Club News Sheet – No. 174    www.pattayabridge.com   4th  March 2006

 

                                    Winner                                                   Runner-up

           

Mon   27th  N-S   1st    Richard(Irl)/Margit          68%   2nd    Clive/Dave                           58%

                  E-W   1st    Kees/Philip                     58%   2nd    Tom/Ron Z                           55%

Wed   1st    N-S   1st    Bob P/Joe                      57%   2nd    Jean-Charles/Peter(Lux)       54%

E-W   1st    John/Kenneth                 59%   2nd    Bjorn/Knud                          58%

Fri      3rd    N-S   1st    Richard(Irl)/Margit          61%   2nd    Alan/Clive                            57%

                  E-W   1st    Chuck/Terry                   62%   2nd    Bjarni/Philip                          55%

 

 

Bidding Quiz                           Standard American is assumed unless otherwise stated

 

Hand A            Hand B            With Hand A RHO opens 1♠, what do you do?

 

♠ J109             ♠ -                   With Hand B RHO opens 1♠, you pass and LHO bids 2♥. The

♥ A764            ♥ J1098           opponents then have a Blackwood sequence and bid 6♥, what

♦ KJ2               ♦ A763            do you do?                    

♣ AJ2              ♣ J9862

 

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

 

♠ 6                   ♠ AQ83           (a)  What would you open with Hand D?            

♥ AK87543     ♥ KJ83            (b)  What would you open with Hand D playing Acol?              

♦ AQJ76          ♦ KQ9             (c)  Suppose you are playing Acol and choose to open 1♥. Then

♣ -                   ♣ KQ                    what do you bid when partner responds 1NT?     

 

Hand E             Hand F             With Hand E partner opens 1♠ and RHO doubles, what do you bid?

 

♠ A72              ♠ J105             With Hand F partner opens 1♥ and you respond 1NT (you

♥ QJ98            ♥ 1052             did not bid 2♥ as you are playing 4-card majors). Partner then

♦ Q865            ♦ A7                bids 2♠ (a reverse), what do you bid?

♣ KQ              ♣ A10862

 

Hand G            Hand H            With Hand G partner opens 1NT and RHO overcalls 2♥, what

do you do?

♠ 9                   ♠ A98

♥ A3                ♥ KJ6              With Hand H partner opens 1♦ and you respond 2♣. Partner

♦ J762              ♦ 65                 then bids 2♥ (thus promising 5 ♦’s and 4 ♥’s) but not showing

♣ K98632       ♣ AKJ75         extra values in your system. What do you bid?

                       

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

                                                                There is no intervention in the following sequences: -

 

J     1♥ - 1NT - 2♠                   Just for a change, this is an Acol question and a 1♥ opening may be 4 card. 2♠ is a reverse, but does it guarantee 5+ ♥’s when playing Acol?

 

K   1♥ - 1NT - 2♠ - 3♥           Is 3♥ weak or forcing? (it’s the same answer for Standard American or Acol).

Editorial

 

As you probably know, I have written up loads of conventions. They are all up on the web and I have printed off copies of some of them in the ‘conventions’ folder – feel free to take any you need. Chuck was kind enough to give me some comments and I reproduce the more printable ones below. And, what’s more, Chuck gets the last word as I stand by everything I have written and certainly do not need to ‘correct’ anything apart from my obvious typing error in the Ogust document. However, bridge would not be the interesting game that it is if everybody had the same opinions and if everybody played the same system. I need say no more, so here’s what Chuck has to say: -

______________________________________________________________________

 

The Devil’s Advocate                                   A contribution by Chuck

 

1)   The Multi 2♦      It seems to have little value because it’s too easy to foul and its only value seems to be psychological since all of the resources can be arrived at with natural bidding, decreasing the chances of foul up.

2)   Ogust                   If you have 5 or more points in your suit you don’t need Ogust, it is for undisciplined bidding. That is why Mr Ogust made up the convention, to deal with his undisciplined partner.

