Club News Sheet – No. 172 www.pattayabridge.com 18^th Feb 2006

Winner Runner-up

Mon 13^th N-S 1^st Eddie/Martin(Hol) 60% 2^nd Bill/Mike(Can) 54%

E-W 1^st Chuck/Terry 65% 2^nd John/Kenneth 59%

Wed 15^th N-S 1^st Bill/Mike(Can) 60% 2^nd Bob Short/Richard(Irl) 56%

E-W 1^st Chuck/Terry 62% 2^nd Bob P/Eddie 60%

Fri 17^th N-S 1^st Bill/Mike(Can) 65% 2^nd Mr/Mrs Chauveau 59%

E-W 1^st Chuck/Terry 61% 2^nd Bjorn/Knud 57%

Bidding Quiz Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated

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

♠ A7 ♠ Q98 With Hand B LHO opens 1♥, partner overcalls 1NT (15-18) and

♥ K104 ♥ 7 RHO bids 2♥. What do you do?

♦ KJ654 ♦ 1074

♣ K92 ♣ AQJ964

Hand C Hand D With Hand C partner opens 1♣, what do you respond?

♠ 974 ♠ A1086 With Hand D you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♦. RHO then

♥ KQ8 ♥ 5 bids 1♥, what do you do?

♦ K97 ♦ AQ2

♣ K874 ♣ J10952

Hand E Hand F With Hand E RHO opens 1♥, what do you do?

♠ KJ63 ♠ 4 (a) What do you open with Hand F?

♥ 1087 ♥ AKQ2 (b) Suppose you open 1♣ and partner bids 1♥, what do you bid?

♦ KJ954 ♦ J52

♣ K ♣ AKQ109

Hand G Hand H With Hand G partner opens 1♠ and RHO overcalls 2♣, what

do you do?

♠ 873 ♠ AQ104

♥ KQJ8 ♥ 5

♦ A873 ♦ 6 With Hand H LHO opens 1♥, partner overcalls 2♦ and RHO

♣ 97 ♣ AQJ9763 bids 2♥; what do you do?

Well done Chuck, I note that he achieved the triple despite the handicap of playing with the local beach bum who’s only just learning to count. And didn’t Mike(Can)/Bill do well? Just missing the triple – not bad for a pair who only started up the game a year or two back. Good show chaps; I know it’s difficult sometimes, but keep it up.

Bidding Sequences Quiz All of the following occurred this/last week.

This ‘Sequence Quiz’ is a bit new and it seems to be quite popular. Let me know what you think, and if there are any sequences that you would like me to write up.

J 1♣ pass 1♠ 2♥ What is the double?

dbl

K 1♠ pass 2♦ 2♥ What is the double?

dbl

L 1♠ 2♦ dbl This double is negative. But (a) how many points does it promise and (b) what suit(s) does it promise?

M 1♠ 2♦ dbl pass Does 3♣ here show a big hand?

3♣

N 1♠ 2♣ dbl 3♣ What is 3♥? Is it strong?

3♥

There is no intervention in the following sequences: -

P 1♣ - 1♥ - 3♠ What is 3♠?

Q 1♣ - 1♥ - 4♣ What is 4♣?

R 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♦ What is 4♦?

S 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 4♣ What is 4♣?

T 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 2NT 2NT is invitational. But does it guarantee 4 ♠’s? Would your answer be different if you play 4-way transfers?

U 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 2♠ What is 2♠? Would your answer be different if you play 4-way transfers?

V 1♥ - 2♥ - 2NT What is 2NT? Is it forcing?

W 1♥ - 2♥ - 2♠ - 3♠ What is 2♠? What is 3♠?

What sort of jump shift? Board 12 from Monday 13^th Feb.

