing outside the suit.

3NT missed – part 1 Board 13 from Monday 11^th

Only three out of nine pairs reached the excellent 3NT on this deal: -

Dealer: ♠ 9 Table A

North ♥ A43 West North(D) East South

Both vul ♦ AKQ864 - 1♦ pass 1♠

♣ AJ10 pass 3♦ (1) pass pass (2)

pass

♠ AJ865 N ♠ K107

♥ Q98 W E ♥ KJ62 Table B

♦ 109 S ♦ 75 West North(D) East South

♣ 862 ♣ Q974 - 1♦ pass 1♠

♠ Q432 pass 2NT (1) pass pass (3)

♥ 1075 pass

♦ J32

♣ K53 Table C

West North(D) East South

- 1♦ pass 1♠

pass 3NT (1) all pass

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand D in this week’s quiz? The hand really is too good for 3♦ which is non-forcing.

(2) and with a totally flat minimum South passed, as would I.

Table B: (1) This North tried 2NT (18-19 balanced). This hand is 18 high but the great 6 card ♦ suit makes it worth much more.

(2) The 2NT rebid is non-forcing and South again correctly passed.

Table C: (1) This North got it right. The 3NT rebid is best used to show a good hand with a long solid or near solid minor.

And what happened? Three N-S’s bid to 3NT. It is an easy make as it is very unlikely that an East defender will find the ♠10 lead! Four pairs played in ♦’s and two pairs stopped in 2NT

The bottom lines: -

- It is best to play the 3NT rebid as a good hand with a good long minor

- Jump rebids of 3 of the minor or 2NT are non-forcing

- Upgrade a hand with a suit like AKQxxx – it is far more than 9 points.

Respond 2♦ with a three card suit? Board 10 from Monday 11^th

A strange looking response here; but perfectly correct if you do not play Jacoby 2NT.

Dealer: ♠ KQ874 Table A

North ♥ K87 West North East South(G)

Love all ♦ K9 - 1♠ pass 2♦ (1)

♣ Q65 pass 2♠ (2) pass 4NT (3)

pass 5♦ (4) pass 6♠

♠ 102 N ♠ 53 all pass

♥ 10653 W E ♥ 42

♦ 73 S ♦ AQ6542 ‘Expert’ Table

♣ KJ1097 ♣ 832 West North East South(G)

♠ AJ96 - 1♠ pass 2NT (1)

♥ AQJ9 pass 3♠ (5) pass 4♣ (6)

♦ J108 pass 4♠ (7) pass pass (8)

♣ A4 pass

Table A: (1) What did you respond with this South hand G in this week’s quiz? It’s far to good for any ♠ bid and Blackwood is not recommended with a wide open suit. You cannot bid 2♥ as that promises a 5 card suit. If you do not play Jacoby 2NT then 2♦ is the only sensible bid left. Note this answer to bidding sequence quiz L. The 2♦ response to a 1♠ opening may very occasionally be three cards.

(2) 2NT (12-14) is a sound alternative.

(3) Again, I don’t like Blackwood with a wide open suit but it’s difficult to bid if not playing Jacoby 2NT.

(4) One keycard.

Table B: (1) This is the best answer to question G, the Jacoby 2NT. I prefer to play it as four card support with a minimum of 16 points. So definitely slam seeking.

(5) This shows a moderate opener with no shortage in response to Jacoby 2NT. 4♠ (minimum with no shortage) is the sound alternative and that would end the auction.

(6) A cue bid.

(7) Denying a red suited ace.

(8) South knows that the ♦ suit may be wide open and wisely signs off.

And what happened? 6♠ was bid 3 times and made twice. Against the slam at table A East may chose to lead the ♦A and the contract made; it goes down on a passive lead. Five pairs stopped in 5♠ and usually made exactly as then you do not get the ♦A lead.

The bottom lines: -

- Play Jacoby 2NT

- Some say to lead an ace against a slam, but I would be reluctant to lead from AQ.

- The theory behind leading an ace is that partner may have the king, but that is unlikely in view of South’s 2♦ response at Table A; but then, of course, partner may have a singleton or void ♦.

3NT missed – part 2 Board 10 from Monday 11^th

A different problem here, with many players going for the vulnerable penalty instead of the vulnerable 3NT game.

Dealer: ♠ AK7 Table A

East ♥ K102 West North East South(F)

Both vul ♦ 4 - - pass pass

♣ A109864 3♦ (1) dbl (2) pass pass (3)

pass

♠ 432 N ♠ Q1095

♥ QJ W E ♥ A9853 Table B

♦ K1098765 S ♦ 2 West North East South(F)

♣ K ♣ J72 - - pass pass

♠ J86 3♦ (1) dbl (2) pass 3NT (4)

♥ 764 all pass

♦ AQJ3

♣ Q53

Table A: (1) I think that, with these intermediates, this hand is OK for a vulnerable pre-empt

(2) It would be nice to have at least one 4-card major for the double but I think that double with this hand is the best bid. It’s too good for a pass in my opinion and a 4♣ bid goes past 3NT. If partner jumps to 4 of a major he will have at least 4 cards and even a Moysian fit may play quite well as you take any ♦ ruffs in the hand with short trumps.