3)   Splinter               In news-sheet 173 you state that 1♦ - 4♣ is a splinter if you have no other agreement. In your leaflet Gametries…and all that Jazz you say a splinter is usually after a major suit has been bid by partner and is one level above the forcing natural bid. Then you agree 1♦ - 4♣ is not a splinter?

4)   Typing error       You (i.e. Terry) need a proof reader – (Chuck kindly pointed out a minor typing error in my document on Ogust).

______________________________________________________________________

 

It’s me (Terry) again. As I said, I won’t bother to reply but I do agree (partially) with what Chuck says about the multi 2♦. I have made it very clear in news sheets (97, 118, 120 and others) that I only recommend the multi 2♦ to experienced pairs.

In news-sheet 118 I state ‘I have witnessed countless mishaps when either the opening side or the defenders end up in totally ridiculous contracts because nobody knew which major the opener had’.

And let’s quote news-sheet 96 ‘The multi 2¨ is an amusing gadget that is best left to experienced pairs.’

 

And I have found an article on what to do when the opponents do try to ‘foul up’ your multi and it’s now on the web and in the conventions folder.

(Penalty) double with the unexpected                 Board 23 from Wednesday 1st 

 

Dealer:             ♠ -                                

South               ♥ J1098                                         West          North(B)    East          South

Both vul            ♦ A763                                          -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ J9862                                         1♠              pass           2♥    (1)    pass

                                                                              4♥    (2)      pass           4NT (3)    pass

♠ AJ543                N             ♠ K108                    5♥    (4)      pass           6♥            pass

♥ K54                W    E          ♥ AQ762                 pass           dbl   (5)      6♠    (6)    pass (7)

♦ K10942              S              ♦ J                            pass           pass

♣ -                                         ♣ AK104                

                        ♠ Q9762                                       

♥ 3                                                

                        ♦ Q85                                           

                        ♣ Q753          

 

(1)   With a 5 card suit you can respond 2♥.

(2)   3♥ would not have been strictly forcing in their system, so West correctly bid 4♥.

(3)   RKCB for ♥’s.

(4)   2 key cards (the ♥K is included).

(5)   What did you bid with this North hand B in this week’s quiz? You have two pretty sure tricks - there is no reason to believe that the ♦A will not hold up when the opponents have bid Blackwood, and you are on lead. So 6♥ is not making and double is correct. Now I have said in previous news-sheets not to be greedy and double if the opponents have somewhere else to run (presumably 6♠ here) but with a ♠ void partner must have a ♠ stack and he can presumably double 6♠.

(6)   East realises that North probably has a surprise trump trick and so tries 6♠.

(7)   Obviously South should double this.

 

And what happened? At two tables where 6♥ was doubled East stood his ground (one even redoubled!), it obviously went down by one and two tricks. 6♠ was bid at two other tables and went either two or three down but nobody doubled it.

The bottom lines: -

-         When you have a surprise trump trick (such as J1098) then double the opponents if they get too high.

-         When you have a surprise trump trick (such as K10942) and partner has doubled them in another suit, then double.

 

Don’t take-out double with flat hands                 Board 3 from Wednesday 1st 

 

N-S went for 800 on this deal, who would you blame or was it just unlucky?

 

Dealer:             ♠ J109                          

South               ♥ A764                                          West          North(A)    East(E)     South

E-W vul           ♦ KJ2                                             -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ AJ2                                            1♠              dbl   (1)      redbl  (2)  pass

                                                                              pass           1NT (3)      dbl           all pass

♠ KQ543              N             ♠ A72                     

♥ K5                  W    E          ♥ QJ98                   

♦ A4                      S              ♦ Q865                   

♣ 10763                                ♣ KQ                     

                        ♠ 86                                              

♥ 1032                                          

                        ♦ 10973                                        

                        ♣ 9854

 

(1)   What did you bid with this North hand A in this week’s quiz? Now I can be quoted as saying that a double of 1♠ usually promises 4 ♥’s, but that does not mean that you should make a take-out double just because you hold 4 ♥’s. A take-out double needs to be shapely, with shortage in the suit bid and playable in the other 3 suits. This totally flat hand does not qualify for a take-out double in my opinion and I would pass.