Dealer: ♠ Q1095

West ♥ A652 West North East South(A)

N-S vul ♦ A9 pass 1♣ pass 2♦ (1)

♣ Q65 pass pass (2) pass

♠ 842 N ♠ KJ63

♥ Q93 W E ♥ J87

♦ Q103 S ♦ 872

♣ A1073 ♣ J84

♠ A7

♥ K104

♦ KJ654

♣ K92

(1) What did you bid with this South hand A in this week’s quiz? 1♦ is obvious, but one player did actually produce a jump shift of 2♦. Now the days when one had to jump to show an opening opposite partner’s opening are long gone, and most players sensibly play that a jump shift is a good hand with a very good suit. This hand obviously does not qualify on either count and a 1♦ response is clear whether you play weak or strong jump shifts. I understand that South meant this as a strong jump shift.

(2) But N-S has apparently agreed to play weak jump shifts and so North passed.

And what happened? 2♦ made +2 but scored a bottom as virtually everybody was in 3NT making or making with overtricks.

The bottom lines: -

- Weak jump shifts are not standard, and they are alertable.

- I do not really recommend weak jump shifts, but it’s up to you.

- A strong jump shift is a good hand and a very good suit.

- A weak jump shift is a 6+ card suit and a hand too weak to respond (so 5 or less points).

If 3NT is an option – then bid it? Board 1 from Monday 13^th Feb.

Dealer: ♠ Q98

North ♥ 7 West North(B) East South

Love all ♦ 1074 - pass 1♥ (1) 1NT (2)

♣ AQJ964 2♥ 3♣ (3) pass pass (4)

3♥ (5) pass pass 4♣

♠ 10642 N ♠ 53 pass 5♣ all pass

♥ 10984 W E ♥ AQJ32

♦ K532 S ♦ QJ98

♣ 5 ♣ 87

♠ AKJ7

♥ K65

♦ A6

♣ K1032

(1) Would you open this East hand? It’s one short for the rule of 20 but all of the points in the long suits and reasonable intermediates make it close to an opener. Also, the hand has an easy 2♦ rebid and so I decided to open.

(2) A balanced 15-18 with a ♥ stop.

(3) What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz? I would simply bid 3NT – partner has promised a ♥ stop. I don’t know if 3♣ was forcing here in this N-S’s system (Chuck and I play it as forcing as we play Lebensohl in this situation) but I think that 3NT is a better bid anyway.

(4) So presumably 3♣ was not forcing?

(5) Now the law of total tricks says that West can compete to the 3 level in competitive situations (9 combined trumps) but that only applies when the points are roughly equal. It is not clear whether West should compete here, but he does not know the situation (that North has a big hand) and reasonably assumed that East had a stronger hand.

And what happened? Even though N-S got pushed into game they shared the bottom spot as 3NT making 10 or 11 or 12 tricks scored more. Two pairs did bid 6♣ making but I don’t know how they bid it – it’s not easy if East opens.

The bottom lines: -

- With an excellent 9 points opposite 1NT (either opener or overcall) force to game.

- 3NTusually scores more than 5♣/♦

- With a long minor, think NT.

- The 1NT overcall is 15-18 and guarantees a stop(s) in the suit bid.

What’s Standard?

There were a series of articles under this title run in the ACBL magazine a couple of years ago. They all now appear on the web at www.audreygrant.com. I highly recommend these articles, they are about 40 pages in total and are easily printed.

For those without internet access I’ll let you have a copy for 20 bht.
Spot the sensible bidder! Board 13 from Wednesday 15^th Feb.

There are a number (4) of poor bids here, can you spot them all?

Dealer: ♠ A1086

North ♥ 5 West North(D) East South(C)

Both vul ♦ AQ2 - 1♣ pass 1♦ (1)

♣ J10952 1♥ (2) 2♦ (3) pass (4) 2NT (5)

pass pass 3♥ (6) dbl

♠ QJ5 N ♠ K32 all pass

♥ AJ10643 W E ♥ 972

♦ 63 S ♦ J10854

♣ Q3 ♣ A6

♠ 974

♥ KQ8

♦ K97

♣ K874

(1) What did you bid with this South hand C in this week’s quiz? It’s 11 points, but totally flat. But it does have good intermediates and I think that it’s smack in the middle of 1NT or 2NT and I would probably opt for 2NT (a balanced 11-12 with no 4 card major). But this brings up an interesting point about SAYC.