(3) What did you bid with this South hand F in this week’s quiz? I guess that going for the vulnerable penalty could be best, maybe it depends upon who West was? At red his vulnerable pre-empt should be a decent hand and since he is missing the AQJ it’s quite likely to be 8 cards.

Table B: (4) If West is a sensible player I would bid 3NT.

And what happened? Just one pair bid 3NT and 600 was good enough for a clear top. 3♦ doubled was the final contract five times and scored just 200 or 500 for N-S. Two North’s bid 4♣ and played there to share the bottom.

The bottom lines: -

- 4♣ is usually a poor overcall of a pre-empt as it goes past 3NT.

- Very occasionally it’s best to double without a 4 card major.

A comfortable slam Board 16 from Monday 11^th

I was asked how N-S should bid to the nice 6♦ on this deal. The slam was bid at five of the 9 times it was played on Monday.

Dealer: ♠ AKQ104 Table A

West ♥ A2 West North(E) East South

E-W vul ♦ KJ754 pass 1♠ pass 2♦

♣ K pass 3NT (1) pass pass (2)

pass

♠ J986 N ♠ 752

♥ 975 W E ♥ Q10863 Table B

♦ 2 S ♦ 106 West North(E) East South

♣ AQ954 ♣ 862 pass 1♠ pass 2♦

♠ 3 pass 4NT (1) pass 5♦

♥ KJ4 pass 6♦ all pass

♦ AQ983

♣ J1073

Table A: (1) What did you bid with this North hand E in this week’s quiz? After partner has responded in ♦’s this hand becomes enormous. Now as mentioned on the previous page, the 2♦ bid may be just three cards, but in that case partner has 4 card ♠ support. Anyway, the bid is usually a 4+ card suit and North should assume that. 3NT here shows about 18-19 points and no slam interest but this hand should be looking for slam.

(2) With a minimum for a two-level response and presumably no fit, South obviously passes.

Table B: (1) This is the simplest answer to question E. Playing 2/1 you can take it easy with a 3♦ bid and then cue bid your way to the small slam.

And what happened? Five pairs bid the good 6♦. They were beaten by the one pair who bid 6NT and did not get a ♣ lead. Two pairs stopped in 3NT.

The bottom lines: -

- A combined 31 points is enough for a small slam if you have shape and a fit.

- Note the difference between this good slam and the poor one two deals back – they are both good fits but here North’s great shape makes the slam a good one despite the ♣K being wasted.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 3♣. An Unassuming Cue Bid, showing a sound raise to 3♠. A direct 3♠ bid is pre-emptive.

Hand B: Pass. You should not play 1NT as natural (15-18) in the sandwich seat. Partner has passed and both opponents are unlimited. If you bid 1NT you will likely get doubled and go for a number.

Hand C: 3NT. The Gambling 3NT. It’s best played as a long solid minor with no ace or king outside.

Hand D: 3NT. Both 3♦ and 2NT are not enough as they are both non-forcing. The 3NT rebid is best played as a good hand with a good long minor.

Hand E: 4NT. This hand is enormous after partner’s 2♦ bid has found a fit. Playing 2/1 you can take it slowly with 3♦.

Hand F: 3NT. Assuming that LHO is sensible, he knows what he is doing when he opens a vulnerable pre-empt missing three honours. At this vulnerability LHO may easily have 8 ♦’s and partner void. This hand will probably get only get two tricks in defence and I think it’s best to bid 3NT rather than trying for a three trick set.

Hand G: If you play Jacoby 2NT, then bid that. If you do not play Jacoby 2NT the hand is difficult: no ♠ bid is forcing and 2♥ would promise 5 cards. I guess the best bid is 2♦ but 2♥ is not too bad as you can always correct any final contract to ♠’s.

Hand H: 2♣. An Unassuming cue bid showing a sound raise to 3♥ or better. A direct 4♥ bid is pre-emptive but is what I would bid if partner did not know about the Unassuming Cue Bid.

Bidding Sequences Quiz Answers

J 1♣ 1♠ 2♥ 3♠ 3♠ is pre-emptive, showing 4 ♠’s and little else.

K 1♣ 1♠ pass 2♣ 2♣ is the Unassuming Cue bid, showing a sound raise to 3♠ or better.

L 1♠ pass 2♦ The 2♦ response could be just 3 cards if you do not play the Jacoby 2NT convention (responder could be 4432).

M 1♦ pass 1♠ pass 3♦ shows a good hand, around 16-17 points with good ♦’s but

3♦ the bid is not forcing.

N 1♦ pass 1♠ pass 3NT is best played as a good hand with a good long minor,

3NT with the jump rebid to 2NT showing 18-19 points.