(2)   What did you bid with this East hand E in this week’s quiz? A redouble shows 9+ points and is usually looking for a penalty, and (even at this vulnerability) it must be the best bid.

(3)   And here we see just one problem with doubling with a flat hand, N-S have no fit and nowhere to go except down (a long way).

 

And what happened? It looks like this auction was repeated at two other tables and three East’s went for 800 (1NT-4). This 800 for E-W beat the others in 4♠ making 620 or 650.

The bottom lines: -

-         Do not make a take-out double with a totally flat hand.

-         A take-out double should be short in the suit bid and playable in the other 3 suits.

A reverse guarantees 4-5 or better shape          Board 15 from Wednesday 1st 

 

E-W ended up in a silly 4♥ on this deal, who would you blame?

 

Dealer:             ♠ 742                            

South               ♥ A74                                            West(D)     North         East(F)     South

N-S vul            ♦ 8642                                           -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ 742                                            1♥    (1)      pass           1NT (2)    pass

                                                                              2♠    (3)      pass           4♥    (4)    all pass

♠ AQ83                N             ♠ J105                    

♥ KJ83              W    E          ♥ 1052                    

♦ KQ9                   S              ♦ A7                       

♣ KQ                                    ♣ A10862               

                        ♠ K96                                           

♥ Q96                                           

                        ♦ J1053                                         

                        ♣ 943

 

(1)   What did you open with this West hand D(a) in this week’s quiz? 2NT looks pretty obvious to me whatever system you play. Anyway, this E-W pair play Acol and West chose to open 1♥ (that’s the bid I would make with one or two less points when playing Acol).

(2)   East should probably bid 2♣ here playing Acol, but 1NT is acceptable.

(3)   This is a reverse, guaranteeing a strong hand with 5+ ♥’s and 4 ♠’s. Most play it as forcing these days.

(4)   Partner’s reverse indicates an unbalanced hand and screams out for you to support ♥’s with 3 card support. With a maximum East correctly jumped to game (3♥ would show a weak hand and would not be forcing).

 

And so E-W landed in a rather silly 4♥ instead of 3NT.

And what happened? A trump was led and this fortunate lead should have enabled declarer to pick up the trump suit for just one loser, making a lucky 4♥+2 for a near top. Unfortunately it did not occur to West to draw trumps when he had all the top cards in the other suits and he simply kept on leading outside winners until the opposition ruffed in a couple of times and so he made 4♥ exactly for a frigid bottom.

West then proceeded to blame East for bidding 4♥. East explained that West’s reverse promised 5 ♥’s and that West should simply have bid 3NT (having failed to open 2NT). West said that that was not so and that in Acol you only promise 4 ♥’s in this reverse sequence and that he would continue to bid hands like this the same way. I would not be pushed into another open argument again with this individual and so I simply politely told him to shut up and I said that I would write the hand up.

Now the acknowledged world Acol expert is Eric Crowhurst, and his excellent book Precision Bidding in Acol is ‘the bible’ for Acol players. So let’s hear it from him: -

Page 129: ♠A1095 ♥AKJ73 ♦KQ4 ♣2: 1♥ - 1NT - ? Bid 2♠. Partner is not likely to hold a 4 card ♠ suit, but there is still no reason not to make the most descriptive bid on this hand. Furthermore, 2♠ suggests that you are crying out for preference to 3♥ or 4♥.

Page 142: A reverse guarantees that the first suit is longer and at least 5 cards in length.

 

‘Read it and weep’
The bottom lines: -

-         In Acol, Standard American or any natural system a reverse guarantees more cards (so 5+) in the first bid suit.

-         Playing Acol you may open a 4 card major, but your rebid must then be either NT or supporting partner. A new suit at any level (reverse or nor) having opened 1♥/♠ guarantees that the opening was a 5 card suit.

-         When you have a balanced hand (4432 is balanced) in the 20-21 point range, then open 2NT.

-         Playing in a suit contract, nearly every player past the beginner’s stage knows to pull trumps if you do not need to get a ruff anywhere.

-         It is not a good idea to try to start an argument with me when I obviously know a lot more about the topic than you.