In SAYC the 2NT response to 1♣/♦ is defined as 13-15 and so with a hand like this that is 11-12 then I guess you have to bid a 3 card ♦ suit? Can any SAYC expert enlighten me?

I (and most of the club) play the direct 2NT response to 1♣/♦ as 11-12. I do not need the SAYC’s 2NT bid as I play inverted minors with my preferred partners. Anyway, I guess that 1♦ here on a 3 card suit is acceptable (and not alertable?) if you play SAYC?

(2) A weak 2♥ is an alternative, but vulnerable in the sandwich position I think that 1♥ is fine. And when both opponents have bid, a pre-empt has less effect.

(3) But here we have a much more dubious bid. What did you bid with this North hand D? Now with a balanced 11-12 points there is no need to bid after the overcall and pass is reasonable to show a minimum hand. But the obvious (and far better bid) is to simply bid the ♠ suit, so 1♠. 1NT would be a poor bid as it has no ♥ stop, contains a ♠ suit and is minimum. But as for this 2♦ bid chosen – that’s just terrible (especially if partner may have just 3 ♦’s in their style).

(4) With 3 ♥’s opposite partner’s ♥ overcall (promising 5 ♥’s) I can see absolutely no reason for not bidding the obvious 2♥ here.

(5) And South now shows his 11-12 points (with ♥ stoop(s)). Quite sensible if your system did not allow you to bid it at (1)

(6) Now this really is silly. East assumes that N-S have a 4-4 ♦ fit, but knows that they probably will only get 3 tricks there. Apparently he bid 3♥ because he ‘knew’ that partner is void. I simply cannot see the logic here. E-W have to make 9 tricks and if West is indeed void in ♦’s he will have to trump in the long trump hand – that does not generate tricks. Also, with values in the black suits it is very likely that 2NT will go down on a ♥ lead (which he would most certainly get had he correctly bid just 2♥ last go). 3♥ here is one above the ‘Law’ and with all of the points outside ♥’s the hand cries out to defend.

And what happened? Even though West had one more trump that he had promised, 3♥ was too high and went one down for a bottom to E-W. E-W would have got at least 6 tricks defending 2NT. East got what he deserved, N-S got more than they deserved but the scoring does not allow me to give three players a zero, even if that’s what they all deserve.

The bottom lines: -

- Never deny a 4 card major.

- If partner has overcalled and you have 3 card support, then raise at the two level.

- Don’t be in a rush to support partner’s minor suit, especially if it may be only 3 cards, and especially if you have only 3 cards!

The Sequence 1♣ - 1♦.

Does a 1♦ response guarantee 4+ ♦’s? I guess that we need to say a few words here.

Hand W I’ll start off with SAYC. Now SAYC is a ‘standard’ Standard American system

where the 2NT response to a 1♣/♦ opening is forcing and is 13-15 with no 4 card

♠ 974 major. I do not pretend to be an expert in SAYC but I assume that with this

♥ KQ8 hand one would have to respond 1♦ to a 1♣ opening? And if your convention

♦ KJ7 card says SAYC (so a direct 2NT is 13-15) then I guess that this possible 3 card

♣ K874 ♦ suit is not alertable. Please enlighten me if this is incorrect.

Hand X Hand Y And there is another situation where some players may respond

1♦ to a 1♣ opening with just 3 ♦’s. When partner opens 1♣ then

♠ 974 ♠ 974 a 1NT response is generally 6-9(10). But this is a large range

♥ Q84 ♥ Q84 and some players do choose to have the 1NT response as 8-10

♦ KJ7 ♦ Q73 and with a minimal hand they bid 1♦. So they bid 1NT with

♣ K874 ♣ K874 Hand X and 1♦ (followed by 1NT over 1♥/♠) with Hand Y.

I am not sure, but I do not believe that this treatment needs alerting either. But there is actually a space for it on the ACBL convention card. There is a line that asks what the point range is for 1NT opposite a 1♣ opener, and if you fill in anything other than 6-9(10) then I guess that by inference a 1♦ response to a 1♣ opening may be 3 cards.