-         And it’s probably best not to make an issue out of a hand that you have totally mis-played.

-         And it is exceptionally bad-mannered to do so when Chuck and myself have split up our regular Wednesday partnership in order for you to have a partner as there is a distinct lack of players that wish to partner you.

-         And when you have done a similar thing on a previous occasion when Chuck/myself also split up our Wednesday partnership to accommodate you, well… words fail me.

 

A bit pathetic?                                                      Board 21 from Friday 3rd 

 

Dealer:             ♠ J1076542                  

North               ♥ 6                                                 West(G)     North         East          South

N-S vul            ♦ Q53                                            -                 pass           1NT         2♥

                        ♣ 107                                            2NT (1)      3♠              pass         pass

                                                                              pass (2)      pass           pass

♠ 9                        N             ♠ Q85                     

♥ A3                  W    E          ♥ K542                   

♦ J762                    S              ♦ A10                     

♣ K98632                             ♣ AQJ5                  

                        ♠ AK                                            

♥ QJ10987                                   

                        ♦ K984                                         

                        ♣ 4

 

(1)  What did you bid with this West hand G in this week’s quiz? This 2NT bid was (usually) a weak bid in their system. With a ♥ stop 3NT is obviously best here, the ♣ suit will probably be very useful in 3NT.

(2)  And West had another chance to bid 3NT but failed to do so. Pathetic.

 

And what happened? 3♠ went one down but it was a poor score against the making 3NT.

The bottom lines: -

-         ♣K98xxx in a 9 point hand opposite 1NT is worth 3NT.

-         It’s fortunate for me that I don’t usually mention names in the news-sheets any more.

Like a bull in a china shop?                                 Board 15 from Friday 3rd 

 

Dealer:             ♠ 10432                        

South               ♥ 983                                             West          North         East(H)    South

N-S vul            ♦ 987                                             -                 -                 -               pass

                        ♣ 1093                                          1♦              pass           2♣   (1)    pass

                                                                              2♥    (2)      pass           6NT (3)    all pass

♠ J                        N             ♠ A98                     

♥ AQ42             W    E          ♥ KJ6                     

♦ AJ1042               S              ♦ 65                        

♣ Q64                                   ♣ AKJ75                

                        ♠ KQ765                                      

♥ 1075                                          

                        ♦ KQ3                                          

                        ♣ 82

 

(1)  E-W play 2/1 and have agreed that this sequence is also game forcing.

(2)  And they have also agreed that a reverse after a (game forcing) two level response simply bids out the shape and in no way shows extra values. Note that this is not standard and you would have to agree with your partner if you play a reverse after a two level response as not promising extras. I do not think that a 3♠ splinter bid is good here with only 3 ♣’s (partner may have only a 4 card ♣ suit). It’s best to simply bid out your shape.

(3)  What did you bid with this East hand H in this week’s quiz? This flamboyant  6NT ‘bull in a china shop’ bid has no merit whatsoever. I would bid 2♠ (4th suit) and if partner responds 2NT then a quantitative 4NT is surely correct. In this actual deal West would have bid 3♣ over a 4th suit 2♠ and then East could happily investigate and bid the excellent ♣ slam once he learns about the two key cards + ♣Q from partner (using RKCB).

 

And what happened? 6NT was one down for a deserved complete bottom. Most were in a reasonable 3NT and one in a lucky 6♥. Nobody bid a ♣ slam.

The bottom lines: -

-         With no fit, 16 points opposite what may be a minimal opener is nowhere near good enough to bid slam.

-     Don’t charge off like a bull into a no hope NT slam if there is a much better slam in a minor.

-     You can always use 4th suit forcing to find out more about partner’s hand.

-     A reverse after a two level response traditionally shows extra values. More enlightened players these days play that it does not.

 -    Of course if you play Acol (so a two level response may be just 8+) then a reverse must show the traditional 16+.

-     Bidding minor suit slams is always a tricky business, but you don’t find them by charging off into 6NT!