Hand Z And here is a related problem. Partner opens 1♣, what do you bid? 3NT will

be right on many days but is not very ‘sophisticated’; you do not mention your

♠ Q74 excellent ♣ support and you may well miss a ♣ slam. So a sensible solution is

♥ K98 to ‘lie’ in the other minor and many players would bid 1♦ here (it’s only a 2

♦ K8 card suit this time – but there really is no other sensible bid? as both 2♣ and 3♣

♣ KQJ876 are non-forcing). But actually there is a good solution – and that is to play

Inverted Minors.

The bottom lines: -

- SAYC is not ‘standard’. ‘Standard’ is that a 2NT response to a 1♣/♦ opening is 11-12. If you do indeed play SAYC then I suggest that you pick up one of the pre-filled (yellow colour) SAYC convention cards. Then I won’t get a certain somebody wandering up to me complaining about people bidding 3 card ♦ suits and not being alerted.

- I believe that the SAYC 13-15 2NT response exists because you often have no good bid if you have 13+ points and support for partner’s minor.

- The best way to overcome this problem (and others) is to play Inverted Minors. This then allows for a natural invitational (11-12) 2NT response to 1♣/♦ and you never need to ‘dig up’ a non-existent minor suit.

- It really is simplest (and best) to play that 2NT bid by responder at any stage is virtually always 11-12 (except for the Jacoby 2NT over 1♥/♠).

A Splinter? – part 1 Board 20 from Wednesday 15^th Feb.

Dealer: ♠ Q632

West ♥ Q85 West North East South

Both vul ♦ 963 1NT (1) pass 2♥ pass

♣ 1065 2♠ pass 4♦ (2) pass

4♠ (3) all pass

♠ 75 N ♠ AK10984

♥ K94 W E ♥ A62

♦ AKJ74 S ♦ 10

♣ AQ9 ♣ 843

♠ J

♥ J1073

♦ Q852

♣ KJ72

(1) I guess that most people will open this West hand with 1NT. My slight reservation is that it may be a trifle too good – a 5 card suit headed by the AK is a big plus. Anyway, 1NT was the popular opening and is quite acceptable.

(2) And now we come to the question – what was you answer to sequence R in this week’s quiz? E-W had not discussed this, and so West assumed (apparently correctly) that it was a splinter, setting ♠’s as trumps.

(3) And with just two trumps and a singleton opposite his best suit West obviously backed off slamming.

And what happened? 4♠ + 2 scored well as nobody bid slam and many made only 11 tricks.

The bottom lines. But now it’s time for a little chat about splinters after Transfers (and after Stayman has found a fit). Now West (correctly as it turned out) took the jump to 4♦ as a splinter, but is a splinter the best use of this bid? The ‘problem’ is that there is no way to show ♣ shortage (4♣ is ace/key card asking in this and the analogous Stayman sequence). So to me there is a problem – if you want to splinter then you really need to be able to splinter in all 3 suits.

The problem: After 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠, 4♣ is Gerber or RKCB and so no ♣ splinter is available. After 1NT - 2♣ - 2♠, 4♣ is Gerber or RKCB and so no ♣ splinter is available.

And you have the same problem when ♥’s are trumps.

Is there a solution?

Of course there is! It’s all written up in the NT book on the web and I’ve written up a separate convention page for it. But it’s probably best left for more experienced pairs.

A splinter? – part 2 Board 8 from Wednesday 15^th

Dealer: ♠ Q53 Table A

West ♥ 3 West(F) North East South

Love all ♦ A1076 1♣ (1) pass 1♥ pass

♣ 87652 4♣ (2) pass 5♣ (3) pass

6♥ (4) all pass

♠ 4 N ♠ AK106

♥ AKQ2 W E ♥ J8754 Table B

♦ J52 S ♦ Q4 West(F) North East South

♣ AKQ109 ♣ J4 1♣ (1) pass 1♥ pass

♠ J9872 3♠ (2) pass 4♥ (5) pass

♥ 1096 pass (6) pass

♦ K983

♣ 3

Table A: (1) What did you open with this West hand F(a) in this week’s quiz? I personally don’t think it’s quite good enough for 2♣ and would (did at Table B) open 1♣.

(2) What did you bid with this West hand F(b) in this week’s quiz? This 4♣ bid was meant as agreeing ♥’s and showing the ♣A. I’m not sure that 4♣ here has any defined meaning and I go into it when I answer sequence Q below.

(3) East quite reasonably took it as a huge ♣ hand.

(4) And West simply bid the ♥ slam.

Table B (2) This is the correct answer to F(b). A splinter, showing ♠ shortage and agreeing ♥’s. If you do not play splinters the 4♥ is the bid, showing a big hand with ♥ support.

(5) AK opposite shortage is not good (wasted K) and so East correctly signed off.

And what happened? 6♥ makes (+1) if N-S don’t find the ♦ lead, but unfortunately for East South did find it at Table A.

The bottom lines: An unnecessary jump is a splinter agreeing partner’s last bid suit. It shows a singleton/void and does not show 1^st round control. A cue bidding sequence often follows a splinter and 1^st round controls are then shown.

Sequence Q 1♣ - 1♥ - 4♣.

Hand Q I’ve got room here to discuss sequence Q, 1♣ - 1♥ - 4♣.

The only reasonably logical reason that I can think of to leap off to 4♣ (past

♠ 2 3NT) is that opener likes responder’s bid so much that he is certainly looking

♥ KJ9 for a slam (in ♥’s, ♣’s or NT). It should be a hand something like this hand Q,

♦ A7 with great ♣’s and excellent three card ♥ support.

♣ AKQJ876

A Competitative Double Board 1 from Friday 17^th

Dealer: ♠ 975

North ♥ AKJ632 West(H) North East(E) South

Love all ♦ A82 - 1♥ 2♦ (1) 2♥

♣ 10 dbl (2) 3♥ (3) 3♠ (4) 4♥

4♠ (5) 5♥ pass pass

♠ AQ104 N ♠ KJ63 5♠ (6) dbl all pass

♥ 5 W E ♥ 1087

♦ 6 S ♦ KJ954

♣ AQJ9763 ♣ K

♠ 82

♥ Q94

♦ Q1073

♣ 8542

(1) What did you bid with this East hand E in this week’s quiz? If the opening had been 1♣ then double would be correct, but with ♣ shortage a double of the 1♥ opening would be a very poor bid. This hand is (just about) good enough for a two level overcall and I think that 2♦ is reasonable (pass is the only other sensible alternative). Note that an overcall (a 5+ card suit) does not deny 4 cards in a by-passed major (i.e. the ♠’s here).

(2) What did you bid with this West hand H in this week’s quiz? I think that double (a co-operative double showing ♠’s and ♣’s) is better than 3♣ as partner may have 4 ♠’s and then this hand becomes huge.

(3) With 6 ♥’s this is fine (the Law).

(4) Also pretty clear.

(5) With ♠’s opposite this hand is easily worth game.

(6) West has to guess here, but this hand may be virtually useless in defence and on a good day partner will have the ♣K.

And what happened? It was a good day and 5♠ doubled made exactly. Other scores were all over the place with a number of E-W pairs playing in ♣’s.

The bottom lines: -

- An overcall at the two level should be close to an opening hand. It promises a 5(+) card suit but does not necessarily deny a by-passed 4 card major.

- When the opponents have bid and agreed a suit at a low level, then double is for take-out.

- Look for the 4-4 major suit fit!

A Negative Double Board 27 from Wednesday 15^th

Dealer: ♠ A10

South ♥ 953 West North East(G) South

Love all ♦ 104 - - - pass

♣ AQJ1042 1♠ (1) 2♣ dbl (2) 3♣

3♥ (3) pass pass (4) pass

♠ KJ962 N ♠ 873

♥ 1076 W E ♥ KQJ8

♦ KQJ2 S ♦ A873

♣ 5 ♣ 97

♠ Q54

♥ A42

♦ 965

♣ K863

(1) With nice shape and good intermediates this West hand is probably just about worth an opening if that’s your style. It’s one short for the rule of 20 but the ♦ sequence, decent intermediates and easy rebid are enough for me.