A 2♣ opener?                                                       Board 16 from Friday 3rd

 

Dealer:             ♠ J3                                               Table A

West                ♥ J102                                           West          North         East(C)    South

E-W vul           ♦ 1043                                           pass           pass           2♣   (1)    4♠    (2)

                        ♣ J9754                                         pass           pass           6♥    (3)    pass (4)

                                                                              all pass

♠ 10975                N             ♠ 6                          

♥ Q9                  W    E          ♥ AK87543             Table B

♦ K952                  S              ♦ AQJ76                  West         North         East(C)    South

♣ 863                                    ♣ -                           pass           pass           2♥    (1)    4♠

                        ♠ AKQ842                                    pass           pass           5♦    (5)    pass (6)

♥ 6                                                 6♦    (7)      all pass

                        ♦ 8                                                

                        ♣ AKQ102     

 

Table A:     (1)  What did you open with this East hand C in this week’s quiz? As I’ve said a few times in the past, I personally don’t like to open 2♣ with two-suiters. The problem being that you are quite likely to get intervention at a high level and then you do not have room to show both suits. I would open 1♥  playing Standard American (there is zero chance of it being passed out when you have just 14 points and only one black card) and then bid ♦’s at a high level. But I realise that a large number of players prefer 2♣, so I guess it’s just a matter of style.

(2)   Here South also has a bid hand and there is an argument for simply bidding 2♠ and thus hopefully have room to bid ♣’s later.

(3)   East was later apparently very proud of his bidding. I doubt if he would have been so happy if partner had these 4 ♦’s and a ♥ void or small singleton.

(4)   South does not have room to bid his ♣’s now.

Table B      (1)  This E-W pair play strong two’s and the hand is easy.

(5)   2nd suit, big hand.

(6)    I would bid 6♣ here.

(7)   With ♥Qx it may be better to bid 6♥ at pairs, but I won’t argue with 6♦.

 

And what happened? Only 3 E-W pairs bid slam.

 

The bottom lines:

-         It’s up to your partnership, but I personally don’t like to open 2♣ with two-suiters.

-         And playing Benji I would open 1♥.

-         But playing natural strong twos then 2♥ is obvious.

 

Bidding Quiz Answers

 

Hand A:     Pass. A take-out double is a poor choice as it should be short in the suit bid and playable in the other 3 suits.

Hand B:      Double. You have two sure tricks but I have stated in earlier news-sheets that it is unwise to double if the opponents have somewhere to run (6♠). But in this situation it’s safe to double as you have a ♠ void and therefore partner must have a ♠ stack. I would not double with a similar hand with a couple of ♠’s (say ♠62 ♥J1098 ♦A763 ♣J98).

Hand C:     1♥. Now I know that there are many people out there who will tell you to open 2♣, but I (and many experts) do not like to open 2♣ with two-suiters as you will not have room to mention both of your suits when they jump in at a high level which is what you should expect when you have a void and a singleton. Also, 14 points is way off the mark for a 2♣ opening in my style – partner will expect more and if you mis-lead partner in this way you are playing single-handed bridge (only your 13 cards count and partner is irrelevant – so why not simply open 6♥?)

Hand D:     (a)  2NT.

(b)   2NT.

(c)    3NT. A 2♠ reverse is incorrect as that promises 5+ ♥’s even in Acol.

Hand E:      Redouble, out for blood.

Hand F:      4♥. Partner has now promised 5 ♥’s. 3♥ is incorrect as it’s passable and you are maximum.

Hand G:     3NT, no other sensible option.

Hand H:     2♠. 4th suit forcing. If partner does not have a ♠ stop then you do not want to be in 6NT. If partner shows a ♠ stop by bidding NT then you can invite with 4NT and it’s played by the correct hand. If partner denies a ♠ stop and bids 3♣ then that’s great as 6♣ (or even 7♣) must be there.

 

 

Bidding Sequence Answers

 

J     1♥ - 1NT - 2♠                   An Acol question, the 1♥ opening may be 4 card. 2♠ is a reverse, but does it guarantee 5+ ♥’s when playing Acol? Yes.

 

K   1♥ - 1NT - 2♠ - 3♥           2♠ is a reverse promising 5 ♥’s. Is 3♥ weak or forcing? Weak.