(2) What did you bid with this East hand G in this week’s quiz? It’s too good for 2♠ and this pair play 3♠ as weak. A forcing 2♦ is acceptable as is 3♣ (showing a limit raise or better in ♠’s). But I much prefer the negative double chosen. Simply promising 4 ♥’s for now (the way I play negative doubles).

(3) Moysian fits play well when the 3 card trump hand has shortage in the opponent’s suit and so West bid 3♥. What was your answer to sequence N in this week’s bidding quiz? If you play negative doubles the way I have repeatedly suggested (simply showing an unbid major and values to compete in that suit or opener’s suit) then 3♥ is not a strong or forcing bid, it is simply supporting partner’s ♥’s at the lowest level possible.

(4) East knew that his partner was just competing and would have made a different noise with a good hand, and so he correctly passed.

And what happened? 3♥ played very well (+1) and scored a joint top (one other pair also played in 3♥+1). Even though there is a 5-3 ♠ fit, 3♠ made only exactly when it was bid.

The bottom lines: -

- It’s up to you exactly how you play negative doubles and, as I have said many times, every partnership plays them differently

My treatment for negative doubles

There was a silly discussion/argument on Friday, with somebody trying to tell me how I play negative doubles. My preferred method is very simple and extremely well documented. A negative double by me absolutely guarantees 4 cards in the unbid major if there is just one. I also only guarantee enough points to compete to the lowest level of either that major or partner’s opened suit. If I negative double a two level overcall (say sequence L, 1♠ 2♦ dbl) then I do not promise 11+ points and I do not promise ♣’s. So if it goes 1♠ 2♦ dbl pass 3♣ (or 2NT) then I would take opener to have a big hand. If I do not have the other major and have a long suit with insufficient points to make a forcing bid, then I pass and then bid my suit after partner’s ‘automatic’ re-opening double. You may or may not agree with this style, but that’s what I (and many experts) play and I have always done so. It’s all up on the web in the negative double section in conventions and also stated in numerous news-sheets.

What is 4♣? Board 22 from Friday 17^th

Dealer: ♠ AKJ6

East ♥ 10 West North East South

E-W vul ♦ AJ2 - - pass 1NT

♣ KJ965 pass 2♣ pass 2♦

pass 4♣ (1) pass 5♣ (2)

♠ Q10942 N ♠ 3 pass 6♣ all pass

♥ 86542 W E ♥ KJ73

♦ 874 S ♦ 10963

♣ - ♣ 8743

♠ 875

♥ AQ9

♦ KQ5

♣ AQ102

(1) What was your answer to Sequence S in this week’s Sequence Quiz? Now I have actually written about this a number of times and there is a separate sheet in the conventions file (please take a copy if you don’t already have one). I believe it’s best to play that 4♣ is always Gerber after partner’s last natural bid was NT. 2♦ was not a natural bid and so 4♣ is simple Gerber, asking for aces.

(2) This response does not exist of course (4♦ = 0 or 4). South thought that 4♣ was natural and strong. He was 50% right.

And what happened? 6♣ made but scored a near bottom as nearly everybody was in 6NT.

Bidding Sequence Answers

J 1♣ pass 1♠ 2♥ What is the double? It is penalties - saying that opener

dbl has a decent 4 card ♥ suit. If you play Support Doubles then this is not penalties but shows 3 ♠’s.

K 1♠ pass 2♦ 2♥ What is the double? Penalties. Saying that you would have

dbl rebid 2♥ had RHO passed. Note that this is penalties even if you play Support Doubles as it’s best to only play Support Doubles over major suit responses.

L 1♠ 2♦ dbl The double is negative. But (a) how many points does it promise and (b) what suit(s) does it promise?

(a) This is up to how you/your partner play Negative Doubles. I only promise enough to compete to 2♥/♠ and so it’s 6+.

(b) And again it’s up to you. Some play that a negative double promises the two unbid suits, some play that it simply shows values, I play that it guarantees 4(+) cards in the unbid major, so 4 ♥’s.

M 1♠ 2♦ dbl pass Does 3♣ here show a big hand? That depends upon your answer

3♣ to L(b) above. In my style it shows a big hand, as would 2NT.

N 1♠ 2♣ dbl 3♣ What is 3♥? Is it strong? 3♥ is just competitive (weakish).

3♥ Opener is just raising partner’s ♥ suit in a competitive auction.

P 1♣ - 1♥ - 3♠ What is 3♠? A splinter, agreeing ♥’s and showing a big hand with ♠ shortage.

Q 1♣ - 1♥ - 4♣ What is 4♣? I take it as a very big hand with excellent ♣’s and 3 decent ♥’s. I’ve discussed this sequence a few pages back.

R 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♦ What is 4♦? I guess it’s a splinter, but that really is not that satisfactory as if you play 4♦ as a splinter then how do you splinter in ♣’s? The answer is on the web and in the conventions file.

S 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 4♣ What is 4♣? Gerber, opener’s last natural bid was NT.

T 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 2NT 2NT is invitational. But does it guarantee 4 ♠’s? Would your answer be different if you play 4-way transfers? In standard 2NT guarantees 4 ♠’s. If you play 4-way transfers then this 2NT denies 4 ♠’s and must be alerted (I agree with the ACBL here).

U 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - 2♠ What is 2♠? Would your answer be different if you play 4-way transfers? In standard this sequence is ‘spare’ as you bid 2NT with an invitational hand with 4 ♠’s. Playing 4-way transfers you need this bid to show an invitational hand with 4 ♠’s.

V 1♥ - 2♥ - 2NT What is 2NT? Is it forcing? It is a game try. It’s up to your partnership if responder can pass it with a minimum and just 3 ♥’s.

W 1♥ - 2♥ - 2♠ - 3♠ What is 2♠? What is 3♠? 2♠ is a help suit game try, it may or may not be a 4 card suit. 3♠ accepts the game try and shows a 4 card ♠ suit in case there is a 4-4 fit there.

Bidding Quiz Answers

Hand A: 1♦, of course. But one player did bid a strong 2♦. This hand and suit is nowhere near worth a strong jump shift.

Hand B: 3NT. Partner has promised a ♥ stop. If you play 3♣ as forcing here then that’s possible but I don’t see the point – if 3NT is a viable option, then bid it!

Hand C: 2NT, a balanced 11-12 with no 4 card major. It’s true that the 4333 shape is poor but the good intermediates make up for it, I would not argue with 1NT.

Hand D: 1♠. Obvious I know. But one player did bid 2♦!

Hand E 2♦ or pass. The hand is just about good enough for a two level overcall in some people’s style. Pass is the sensible alternative. Double would be a poor bid with a singleton ♣.

Hand F: (a) 1♣. But one very experienced player suggested a 2♣ opening. Now, as I mentioned just last week, the modern style in Standard American is to open 2♣ with a hand that is one trick short of game, and I also added my personal stipulation that the hand should contain a decent number of points. Now this hand certainly has enough points, but does it have enough playing strength? If partner has ♥’s then it certainly does but knowing nothing about partner’s ♥ holding I personally don’t think it’s quite good enough for 2♣, but I won’t argue if you did indeed choose 2♣. Perhaps a matter of style this time.

(b) 3♠. A splinter (singleton or void) agreeing ♥’s and inviting slam. If you do not play splinters then you simply bid 4♥ (showing around18-19 points). A 4♣ bid here is pretty much undefined (it cannot be a splinter when you open 1♣) and I went into it (sequence Q) earlier.

Hand G: Dbl. negative and showing 4 ♥’s. 2♦ is a reasonable alternative and is what I would bid if not playing negative doubles. The hand is too good for 2♠ and 3♠ here is generally played as pre-emptive. 3♣ (showing a sound raise to 3♠) is not a good bid as there may be a better 4-4 ♥ fit and I like to have 4 trumps for the bid.

Hand H: Dbl, A co-operative double, showing the two unbid suits. I prefer this to bidding 3♣ as partner may just have 4 ♠’s and then this hand becomes enormous.

Bidding Sequence Answers are on the previous page.